Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Dear Evangelicals...

Stop.

Stop telling your friend that she doesn't have enough faith in Jesus because she's taking her medication prescribed by her doctor.

Stop telling your kids that it's wrong to ask hard questions about the Faith.

Stop pretending that you're super spiritual for refusing to study your own Faith. A simple faith is not the same as an ignorant faith.

Stop worshiping the flag of the United States.

Stop pretending that you're non-denominational. We all know what that means: Baptist with some charismatic leanings, and brimming with Puritan moral standards.

Stop treating Jesus like some high school letterman heartthrob who's picture is in your locker with a red lipstick stain on it.

Stop pretending to hate the divisions within Christianity when you're continuing the mindset that further divides Christianity each and every generation: namely, the idea that everyone has equal ability to interpret Scripture and deriving new theology from these interpretations is totally "not a problem".

Stop telling people that they don't need to earn God's love, when you constantly question the salvation of everyone who has a bad day or struggles with sin.

Stop writing songs that sound like a creepy high school boy is stalking a girl:

"In the secret, in the quiet place
In the stillness you are there.
In the secret, in the quiet hour I wait,
Only for you,'cause I want to know you more;

I want to know you,
I want to hear your voice
I want to know you more.
I want to touch you,
I want to see your face
I want to know you more."

Stop. Please stop. You've whittled down the Faith that has turned the entire course of the history of humanity into a bad 80's teen movie. You've turned the worship that has shaped untold millions into a teeny-bopper concert with a TED Talk. You've watered down our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the One Who will return with a flaming sword coming out of His Mouth into a hunky boy who's head-over-heels for you.


We've turned Jesus



Into a 2nd Rate Brad Pitt



We will have to answer for how we present Jesus to the world. We will have to give an account for each and every action we take for the Gospel. Let us never forget that.