“do you guys know where i could get one of those gold t-shaped pendants?”
So I think I’m gonna quit church again. This week really managed to rub me the wrong way. Does the worship leader have to announce that “One thing we all have in common is that we believe Jesus is _______” (fill in the blanks). Look, I know evangelicals have a distaste for all things pomo, but can’t we at least acknowledge that everyone in the service might not accept the same doctrinal points? Forget disagreements between Christians, because individual churches do tend to be communities of like-minded people as an obvious result. But aren’t you alienating any of those precious “seekers” who might be in the crowd, let alone semi-re-lapsed Christians like me?
To quote Gob Bluth (I’ve been on an Arrested Development bender lately), come on!
Then the sermon was all about how people who are believing in Jesus are going to heaven and those who don’t are going to hell. Yawn. Actually, it might have been more interesting but I got thirsty in the first five minutes of the sermon and had to take a water break, then I got sidetracked in the lobby by various things like two-month-old babies named Tobias (coincidence? I think not!).
I’d like to take this opportunity to shout out to Eddie(F) at Edge of Faith who, after much deliberation and study, is leaving the Christian faith for good. Now he gets to enjoy the patronizing remarks of still-Christians who comment that this is all part of his “journey.” In my experience, there is nothing more obnoxious than that, because the implication in the word “journey” is that journeys are OK as long as you end up with Jesus in the end. Stephen Colbert put it well last week at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner:
“And though I am a committed Christian, I believe everyone has the right to their own religion - be you Hindu, Jewish, or Muslim, I believe there are infinite paths to accepting Jesus Christ as your personal savior.”
It’s funny because it’s terrifying because it’s true.
May 9th, 2006 at 9:15 pm
“So I think I’m gonna quit church again.”
How many times have you quit?
May 10th, 2006 at 5:58 am
I might have to start going back to church again… so I can have stuff to write about why I don’t want to go to church anymore. It’s actually becoming a dilemma for me.
May 10th, 2006 at 7:13 am
CB: Just the one time previous, five years ago. I started going again last year.
Steve: So true. I mean, my family provides me with lots of stuff to write about but I can’t write about it on the internets. BTW, Steve, next time we talk I have SO MUCH stupid church people stuff to tell you. It’s sickening.
May 16th, 2006 at 4:45 pm
The Colbert quote grabbed me, too, when I heard a rebroadcast. Eek!
I’ve gone a few times this Spring to a United Church of Christ, and I’ve really enjoyed it. Seriously, I don’t get irritated at all, and that is refreshing. Of course, it’s definitely on the liberal side of Christianity, so they’re more understanding of people questioning everything.
June 16th, 2006 at 6:15 pm
Hey Jenny
I hear you loud and clear. Contrary to popular “opinion” - I love my Christian buddies. I guess in a way we just want to make them think twice before just filtering life through the Jesus-filter. If you catch my drift … and you are waaaaaay cool for coloring outside the lines …
:-)