Things I Think…
1. My social media feeds were full of outrage after the blasphemous display during the opening ceremonies for the Olympics. As usual ,the faithful were falling all over themselves and their keyboards making sure that everyone noted their disgust.
I was asked multiple times to join the melee, but I wasn’t watching (the Olympics bore me and I’m upset that NASCAR took two weeks off so NBC could televise badminton) so I had to catch up on the controversy after the fact.
Here now is my statement:
“It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.””
(1 Corinthians 5:12-13 NLT-SE)
2. I’ve spent the last third of my life hoping for this kind of holy anger against what is truly blasphemous…the abuse of the people of God by other (alleged) people of God…and I’m still waiting…
3. The performative rage against cultural insults doesn’t defend Christ (He doesn’t need defending)…it simply points out the hypocrisy of people who tolerate all manner of abuse and idolatry in their own spaces…and oppose the very Scriptures they post to defend their actions…
4. The witness of Jesus and the New Testament is that the world structures will always be at enmity with Jesus…making it even more imperative that Christian spaces truly reflect Him…we have instead a lot of blasphemers chiding blasphemers…
5. Maybe it’s just because I’m getting old,but I don’t know how the hell some of you maintain being angry all the time…it would behoove you to adopt a kitten or a puppy…
6. Having said all that, the performance in question was understandably offensive to many Christians…as offensive was when defenders of the nonsense scolded the offended for not recognizing Greek mythology as depicted by drag queens…
7. The biblical method of Christian protest is loving your enemy…
8. When the visible church is as serious about censoring heterosexual sins as it is homosexuality, it will have some measure of moral authority…
9. More Olympic symbolism…the rider on the pale horse followed by the flags of the nations is just a little bit creepy…symbolism is a way of saying things without saying them…and I have to wonder what these folks were trying to communicate…
10. No one will remember any of this in a month…there will be new things to be angry about. In the meantime, I’ll be in the catio drinking strong coffee with hazelnut creamer trying to understand the language of the woodpecker…they are trying to tell me something too…
Michael,
#1-The tableau was in poor taste, but it doesn’t pale to pastors who prey on children (or any other of their congregants). And, people will continue to troll the internet, looking for the next thing with which to angrily obsess. I prefer to look for people I can show Christ’s love to via ministry. There are too many opportunities!
Sadly, I think the next outrage will occur much sooner than a month.
Linn’s got it exactly right.
#4 is something I am finally learning more and more as I age. There is no earthly kingdom that lines up with His.
Your #5 and your #10 seem to go together, actually, and probably preserve your sanity 😉…
Owen,
They do go together…cat therapy keeps me from despair… 🙂
Linn does have it right…
I want a kitten 🙁
Cat therapy is the best!
Reuben-hop on down to your local rescue and find a kitten!
#8 was spot on! I am tired of hearing from those behind the pulpit what an abomination homosexuality is. It reminds of how my old tribe used to preach that Calvinists have a special place in hell waiting for them. I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that all sexual immorality is wrong. Picking and choosing which sin we despise most without even trying to pull the plank out of our own eye is a bad look for Christianity.
Linn, would love to, I live in a house with 40 other people and no pets allowed.
“Falling all over themselves and their keyboards”. You definitely have a way with words, Michael!
Good “things” Michael. The rage over every little thing that the world does and stands for is tiring.
#5 – My past is riddled with anger. As I aged, it became too much to maintain. Wish I’d kicked it to the curb decades earlier.
Don’t know if I mentioned I got a puppy during COVID….changed my life. A 6 pound runt of the litter Schnauzer.
I echo your sentiments, Michael
I guess I question Evangelical claims that they are oppressed when they actually just complain about every damned thing. No respect. There is none earned.
Michael,
What is also pertinent is that Paul was speaking to the Christians in Corinth. Corinth, as you know, was like New York, the Las Vegas Strip, San Francisco’s Castro District, and Amsterdam all rolled into one with all the blasphemy, debauchery, and depravity that entails.
Michael,
I agree on #9… Read Zechariah 12:3 LXX (NETS or LES, make sure it’s OG, not a Kaige rescension), and then consider both the Pageant of Nations and the Dionysius scene in light of that. Very creepy…
As for #10…you lost me at “hazelnut creamer”… but in the final analysis, I’m not going to start a new denomination over it.
I’ve always “Identified” as a dog person, but my wife and I ended up involuntarily with a cat named Robin Hood who lived with us for 18 years. He was cool, very patient, understanding, and loving with a “special needs” dog we had…and we miss him.
When I see the crap going on in the world, I like to consider our dogs. Beautiful beagles with ravishing appetites and hearts of gold.
Someday’s their only concern is getting to that treat that fell under the ‘fridge.