Quotes from "Why We're Not Emergent"

I am in the middle of the book I have to read for my Theology and Philosophy in Modern Culture class, "Why We're Not Emergent" by Kevin Deyoung and Ted Kluck, I went into this book with an open mind. I don't want to accept everything I read in a book because they "sell their point" and convince me they are right. I appreciate the introduction of this book (although, I have other issues with the introduction) where they encourage the readers to look up their sources and think through the points themselves. They make very interesting claims and arguments against the "Emergent church" which have caused me to think a lot about what kind of church I have been part of and what kind of church I want to be part of. For me, it's hard to understand a lot of their claims, because it's not a denomination or a set standard of beliefs. It's guys similar to Brian McLaren, Spencer Burke, and Rob Bell, they criticize: very popular with the young generation but altogether different between every person. Really, what I've determined so far is they are "Evangelical Christians" who have more of a postmodern (tolerant) view that oftentimes differ from the traditions of church. The authors spend a lot of time on specific books and authors, and there are parts I agree with and parts I don't, and parts I'm just not sure. But I am enjoying reading it. I'd like to share some quotes: "In the music scene, at least, it's really cool to search for God. It's not very cool to find him." The postmodern Way is "an experience. The journey is more wandering than directional, more ambiguous than defined. It requires less doctrinal reflection and more personal introspection. We are so in-tuned with our dysfunctions, hurts, and idiosyncrasies that it often prevents us from growing up, because maturity is tantamount to hypocrisy in a world that prizes brokenness more than health." "My generation needs to realize that Christianity is more than chic fragility, endless self-revelation, and the coolness that comes with authenticity." "We are on the road to producing a race of men too mentally modest to believe in the multiplication table." "I think, in general, it's easier to be against something than to stand for something." "In emergent circles, spirituality is hot and religion is not. if it is really true that wherever you are finding 'passion and love and exhilaration' there 'you are finding God,' Christianity has no unique message to give the world." "Young people will give their lives for an exclamation point, but they will not give their lives for a question mark, not for very long anyway. Once the protest runs out and the emerging church has its own blogdom, and conferences, there will be no exclamation mark, and all that's left will be ethical intentions and passionate appeals for kingdom living. The protest will sustain a movement for a while, but once that's gone there will be no great vision of God, no urgent proclamation of salvation, no eternal judgment or reward at stake, just a call to live rightly and love one another. That message will sell on Oprah, but it should not be called the gospel." Thoughts?

Christians vs. Humanitarians

Recently I came across a poll someone from ORU posted asking, "should you give money to people that ask for it?" And I was expecting to open it and see like, 2 people saying "no." Wrong. 70% of people said no. I would say at least 90% of all the people that answered were from ORU (therefore, Christians). I started reading comments on it and people were saying,

"Give them what they need, not what they ask for (food, clothes etc.)" And other were saying, "It's a case by case basis, you can't just give to everyone who asks since a lot of them use the money on drugs and such."

The consensus was, we should give them food and clothes and gift cards, but not cash. This is something I've been taught, too, that homeless people beg for money to use on "bad" things, so we need to be careful. I've also heard that homeless people make a lot of money, around $100 an hour. I'm not stupid. I know you should use common sense and discernment when giving out your money to people. What concerns me is that Christians look no different than humanitarians, or "good people". Here's what I posted on the comments of that poll:

"Honestly, I'm surprised how many people said no! It's not really up to me to decide what a person's intentions are for my money. They obviously have a need that needs to be met. And even if they are lying, that is not my judgment to be made. That's between that person and God. I think wanting to decide what that person should spend their money on reveals an inner control of our money, and how we can't just give it to someone, we have to give it with conditions."

Expounding on that, I think Christians are just selfish people who want to feel good about when they give, if we are so concerned about what they will do with our money. I'm not necessarily saying this is bad, because everyone is selfish and at least something is being given. What I am saying is that we are judgmental. Who are we to decide the intentions of someone else with our money? If I do believe in the Bible and what Jesus says then it has profound implications in terms of this subject. In Luke it has that verse, the one that says "I was hungry, but no one fed me, I was naked but no one gave me clothes..." Etc. Continuing to say "Whatever you do for the least of these you do for me." If it really is like we are giving to Jesus, who would care of his intention with the money that he wanted you to give Him? I get it, there are dishonest people in the world.They may be living in a mansion and cheating you out of your money. But this is not for us to decide, you are dishonest too. Christians are no better than them, or better than any "good person".

What we are saying when we don't give them money is "I know your life better than you do," regardless if those are the words we put to it. What message does it send to our kids when we drive by and see a homeless person and we say, "Not today, sweetie." In my experience, almost all kids want to give money to homeless people. Weather they have a few coins or a few dollars, it's always, "mommy, let's give that person my money." Because children recognize the need without the rose shaded glasses. They recognize, "I have money and they don't." And a lot of the reason we don't give money is because they look "skechy". So what are we teaching our kids?

We shouldn't ever give if we think that we know the best way for our gift to be used. So what if they spend it on drugs? That sucks, but that's not up to us to decide. You really think that's the issue, go talk to him and quit acting so stuck up. Christians should be praying with them, clothing them, feeding them despite the cost.

If Christians truly believe that we should "Go into all nations and preach the Gospel," it's time to stop saying that we are much better than them because we have money. Because that is what you're saying. Or, we can just accept we like to give them "what they need, not what they ask for" (and we decided we know better than them what they need) and be content in being a good humanitarian, like most people in the world.

This should apply to all of our giving from a Christian standpoint, because we have to accept at some point we may be no better than the world at giving, and in my opinion, we should be.

I Am Thug

Quote

"You cannot go on 'explaining away' forever: you will find that you have explained explanation itself away. You cannot go on 'seeing through' things forever. The whole point of seeing through something is to see something through it. It is good that the window should be transparent, because the street or garden is opaque. How if you saw through the garden too? It is no use trying to 'see through' first principles. if you see through everything, then everything is transparent. But a wholly transparent world is an invisible world. To 'see through' all things is the same as not to see." - C.S. Lewis

God,

If you truly answer prayers, if you care about my small life of me and my friends, do something big. I am desperate, I have no idea what to ask but I know only you can do something in these circumstances. I know you are big and that you are God and beyond that I'm not sure. Regardless, will you accept my small words and weak offerings and show me and my friends who you are? You know my heart and how I desperately want you, but don't know where to go or what to ask. Please teach me how to love you and restore to me the joy of my salvation.