#Rethink - November 2020
#Rethink - November 2020
Hey November! In this month's newsletter we are questioning God's goodness, contemplating social media, and pondering how a prosperity gospel has corrupted the church.
How do we reconcile a good God
with the good He fails to do?
This world is full of messed up things. Like a family who loses their firstborn son after a heartbreaking battle with cancer on Christmas Eve. Like a mother who has to deliver her tiny dead baby on Valentine’s Day in the same hall where she can hear live babies crying. Like a pregnant young wife who tragically dies but miraculously the doctors save her baby but then he suddenly passes away ten months later. How can God let these things happen?
And the abusers who escape consequences and are never stopped. And the false teachers who get rich off of desperate hopes and dreams. And the many other terrible things that happen every day in this broken world. How can God be good, and sovereign, and in control, and still allow all of this evil to happen?
Do me a favor and don’t answer that right away. Put away your verses, clichés, and pat answers and just sit with the uncomfortable emotions and mystery.
I don’t have an answer. I’m not sure there is one.
Except to say that the same God who allows and even does these devastating things also chose to be beaten -- literally within an inch of his life -- tortured on a cross for hours while being rejected and abandoned, and then died for the sins of the world.
"If you're not paying for the product, then you're the product."
The Social Dilemma Documentary
I’m branching out this month and sharing something I watched instead of read. If you follow me on social media or my blog, then you’ve probably already heard me talk about “The Social Dilemma,” a terrifyingly enlightening documentary on Netflix. The things former Big Tech Company employees shared about the algorithms that control social media were shocking to me.
Two industries call their customers users – illicit drugs and social media.
Fake news travels six times faster than real news on Twitter.
The algorithms don’t care if what they are showing you is true or not, they just care that you stop and look.
The polarization of society and the epidemic of anxiety and depression in teens is directly linked to the rise in social media usage.
If you haven’t seen it already, it’s definitely worth your time. If you don’t have Netflix, find a friend who will let you watch it with them or have a watch party together. You won’t regret it, but your social media accounts might!
"Moralistic preaching...is not just a sub-Christian message, it's actually an anti-Christian message." Bryan Chapell
What if American churches are often filled with one of two things and neither of them is the actual gospel of Jesus Christ? The prosperity gospel says do these things and you will be rich, successful, and healthy. Moralism says do these things and you will get God’s approval and blessings.
Religion always contains two things:
formulas and good behavior.
What if people’s ears are being tickled in many churches but they aren’t hearing about the Real Jesus?What if Christianity is not actually about behavior? (Except to say that ours isn’t enough.)
The true gospel confronts our brokenness and sin and at the same time offers forgiveness and life. It’s not about formulas to find happiness and success. It’s about a restored relationship with the God who created us, and loves us, and will fill us with Himself no matter what our earthly circumstances.
If you want another documentary, watch “American Gospel: Christ Alone” on Netflix (until Nov 23rd) or Amazon Prime. Seriously SO good!
Thanks for taking a moment to #Rethink some of our religious traditions and beliefs. I know that it can be scary to deconstruct and reconstruct our faith, but finding the Real Jesus is absolutely worth it. As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts, questions, or comments.
If you know someone who would love to #rethink, please share!
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