Evangelical Requirements to be Christian

[profnachos]

Been really busy to keep up, but I thought the quote from Jerry Bridge's book in the thread called "Quotes Regarding Evangelical Legalism" was outstanding. Here is a link to it (http://www.christianrecovery.com/vb/showthread.php?t=16&page=2) if you missed it.

He says that, "we subtly insist that they be conformed to our particular style of Christian culture."

This got me to compile a list of de-facto requirements for one to be considered a Christian in Evangelical circles today. These are off the top of my head. Now, they are not bad things in and of themselves, and most Evangelical Christians will claim that they aren't really required. Well, you better not be caught without these in seeking acceptance from them.

* Conservative politics:
Need I say more given what has gone on recently? Beyond the abortion and homosexuality issues, you also have to fall in line with the positions on the war, guns, taxes, education and others. The slightest deviation will earn you the dreaded title - "liberal."

* Christianese:
You have to speak the lingo to be considered spiritual and humble. One of these days, I will write about self-serving false humility. Yes, guilty as charged. Got pretty good at it although many I met could clean my clock.

* Middle Class:
Speaking out for the poor is now dismissed as social gospel and long gone is the tradition of helping the poor. Suburbia USA is the hotbed of Evangelicalism. There have been numerous cases of churches packing up and leaving for middle class suburbs as soon as the surrounding neighborhoods change in urban areas. So the social gospel is bad. What kind of gospel is this that we promote from the comfort of the suburban paradise? Is there a name for that?

Any more additions you can think of that exemplify what Jerry Bridges calls "our particular style of Christian culture"?

[Leslie]

I would add general "patriotism" under "Conservative politics".

If you are bothered by evangelicalism's overvaluing and over focus on the middle class, you might read John Piper's treatment of this. He encourages living a "war time lifestyle" to mitigate against the Christian's excessive love of creaturely comforts. Of course "war time lifestyle", like any external standard, can become a measuring stick. He is also very good in the area of racial harmony.

[profnachos]

Agreed about patriotism.

Oh, I forgot to add another one

* Familiarity with Evangelical celebrities (mega-church pastors, theologians, singers, etc).

"OMG, you have not heard of _______ ????? Where have you been? His sermons rock!"

As to racial harmony, as an ethnic minority, I am loath to be seen as playing the race card.

But here is the thing. It is much more interesting to hear a white person take his/her own people to task than the Jesse Jacksons of the world ranting and raving about racism. Likewise, it is much more interesting to hear Bill Crosby take on the problems that he says are created by black people themselves.

A white person ranting and raving about black crime bores me to tears. A black person (or any minority) doing the same about white racism drives me up the wall.

No means do I want to diminish the contributions from the likes of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, but ultimately it took "good" white people to rat out racists in their midst and pass key civil rights laws to ensure equality for all. It took white people to close out the deal on white racism.

Come to think of it, Jesus took his own Jewish people to task a lot more than he did with Gentiles.

I would add general "patriotism" under "Conservative politics".

If you are bothered by evangelicalism's overvaluing and over focus on the middle class, you might read John Piper's treatment of this. He encourages living a "war time lifestyle" to mitigate against the Christian's excessive love of creaturely comforts. Of course "war time lifestyle", like any external standard, can become a measuring stick. He is also very good in the area of racial harmony.

[Carmen]

Hi Prof,

I am most blissfully one of those G** D***** Liberals, heh, heh.

Another one for the list is Christian music. I used to get the willies when others listened to that "evil" secular music.

To quote from one of Carman's songs criticizing that: "And they only drink milk from a Christian cow!" That is how it seems sometimes.

I just can't take moving in those circles any more. Gaaag me with a spoon!

Carmen

[SpinningHead]

Any more additions you can think of that exemplify what Jerry Bridges calls "our particular style of Christian culture"?

I think you could add...
*spiritual activism*
which is how much service do you perform and time do you spend at your church...such as teaching, ministries, administration, organizing functions, building maintenance, and I'll even include how much $$$ do you give above & beyond tithes to church sponsored programs. (or should tithing be it's own *tithing*?)

I am right there with you on the label of *conservative politics*!
I may be considered conservative on some social issues that are hot right now in the media, but I'd be considered liberal regarding a lot of other social issues that end up taking a back burner...

Hubby and I were just talking that we feel the conservatives push forward a few of the obvious social issues that fly in the fact of the Christian...and that gets the uninvested Christian's vote.

Tangeant...feel free to skip!
For example, our church last October (the Sunday before voting) had "family week" in which we were celebrating the "family unit". They showed a power point of pictures of all these nice families smiling and praying together w/ this nice music...and throughout the presentation was quotes from GWBush and his picture w/ his family/dogs. (Nothing was showed of Kerry)...and even a few pictures of 9/11. Now, we decided to give the benefit of the doubt and say that GWBush was only showed b/c he was our president. & 9/11 was to remind us of the families w/ loss. Giving the benefit of the doubt. Afterwards, "voting records" were passed out to show the differences between Bush & Kerry...what were the subjects??? Abortion, Gay rights/marriages, Kerry's vote NOT to spend more $ on the war (this not supporting our troops), etc... the card did not mention, however, the environment, social service programs that help the financially challenged back on their feet/job training, education programs/gun control..etc.

The couple behind us said outloud...glad they passed out! Now I know who to vote for! I turned to them and said...are you familiar w/ any of these issues & what's behind them? She honestly said, "No, but I'll vote the way the church tells me to vote". :eek: I said, "don't you think that's a bit of an irresponsible attitude?" and she said, "well, the church wouldn't be supporting a candidate if they thought he was evil"...(she was trying to be cute. :confused: )

I was amazed at the LACK of information each person had in our church w/ regards to politics or that they just spit out what they heard and justified their vote by that info.

I don't care who you voted for...but vote b/c of your own conscious not b/c it's the church's guy or who they told you to vote for or you're afraid of your Christian title being taken away from you! But that's exactly the majority of what we saw going on in our own church...a majority of lack of personal interest/investment in our presidential candidates but a quick..."Who's Pat Robinson voting for?".

:confused:

[Joseph]

Not to get sidetracked, but if I could add to Carmens point about Christian music. I took my daughter to see Toby Mac twice in concert in the past two years (for those not familiar, he's from DC Talk, very popular christian rap, hip hop artist) anyway, he does this song called "The Slam", before he performs the song (both concerts) he speaks about how he was so touched after he saw the movie "The Passion" that he sat in his car afterwards and wrote this song. Last month I'm watching TV and a commercial comes on for the movie "Transporter 2", your typical fast paced action movie trailer, guns a blazin, half dressed women, karate, the whole nine, and then I realized the soundtrack was "The Slam" with the original lyrics. Well, I couldn't get to my computer fast enough, especially after seeing the puzzled look on my 12 year old daughters face when she saw it, I e-mailed his people and said pretty much what I told you. They replied and tried to doubletalk, said it's hard being all things to all people and Toby is trying to reach out to those people with his song. I replied and said, thats a bunch of nonsense, The Slam in my daughters eyes is Jesus for dying on the Cross, now it's some some gun slinging, martial arts killer, give me a break. Then I asked them did you just sell out that song for the money? No reply. Hypocrisy reigns once again.
It's sad really and young people have to listen to the lyrics no matter what music it is to see the content, don't assume it's right just because it has a Christian label.

Joe

[Willow]

I dunno... I don't have any problem with crossover music... not anymore at least. I used to think it was awful. Now I think... if the song works... use it. It's more of a creative expression to me than an expression of faith. The faith source for the song still stands untainted to me. Just coz it was used in a martial arts movie doesnt' change what inspired Toby to write it... know what I mean?

[Joseph]

Hi Willow,

Maybe I'm being petty, I do like his music and continue to listen (along with other types of music), but I can't help to think that someone in this position, like a Pastor, is being looked up to by millions of young people, and when he does something like this, he endorses it in their eyes. He is not above counsel or correction.

Joe

[Willow]

Nah.. you aren't being petty. I just quit caring awhile back.

[SpinningHead]

Maybe I'm being petty, I do like his music and continue to listen (along with other types of music), but I can't help to think that someone in this position, like a Pastor, is being looked up to by millions of young people, and when he does something like this, he endorses it in their eyes. He is not above counsel or correction.
Joe

What if Toby's intentions are really good? Remember what they did to Billy Graham when he grew his hair long so he could relate to the youth of that time better? Unless Toby appears in the movie w/ a babe on one arm and a gun in the other...I'll say that I won't take it for anything other than what he says his intentions are. IMHO. :o

[aslan903]

How about 'constant contention, confusion and chaos'. That is a trait of evangelical christianity in America. Is Jesus the Prince of Peace and evangelical christianity the author of confusion, contention and chaos? What we hate. Who we hate. Who we don't like. What we're against. What we 'stand for'. What we don't 'stand for'. Blah, blah, blah. Whatever happened to 'judge not or you too will come under judgment'. Whatever happened to 'judge your own heart and you won't be judged'. Whatever happened to 'speak evil of no man'. Whatever happened to 'he who has judged his brother is judging the law of God'. Whatever happened to 'love your enemies, bless your enemies and do good towards them'. Whatever happened to 'love your neighbor as you love yourself'. Whatever happened to 'think on these things; whatever is pure, lovely, of a good report......'. Whatever happened to 'resist not an evil person'. Whatever happened to 'as much as lies within you, live at peace with all men'. Whatever happened to 'if you keep biting and devouring each other, you will be consumed by each other'. Whatever happened to 'let there not be ANY strivings amongst you'. Oh, but all of that stuff is bible, not evangelical christianity. That's it. Now I'm starting to see the glimmer of light. Hmmmmm.........I'm puzzled about this 'only way' of evangelical christianity.:confused: