The Next Culture Warriors
Went to see Jesus Camp last night. After seeing what the film was about, I wanted to see what the filmmakers' take was on evangelical Christianity. It was not surprising to see it assembled to highlight many of the things considered extreme to those who reject the idea that Jesus is the only way to be saved.
I can't deny that much of what I saw among the ministers and the children they influenced was disturbing. The reason it was disturbing was they did many of the things the secular world fears in anyone, here it was just slathered with God language and Christian rituals. Children are trained to fight battles for the Lord, and they were inexplicably subjected to all kinds of emotionally wrenching activities.
After I left the theater, I so much wanted to ask any of the other 20 or so who were there, "Was that disturbing to you?" If they're reasonably seasoned Catholicists they'd certainly say yes, but this was my next question:
"Why was that disturbing?"
What do you think they'd say? I'd presume it would be something like this, tell me if I'm wrong...
"It was disturbing because those ministers were brainwashing those kids. That they were doing crazy things like praying over the microphones. And worst of all, they were being indoctrinated to make America into their brand of Christianity, intolerant and narrow-minded. The fear is in how far they'd go to force that stuff on everyone else. They were making those kids into warriors!"
True enough. My question is, why is what the secularists desire any less intolerant?
As it is, this film was really just a vibrant exposition of the raging culture war. Both camps are battling it out, and this couldn't have been more demonstrated but in the closing radio show conversation between the children's leader of the church whom we'd already seen quite a bit of, Becky Fischer, and a talk show host who'd peppered the film with his on-air commentary, Mike Papantonio. Fischer had her things to say about how the country should be, and Papantonio had his things, and ne'er the twain did meet.
It's just more posturing in the culture war. It's the secular there's-got-to-be-a-separation-of-church-and-state crowd on one side, and there's there sectarian God's-got-to-bring-about-a-Christian-Nation-revival-across-the-land folk on the other.
The fact is they're all in the World, each with their own God clubs. Christian Mike Papantonio's God club is just as intolerant as Christian Becky Fischer's. They both have to shout at each other so loudly because they fear their proposed form of sin management just won't do the job they need it to do. No wonder...
It can't. Government likes to convince people it is their salvation, but it can only condemn. Condemn, prosecute, convict, sentence. It's what its minions also do-- it was rife throughout the film. Everybody condemning everyone. Very disturbing indeed, especially when it's all you've got.
The ironic thing is that condemnation is actually a very good thing. But it is only good when it drives people into the arms of the One who loves-- the One who can free them from the oppression of their condemnation.
Yes, yes, that is Jesus, but not the Pentacostal Jesus. Not the Tolerant Jesus either. Not Anyone's Jesus, not even mine.
Has anyone thought about asking The Jesus? The One who is the way, the truth, and the life? Has anyone thought about asking Him whether or not we should be involved in politics? Believe it or not, you'd get an answer. And it isn't the Pentacostal one, and it isn't the Tolerant one either.
Do you ask Him? And then, even more amazing, do you do what He says?
Some more on the Culture War is here.
And some of the Jesuses are here.
I can't deny that much of what I saw among the ministers and the children they influenced was disturbing. The reason it was disturbing was they did many of the things the secular world fears in anyone, here it was just slathered with God language and Christian rituals. Children are trained to fight battles for the Lord, and they were inexplicably subjected to all kinds of emotionally wrenching activities.
After I left the theater, I so much wanted to ask any of the other 20 or so who were there, "Was that disturbing to you?" If they're reasonably seasoned Catholicists they'd certainly say yes, but this was my next question:
"Why was that disturbing?"
What do you think they'd say? I'd presume it would be something like this, tell me if I'm wrong...
"It was disturbing because those ministers were brainwashing those kids. That they were doing crazy things like praying over the microphones. And worst of all, they were being indoctrinated to make America into their brand of Christianity, intolerant and narrow-minded. The fear is in how far they'd go to force that stuff on everyone else. They were making those kids into warriors!"
True enough. My question is, why is what the secularists desire any less intolerant?
As it is, this film was really just a vibrant exposition of the raging culture war. Both camps are battling it out, and this couldn't have been more demonstrated but in the closing radio show conversation between the children's leader of the church whom we'd already seen quite a bit of, Becky Fischer, and a talk show host who'd peppered the film with his on-air commentary, Mike Papantonio. Fischer had her things to say about how the country should be, and Papantonio had his things, and ne'er the twain did meet.
It's just more posturing in the culture war. It's the secular there's-got-to-be-a-separation-of-church-and-state crowd on one side, and there's there sectarian God's-got-to-bring-about-a-Christian-Nation-revival-across-the-land folk on the other.
The fact is they're all in the World, each with their own God clubs. Christian Mike Papantonio's God club is just as intolerant as Christian Becky Fischer's. They both have to shout at each other so loudly because they fear their proposed form of sin management just won't do the job they need it to do. No wonder...
It can't. Government likes to convince people it is their salvation, but it can only condemn. Condemn, prosecute, convict, sentence. It's what its minions also do-- it was rife throughout the film. Everybody condemning everyone. Very disturbing indeed, especially when it's all you've got.
The ironic thing is that condemnation is actually a very good thing. But it is only good when it drives people into the arms of the One who loves-- the One who can free them from the oppression of their condemnation.
Yes, yes, that is Jesus, but not the Pentacostal Jesus. Not the Tolerant Jesus either. Not Anyone's Jesus, not even mine.
Has anyone thought about asking The Jesus? The One who is the way, the truth, and the life? Has anyone thought about asking Him whether or not we should be involved in politics? Believe it or not, you'd get an answer. And it isn't the Pentacostal one, and it isn't the Tolerant one either.
Do you ask Him? And then, even more amazing, do you do what He says?
Some more on the Culture War is here.
And some of the Jesuses are here.
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