Seldom is the answer to a problem found in its opposite. Too often we operate on this assumption, and because of our "convictions" regarding the situation, we find ourselves in fruitless arguments, unwinnable debates, eternal stalemates and war.
I have spent my life watching the conservative protestant church. I have never really felt "part" of it, having been viewed as the "rebel" from almost every conceivable perspective. I have watched its response to the youth culture in two generations, its reaction to societal changes, and have seen how it has desperately tried to name certain things evil in order to call itself good.
The only time the opposite is the solution is in the presence of pure evil. It's easy then, right? Name something evil and swing the pendulum. (Think "axis of evil"). Hold to your convictions to prove your thesis. Use a verse or two from scripture and claim pure goodness.
But the "issues" the church has decided to call evil are the easy ones. It hasn't clearly named selfishness "evil", because its opposite would be too difficult. It hasn't called living in wealth while half the world starves "evil", because it would have to act. It amended the "love your enemies" rule with a "just war" theory, I can only assume because it is just too difficult to die instead of fight.
Instead, it seems it has decided only to call evil those things it can oppose without too much effort, or at least can oppose publicly and appear to not be involved in. Along with a few of the obvious ten commandment sins, it has added homosexuality, any kind of nudity, sex outside of a socially constructed ceremony, etc etc. You know the "list".
I think Jesus' point in the sermon on the mount was along these lines. Stop naming things evil so you can call yourselves good. Name your selfish heart evil and swing the pendulum to love.
As I think on the pendulum swings that I think the church needs to initiate, I want to be aware that the opposite isn't necessarily where I'll find the solutions...
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Tim Bailey
Ramblings on pendulums...
Wednesday, August 13, 2008 | Posted by Tim at 11:30 AM
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2 comments:
you're back
... did we see another "P" swing of another kind last week when McCain put Palin on the ticket? on-the-fence evangelicals jumped ( unthinkingly it seems ) to the GOP 'just because' ... CNN does a 5 minute segment on 'Faith & Politics' and used Brownsville Assembly as a litmus test. 9 of the 10 people surveyed there said they were undecided re: McCain a week ago, then 'poof' ... Sarah materializes as an unknown ( truly ) with a reputation for this and that and 'bingo' ... she's a media and conservative darling. How do you spell p-e-n-d-u-l-u-m again?
d
ps. you loyal listeners expect an output productivity boost a la the iPhone ... don;t you know it!
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