Today at the National Press Club, a group of 80 Christian leaders signed on and released An Evangelical Manifesto: A Declaration of Evangelical Identity and Public Commitment. Justin Taylor wrote a summary, and Joe at EO also commented. I agree with Joe on this point:
It is not the term "evangelical" that the world despises but the
beliefs behind the word. Call yourself whatever you
want–‘post-evangelical’ is my favorite–but the minute you tell the
world that homosexual behavior is sinful, that killing infants in the
womb is wrong, and that man has an inherent dignity because we are made
in the image of God then you can expect to have that label spat upon
too.How many labels are will willing to abandon before we finally realize it is our identity that we are shirking?
Me for one, I’m proud to wear the label.
The reason the world despises you is because you come off as self-righteous, smug, judgemental, rigid, hypocritical, theocratic Pharisees. And, yes, you're proud of it, forgetting that pride goeth before a fall.
The reason the world despises you is because you come off as self-righteous, smug, judgmental, rigid, hypocritical, theocratic Pharisees. And, yes, you're proud of it, forgetting that pride goeth before a fall.
Louis not all evangelicals are like that. However, many (including a couple that I know personally) are indeed like that. So sure of themselves, unable to take advice from others, always right.
So when they fall and make huge mistakes it is so glaring to those that watch to see it knowing it could have been avoided by being more open, more loving, and yes more willing to listen to others advice…occasionally take it too.
People are not infallible, all knowing, and always right. Those that live that way in their lives are setting themselves for a huge fall regardless of religious beliefs.
I have see it happen so many times.
– S
Yeah, right, we gays have no idea what hate really is. Not!
The world doesn't despise you because you follow Jesus, but because you are a bunch of smug, self-righteous, bigoted, *ssholes (see above for more qualities).
Yeah, you said that.
The reason the world despises you is because you come off as self-righteous, smug, judgemental, rigid, hypocritical, theocratic Pharisees.
That's part of the reason the manifesto was written. It's why books like UnChristian were written. It's why millions of Christians are working at trying to live according to the teachings of Christ, be counter-cultural in that respect, but doing it in a much less Pharisitical way.
However, many (including a couple that I know personally) are indeed like that. So sure of themselves, unable to take advice from others, always right.
Part of the reason is because too many evangelicals have a shallow faith. They believe if they show one hint of doubt on any area they have ever been taught, then their entire faith will crumble. They don't know the difference between the essentials of their (our) belief system and nonessentials. I can be confident in my faith and still not come across as if I'm "always right," especially on areas that are not core doctrines.
Seeker, you are right that many will (and do) hate Christians because of Christ. Jesus said that would be the case and I fully concur with that. However, we (Christians) add more hate than we need. We also seem to relish being hated. I don't think Jesus did, especially not when it was from those that needed Him.
He sought out confrontations, but those were with the religious rulers. For those that were entangled in sin, He offered hope and compassion. Now His hope and compassion, just like ours, was often misunderstood and rejected. But when you look at His life, He was hated for completely different reasons that Western Christians are hated today.
I think we have done a poor job of presenting Him – as evidenced by the comments here and the need for an Evangelical Manifesto. As Joe expresses, changing labels won't help. But I do believe changing attitudes and the way we present ourselves will.