Christians who are Scaring the Heaven out of People
CNN released the results of a survey this week that revealed more than a quarter of adult Americans have left their childhood faith for another religion or no religion. One in four adults in the 18-29 year old range claim no religious affiliation. The United Methodist Church, of which I am a part, continues to lose members at a rate of 80,000 per year. Only 4.7% of UMC clergy are age 35 or younger.
Why are a growing number of younger Americans finding the Christian faith to be irrelevant? Could it be that many who claim the way of Jesus are literally scaring the heaven out of people? So many who claim to be the prophets of Jesus come close to scaring the heaven out of me, like the self-righteous prophets who equate the Prince of Peace with a vindictive terrorist god who creates hurricanes of destruction as judgment against homosexuals or abortion advocates....
Many in the name of Jesus have connected Christian faith with conservative partisan politics that defend the rights of the unborn but seem indifferent to the plight of the poor, the inequities in the availability of health care for the masses, hospitality toward the alien, and the wellbeing of the planet. Jesus is neither right nor left. Christian politics must always be prophetic and never partisan (Italics mine). Christians must act as the moral conscience for both sides of the aisle, always advocating for peace with justice and the orphan and the widow. The Gospel is good news for the poor. If it doesn’t cover the poor, it is not the Gospel!
Why are a growing number of Americans finding the Christian faith to be irrelevant? I won’t even begin to try to explain those creative Christians who see the image of Jesus on such things as cinnamon rolls!
God bless...
Posted By: Pastor Mike Slaughter on Feb 26, 2008 10:00AM
*Read this blog in its original context here.
1 comments:
If there is a decline in numbers of those who are called Christians, then there could be many reasons for such a decline. I'll point out that from Old to New Testament, there was (and still is) a remnant of believers. Compared to the general population, true believers were (and are) a minority. To say that there is a decline in the ranks of Christianity cheekily implies that the Holy Spirit is not doing His job well enough. Never forget to remember, God is in control. Christ is risen!
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