Christians behaving badly

[Christy]

It's easy on this fairly conservative Christian site to find threads where the 'bad' behaviour of adherents to other faiths, or liberals, or agnostics, or atheists is held up for disapproval or mockery. Perfectly understandable.

I just thought that it might be useful to remind ourselves that Christians are also prone to extremes or lunacy from time to time. See it as an opportunity for humility and integrity, which is honestly how I intend it.

Here's one:

Loony Christians are given screwballs in tektonics too. I posted a link to the video in the screwballs section the other day.

I wonder what church this was, and why they were okay with this?

[Darth Executor]

I wonder what church this was, and why they were okay with this?

Maybe they felt sorry for him because he felt the need to make up such an embarrasingly stupid story to prop up his insecurities?

[Adrift]

Loony Christians are given screwballs in tektonics too. I posted a link to the video in the screwballs section the other day.

I wonder what church this was, and why they were okay with this?

There's this tradition I've noticed in a lot of the Evangelical/Charismatic churches I've visited or have been a member of over the years where they do this thing where they tell stories that are purposely used to shock people. To wake them up. Some of these things will come off as completely unorthodox teaching (they'll say something that's near-blasphemous), or it will manifest itself in teachings like we see in the video where the pastor will say something completely far out. Usually they'll walk the message back into sanity land, but sometimes they don't. I don't know if this particular pastor actually did what he said he did, but I'm certain he's exaggerating the event in order to hold the audience. I don't know where this tradition found its roots (I imagine it goes back to tent revival times), but personally I can't stand it. I really like most of the Evangelical churches I've been to outside of that penchant for dramatic storytelling.

[Cow Poke]

There's this tradition I've noticed in a lot of the Evangelical/Charismatic churches I've visited or have been a member of over the years where they do this thing where they tell stories that are purposely used to shock people. To wake them up. Some of these things will come off as completely unorthodox teaching (they'll say something that's near-blasphemous), or it will manifest itself in teachings like we see in the video where the pastor will say something completely far out. Usually they'll walk the message back into sanity land, but sometimes they don't. I don't know if this particular pastor actually did what he said he did, but I'm certain he's exaggerating the event in order to hold the audience. I don't know where this tradition found its roots (I imagine it goes back to tent revival times), but personally I can't stand it. I really like most of the Evangelical churches I've been to outside of that penchant for dramatic storytelling.

I used to use some "handed down" stories, but when fact checking became so easy, I found out some of my favorite stories were either flat out not true, or difficult to verify.

I like to make sure that any real life application would be "found true" if fact checked by my audience.

One of my favorites was the guy who walked the tightrope over Niagara Falls pushing a wheel barrow, then asked for a volunteer to sit in the wheel barrow while he went over. (demonstration of the difference between believing and "believing in"). I had to reign that one in a bit because I couldn't actually find where Blondin actually asked for a volunteer -- he carried his manager on his back across the tightrope to Canada.

[seer]

I start this thread with a few trepidations. Here are some things I am NOT saying:

1. Some Christians behave badly therefore Christianity is bad/dumb.

2. If some Christians behave badly it must mean Christianity is untrue.

3. The Christians behaving badly in these snippets are somehow representative of all Christians.

It's easy on this fairly conservative Christian site to find threads where the 'bad' behaviour of adherents to other faiths, or liberals, or agnostics, or atheists is held up for disapproval or mockery. Perfectly understandable.

I just thought that it might be useful to remind ourselves that Christians are also prone to extremes or lunacy from time to time. See it as an opportunity for humility and integrity, which is honestly how I intend it.

Yes we are human, capable of every foible or sin that any other man is capable of.

[Adrift]

I used to use some "handed down" stories, but when fact checking became so easy, I found out some of my favorite stories were either flat out not true, or difficult to verify.

I like to make sure that any real life application would be "found true" if fact checked by my audience.

One of my favorites was the guy who walked the tightrope over Niagara Falls pushing a wheel barrow, then asked for a volunteer to sit in the wheel barrow while he went over. (demonstration of the difference between believing and "believing in"). I had to reign that one in a bit because I couldn't actually find where Blondin actually asked for a volunteer -- he carried his manager on his back across the tightrope to Canada.

Yeah, I'm familiar with pastors telling stories like that, and I suppose that's sort of what I mean, but there's been a number of times where, you know, right after praise and worship, the pastor will start jumping around on stage and hollar something like "God hates you!" You know, something really crazy like that, and the audience will be shocked like "woh! what is he talking about!?" and maybe there will be a few "Amens" in the corner, and then the pastor will walk that back and do a sermon about how God actually loves you, but hates sin, or something silly like that. I mean, that example is not a sermon I've actually heard, but that's sort of like the type of thing you might hear. Or the pastor might get all worked up and preach "did you know that you are all gods!" quoting Jesus in John 10:34 quoting Psalms 82:6, and then they'll walk it back and be like "ok, you're not really gods, but...". I mean, you might not get that at every Evangelical sermon, or maybe not even at most sermons, but you get it enough that you kinda learn the shtick after a while. I have an inkling that they think they're imitating Jesus' style of expressive aramaic type talk where he would talk about lopping off your hand and plucking out your eyes, but that exaggerated speech really doesn't carry over very well to a modern audience. But who knows, maybe it does since its common enough, and the audience generally seems to be into it. Not my thing though.

[Cow Poke]

Yeah, I'm familiar with pastors telling stories like that, and I suppose that's sort of what I mean, but there's been a number of times where, you know, right after praise and worship, the pastor will start jumping around on stage and hollar something like "God hates you!" You know, something really crazy like that, and the audience will be shocked like "woh! what is he talking about!?" and maybe there will be a few "Amens" in the corner, and then the pastor will walk that back and do a sermon about how God actually loves you, but hates sin, or something silly like that. I mean, that example is not a sermon I've actually heard, but that's sort of like the type of thing you might hear. Or the pastor might get all worked up and preach "did you know that you are all gods!" quoting Jesus in John 10:34 quoting Psalms 82:6, and then they'll walk it back and be like "ok, you're not really gods, but...". I mean, you might not get that at every Evangelical sermon, or maybe not even at most sermons, but you get it enough that you kinda learn the shtick after a while. I have an inkling that they think they're imitating Jesus' style of expressive aramaic type talk where he would talk about lopping off your hand and plucking out your eyes, but that exaggerated speech really doesn't carry over very well to a modern audience. But who knows, maybe it does since its common enough, and the audience generally seems to be into it. Not my thing though.

Ah, theatrics! Yeah, I'll pass.

[mossrose]

This all brings to my mind that other sicko from Canada, Todd Bentley, who says that God told him to kick an elderly woman who had come to him for "healing" in the face with his biker boot, which he supposedly did.

I don't know how any believer (and I use that term very loosely in this context) can think that is acceptable behaviour from a so-called "preacher".

It disgusts me.

[Carrikature]

This all brings to my mind that other sicko from Canada, Todd Bentley, who says that God told him to kick an elderly woman who had come to him for "healing" in the face with his biker boot, which he supposedly did.

I don't know how any believer (and I use that term very loosely in this context) can think that is acceptable behaviour from a so-called "preacher".

It disgusts me.

I think preachers sometimes mistake their gut feelings for something God told them. Common sense doesn't always kick in like it should.



Ok that was a great, albeit unintended, pun.

[Adrift]

Ah, theatrics! Yeah, I'll pass.

Yeah, I guess its theatrics. I consider it just wacky, over-the-top preaching, but I suppose that's the same thing. Thing is, I've heard some of these very same type of pastors teach very sane, practical, moving, and powerful sermons at other times. In fact, some of these guys are some of the best preachers I've ever heard. Its just that every now and then you get that one teaching, or that one part of the sermon, that takes it to this place where I'm kinda looking around and thinking "am I the only one who thinks this is nuts?"

[Littlejoe]

Maybe they felt sorry for him because he felt the need to make up such an embarrasingly stupid story to prop up his insecurities?

Well, liar is better than child abuser...

[shunyadragon]

I start this thread with a few trepidations. Here are some things I am NOT saying:

1. Some Christians behave badly therefore Christianity is bad/dumb.

2. If some Christians behave badly it must mean Christianity is untrue.

3. The Christians behaving badly in these snippets are somehow representative of all Christians.

It's easy on this fairly conservative Christian site to find threads where the 'bad' behaviour of adherents to other faiths, or liberals, or agnostics, or atheists is held up for disapproval or mockery. Perfectly understandable.

I just thought that it might be useful to remind ourselves that Christians are also prone to extremes or lunacy from time to time. See it as an opportunity for humility and integrity, which is honestly how I intend it.

Here's one:

1. Some 'Muslims' behave badly therefore 'Islam' is bad/dumb.

2. If some 'Muslims' behave badly it must mean 'Islam' is untrue.

3. The 'Muslims' behaving badly in these snippets are somehow representative of all 'Muslims'.

[Cow Poke]

1. Some 'Muslims' behave badly therefore 'Islam' is bad/dumb.

2. If some 'Muslims' behave badly it must mean 'Islam' is untrue.

3. The 'Muslims' behaving badly in these snippets are somehow representative of all 'Muslims'.

Cool. Though I didn't realize that's how you felt.

[pancreasman]

1. Some 'Muslims' behave badly therefore 'Islam' is bad/dumb.

2. If some 'Muslims' behave badly it must mean 'Islam' is untrue.

3. The 'Muslims' behaving badly in these snippets are somehow representative of all 'Muslims'.

What are you actually saying?

[MaxVel]

What are you actually saying?

He's saying that he's completely missed the point of the thread, but, who cares, since he can still bash everyone else for not being as smart or spiritually discerning as he is.

Either that, or he's promulgating a position he doesn't actually hold, without making that clear up front, so as to 'enhance dialogue'.