This month let's question how and when to speak truth that will be heard, ponder "The Church in Dark Times" by Mike Cosper, and explore ways I've learned to love winter again.
“It is trippy to me that I escaped my cult only to have it appear that my cult is taking over the country.” As you noted, weak spirituality organized into a bloc never really takes over but becomes a tool of the politician. Trump has disdain for Christianity and is totally put off by ideas of humility, repentance and magnanimity of spirit. When he has used his Christians up he will spew them out and they will be left in disgrace and public derision. They’re worried about taking Christ out of Christmas but they’re ok with the rest of the year it would appear.
Wonderful piece. I could feel your exuberance in your description of the winter air. True Christian spirituality has to include the harshness of winter. The symbol of who we are and what we are about after all is a man experiencing the harshest experience imaginable. Another man who experience the bewilderment of being left in the cold, if you will, was Job. As the song details, he simply would not let go.
I feel very much the same way and at times even people who have left Evangelical Christian Fundamantalism have taken part and still hold those views when it comes to politics with no tgought at all to being principled. They may have left a belife system or chruch because they felt marginalized or oppressed but take no thought of those things politically. Well said!
Thanks for the comment and encouragement. Definitely see this as a power play on both sides—they are using each other and it won’t end well. And I am enjoying this winter!!
Fabulous post. Hubby is just finishing the book The 1619 Project. That explains some of your history. Explanation why the separation of races is dominant in America. Racism explained.
I’m Canadian. We had some of this but to a much lesser degree. Slavery ended in 1805. We didn’t allow it anymore. We never had ghettoes or segregation laws. All ethnic groups do tend to congregate on their own..
We never encouraged the “melting pot” theory but instead we have a multicultural country. We celebrate different traditions. Different ethnicities build their own churches. It’s not perfect but no system is. But it’s different.
Oh, my, you wrote so much about what is on my heart. I love God and others, even enemies, as Jesus told us to, but I keep asking what is mine to do, Lord, in these heart-breaking times? You have a beautiful, spirit-led way of speaking the truth in love. Thank you!
I read some of Jesus and John Wayne and it is ridiculous. The author has a one-sided belief and sees through that lens. All of Christianity is portrayed as a herd of cows moving mindlessly to slaughter.
Bonus opinion: Not all Christians are fans of Bill Gothard.
You might benefit from reading the book cover to cover rather than bits and pieces. It's not written about "all of Christianity" but rather a very specific segment of "evangelical" Christianity in the United States (which I spent the better part of 40 years deeply involved in).
I think this is somewhat true of this book in having a certain lens through which she is viewing this.
To help really see what she’s getting at though, through mostly just unfiltered collections of narratives of people escaping Doug Wilson’s group in Idaho, you should check out the Sons of Patriarchy podcast. You might hear some bias in the “every other” episodes that are talking about Christian Nationalism and Patriarchy; so skip those for now if you want. But please listen to the other ones called “Abuse in the CREC.” These are account after account of what this system of belief looks like from the inside. Lots of different angles.
I struggled with the book when I read it in 2020. It came across as one-sided and biased. It felt like it was written to people who already agreed with her and I wish it could have been written with a different slant so the important information would have been better accepted.
That said, there were points that hit home. And Gothard has had more sneaky influence than most people understand. I agree that they wouldn’t claim to be fans of his, but they don’t realize how much of this ideas and theology have crept into more mainstream evangelicalism.
Take a winter tromp; it does wonders for the soul!
I’m trying to find the balance between being concerned and also staying focused on my real life and the things I can actually influence. It’s not easy. Hugs!
“It is trippy to me that I escaped my cult only to have it appear that my cult is taking over the country.” As you noted, weak spirituality organized into a bloc never really takes over but becomes a tool of the politician. Trump has disdain for Christianity and is totally put off by ideas of humility, repentance and magnanimity of spirit. When he has used his Christians up he will spew them out and they will be left in disgrace and public derision. They’re worried about taking Christ out of Christmas but they’re ok with the rest of the year it would appear.
Wonderful piece. I could feel your exuberance in your description of the winter air. True Christian spirituality has to include the harshness of winter. The symbol of who we are and what we are about after all is a man experiencing the harshest experience imaginable. Another man who experience the bewilderment of being left in the cold, if you will, was Job. As the song details, he simply would not let go.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E31tSTKAZU&pp=ygULQ2ogZml0eiBqb2I%3D
I feel very much the same way and at times even people who have left Evangelical Christian Fundamantalism have taken part and still hold those views when it comes to politics with no tgought at all to being principled. They may have left a belife system or chruch because they felt marginalized or oppressed but take no thought of those things politically. Well said!
Yes, left the church but not the ideology. 😭
Thanks for the comment and encouragement. Definitely see this as a power play on both sides—they are using each other and it won’t end well. And I am enjoying this winter!!
❄️
YES! ALL OF THIS!!!
😁🙌
Fabulous post. Hubby is just finishing the book The 1619 Project. That explains some of your history. Explanation why the separation of races is dominant in America. Racism explained.
I’m Canadian. We had some of this but to a much lesser degree. Slavery ended in 1805. We didn’t allow it anymore. We never had ghettoes or segregation laws. All ethnic groups do tend to congregate on their own..
We never encouraged the “melting pot” theory but instead we have a multicultural country. We celebrate different traditions. Different ethnicities build their own churches. It’s not perfect but no system is. But it’s different.
We have problems too.
Praying for God to inspire and encourage us. 🙏
I’m going to order Jesus and John Wayne.
It is interesting to dig into the roots of our problems, especially racism. 😭
And we don’t allow political commentary from pulpit. Churches would lose charitable status.
I’m sure this would be helpful!!
Oh, my, you wrote so much about what is on my heart. I love God and others, even enemies, as Jesus told us to, but I keep asking what is mine to do, Lord, in these heart-breaking times? You have a beautiful, spirit-led way of speaking the truth in love. Thank you!
Thank you for reading! We just keep praying, listening to the Spirit, and being brave and bold as He gives us power. 💕
I read some of Jesus and John Wayne and it is ridiculous. The author has a one-sided belief and sees through that lens. All of Christianity is portrayed as a herd of cows moving mindlessly to slaughter.
Bonus opinion: Not all Christians are fans of Bill Gothard.
The end.
You might benefit from reading the book cover to cover rather than bits and pieces. It's not written about "all of Christianity" but rather a very specific segment of "evangelical" Christianity in the United States (which I spent the better part of 40 years deeply involved in).
I think this is somewhat true of this book in having a certain lens through which she is viewing this.
To help really see what she’s getting at though, through mostly just unfiltered collections of narratives of people escaping Doug Wilson’s group in Idaho, you should check out the Sons of Patriarchy podcast. You might hear some bias in the “every other” episodes that are talking about Christian Nationalism and Patriarchy; so skip those for now if you want. But please listen to the other ones called “Abuse in the CREC.” These are account after account of what this system of belief looks like from the inside. Lots of different angles.
Yes, wonderful podcast! Very eye opening!
I struggled with the book when I read it in 2020. It came across as one-sided and biased. It felt like it was written to people who already agreed with her and I wish it could have been written with a different slant so the important information would have been better accepted.
That said, there were points that hit home. And Gothard has had more sneaky influence than most people understand. I agree that they wouldn’t claim to be fans of his, but they don’t realize how much of this ideas and theology have crept into more mainstream evangelicalism.
I’m finding myself needing to take a few deeps breaths a day.
Take a winter tromp; it does wonders for the soul!
I’m trying to find the balance between being concerned and also staying focused on my real life and the things I can actually influence. It’s not easy. Hugs!
Me too! I keep reminding myself to focus on life and living… and interject when necessary.