The future of Churches of Christ: Are We Moving Toward Evangelical excess?

[marc]

Briefly, and I'll explain a little more later, even though I am very pleased and thankful that we are leavign our isolation, it does trouble me somewhat that I see us moving more and more into some of the excesses of evangelicism. I'm particularly concerned that I see us at times instead of simply adknowledging our emotions and the parts they play in our service of God, moving on headfirst into a shallow type of emotionalism. Maybe I just still have too much Campbell in me, but this bothers me a little.

I think that one reason this is happening is that as we recognize the larger Christian community we're not always discerning the solid from the ephemeral.  The result is that we are not only adding the blessing of others to our blessings, but we are adding the mistakes of others to our mistakes.

 Any thoughts? Does anyone understand what I'm talking about without my using specific examples that would make people mad? 

[James Rondon]

I think specific examples would be helpful.

[zoonance]

I feel ya.  Specific examples will make some mad... who are likely already preparted to get angry anyway.  Plus it would feed the conversation.  Be prepared though that your central point will likely be lost in arguing the examples.  I hope not.

[marc]

People will get mad.  

I'll go halfway.  During services a few weeks back we watched a certain movie that has been widely praised by some on this board.  Everybody loved it.  

Well, almost everybody, but I kept quiet.  I thought it crossed the lines into unrealistic emotionalism.

I think there's a danger of crossing over into shiny happy Osteenland.  Maybe it's just my own somewhat melancholy outlook on life.  Maybe I'm overreacting.  

[James Rondon]

I feel ya.  Specific examples will make some mad... who are likely already preparted to get angry anyway.

Getting mad is just an emotion.

[marc]

My complaint's not with emotion.  Emotion is good, and we've avoided it for too long.  My complaint's with emotionalism. Shallow, manipulated feelings.

[Bocephus]

My complaint's not with emotion.  Emotion is good, and we've avoided it for too long.  My complaint's with emotionalism. Shallow, manipulated feelings.

There are a lot of evangelicals that are emotion-less, except for anger of course.  The term "evangelical" is or has been moving towards being meaningless.

[James Rondon]

One problem I see in more "grace centered" CoCs, Christian Churches, and churches in general is in their willingness to extend the right hands of fellowship to others, some will embrace almost anyone and anything as "Christian", and good.

[zoonance]

I don't know what movie that is.   I do know that many have been so dedicated to doctrinal purity through insightful and dedicated study that emotions were considered ... unbiblical as there can be no BCV on the actual personally, just experienced emotion.   Thus, the only emotions that are "authorized" would find a comfortable match in scripture  (Be angry but do not sin. Don't let the sun go down on your anger.  Have joy in the Lord (most evident during worship service, bible study, singing mostly???), etc.     If that makes any sense.

[marc]

My complaint's not with emotion.  Emotion is good, and we've avoided it for too long.  My complaint's with emotionalism. Shallow, manipulated feelings.

There are a lot of evangelicals that are emotion-less, except for anger of course.  The term "evangelical" is or has been moving towards being meaningless.

Several years ago I started a thread about the origins of the term because of the way it was used in an old story I read (I think an M.R.James ghost story).  At the time i was told (or decided through research) that the term in England at that time was unrelated to its present use.  Since then I have found out that this is not the case--that the earlier group I found that used thsi was related to the later movement, but that it had changed quite a bit in meaning.  Now it's pretty much become a word that means whatever people want it to mean.

fwiw, I'm using it to refer to the popular branch of Protestantism in the U.S.  Kind of broad, I know.  

Since I'm still confusing people, most likely, I'll give you the initials of the movie we watched:  F.T.G.  

[DCR]

I think we are more and more getting caught up in "trendiness."

It seems that certain things become popular, and before long, everyone's doing it.  For example, I'm already tired of the Nooma/Rob Bell videos that seem to be in vogue right now.  I've seen, in some cases, even the same episodes multiple times at various class and devotional settings.  Then, there are certain skits, if they get a lot of positive responses, will be done at different places, because they're trendy to do at the time.  Or, certain "inspirational" videos on YouTube/GodTube will make the rounds.

A few years back, it seemed that everyone wanted to study the Rick Warren books (i.e. A Purpose-Driven Life).

Then, there are new ways to do things in worship settings that seem to catch on.  Certain new songs make the rounds, etc.  Maybe, that's not all bad.  But, I don't necessarily feel the need to do things just because they're the currently "cool" or "in" thing to do. 

That's what it feels like sometimes.

[marc]

There are certain skits I have begged people not to do again, but they keep doing them, in part because they need less practice....

The movie we watched was Facing The Giants.  I know, the reaction here was overwhelmingly positive, as it was at church.  But what I saw was a pray-for-it-and-believe-and-work-hard-enough-and-you'll-get-it message.  The capper for me was--spoiler alert--when the couple even ended up pregnant, on top of everything else.  I'm not sure it would have hurt to have God say "no" about something, anything.  He does sometimes, you know.

To me, this was a symptom of the emotionalism I see us drifting into as we embrace those around us.  Sometimes it seems that we are more quick to pick up on the things that I (and I realize it's not all about me) consider less desirable.

But maybe I'm just being grouchy.  I don't forward emails either.

[Bocephus]

I think we are more and more getting caught up in "trendiness."

It seems that certain things become popular, and before long, everyone's doing it.  For example, I'm already tired of the Nooma/Rob Bell videos that seem to be in vogue right now.  I've seen, in some cases, even the same episodes multiple times at various class and devotional settings.  Then, there are certain skits, if they get a lot of positive responses, will be done at different places, because they're trendy to do at the time.  Or, certain "inspirational" videos on YouTube/GodTube will make the rounds.

A few years back, it seemed that everyone wanted to study the Rick Warren books (i.e. A Purpose-Driven Life).

Then, there are new ways to do things in worship settings that seem to catch on.  Certain new songs make the rounds, etc.  Maybe, that's not all bad.  But, I don't necessarily feel the need to do things just because they're the currently "cool" or "in" thing to do. 

That's what it feels like sometimes.

Why do you think I want Chris Tomlin thrown down the well.

[marc]

I would guess that with us it's a pendulum swing.  We didn't believe in emotion, so now we are so hungry for emotion we grab and devour all we can get.  Problem is, we don't just get the steak and vegetales, we sometimes gorge ourselves on cotton candy.

[memmy]

You're being grouchy Marc.








JK!