I read a post over at Slice of Laodicea that caused me to think about how we Christians should view the world. Ingrid laments the fact that another school teacher ran off with a student and other ills that plague our society. She also says that her 11 yr. old son cannot go into a public bathroom without fear of perverts and I agree. Of course the category was listed as “culture wars†whatever that is.
But should we as Christians complain that our culture makes our lives more uncomfortable? Paul spoke of the sins of his society but that is different than complaining that the sinful culture interferes with our Christian lifestyle. Isn’t lamenting our predicament both unchristian and at the same time showing our desire for an easier lifestyle? I’m not sure I ever heard Jesus complain that the sin around Him restricted His lifestyle. The world will continue to get worse, but we should not complain about it based upon our own personal discomforts.
And of all things she brings up the “Woodstock†generation of which I was a part. But by God’s grace I was wonderfully saved not by hearing the complaints about my lifestyle from those who had the providential fortune of being brought up in a Christian home, no, I would have rejected that as spiritual arrogance. I was saved by someone who shared the good news that Jesus saw past my lifestyle and gave His life for me. I believe pride is the most unattractive sin of all in God’s eyes since it discounts God’s grace. Go ahead and complain and keep itemizing the sins of the lost, but remember Jesus did something more about it than just complain, He loved them and gave Himself for them. I consider it an honor to represent His life in the midst of such sinners.Â
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27 Comments(+Add)
Isn’t it just great that you can’t send your children into a public restroom without an adult in this land of sexual freedom?
Umm… what does this have to do with “land of sexual freedom?” No one is okay with these actions, and the teacher will be in trouble if and when they are caught.
So how does that equate with “sexual freedom?”
I love the flipside arrogance.
“Woodstock generation”…as if people who didn’t get into the counterculture have shown us any better alternatives. they’re all divorcing in droves too and addicted to porn…what makes them worse is they have “communities” that are driven by shame, repression and dishonesty.
Yep.
They may be moral, but they ain’t healthy.
If I have to choose between the redeemed hippie and the arrogant Christian “straight-edge”….give me the redeemed hippie. The one forgiven much, loves much. And no amount of false humility in claiming their “sinner status” will cover the lack of love they show each other and the “other”.
I can say it…not as some “emergent” man-lover, but as one who was raised in such circles and saw these people “eat their own” enough to realize the load of skybala they’re serving up. (I’ve always wanted to use one of Ken’s favorite terms-”skybala”.)
But there I go…being “vicious”…because the truth is applied to the “truth” speakers.
I just wish people would realize that God’s justice is such that we are freed to love people and let God deal with the bigger picture.
But there’s this insistence that true faith and commitment to Jesus means wrapping our cookies in barb wire…
More flys with honey, say I…
When wasn’t the earth been a “moral cess pool” since the time of the Fall? Human beings have been pretty consistent in their penchant for sinning. Perhaps Ingrid needs to re-read Genesis, Judges, or the Prophets, or for that matter do a little research on the Roman Empire.
It’s only sarcastically called “sexual freedom” to people with deep sexual anxieties in general…remember this is the one that talked about 8 years olds “flouncing” in a bikini–implicitly attributing sexual inference and provocation to an 8 year old.
It’s all driven by fear.
Fear of an angry false god
Fear of reality.
Fear of their own bodies.
Fear of difference.
Fear.
Fear.
Fear.
Of course someone is going to pick up the tired “Fear God” and twist things. Never mind the most quoted command in the text is “Fear not”.
These people promote despair.
good point Phil…
I mean the classic point is:
God actually had to tell people not to get it on with their moms and siblings and the family pet.
Are you kidding me?
These people seem more passionate about the sinful state of the world than the redemption of Christ.
Where’s the hope of the precious Gospel they claim to defend and love so much?
And the last paragraph is about blame. They are the ones who…They are the ones who…. You know, I remeber Jesus adressing that type of attitude with a suggestion that stones can be thrown by sinless humans.
Where is the compassion? Those of us who were once sinners see these sinners as those who “God so loved”. Sounds like Ingrid wants her best life now!
Has there ever been a time when America wasn’t seeped in sin? Do I really need to mention slavery? Or racial persecution?
We’ve swept our past sins under the rug in our own self righteousness.
Matt,
Seriously, right?
This “holy” country was built on the backs of kidnapped peoples and genocide. Let’s own it.
Great point.
If we were back in the 50s and one of Ingrid’s adopted children was black, would she let the kid use a white’s only bathroom?
Back in the day comments were allowed on Ingrid’s site, she was on a similar tirade about us 60’s generation folks causing all the ills of the world. Me, trying to put a positive spin on it all, mentioned one thing good that came from the old hippie’s was Calvary Chapel, when it was Chuck Smith that had the audacity to let people like that in his fledgling church…..Geeeesh, was THAT a mistake!!
We have escaped the corruption of this world on the back of our Lord and Savior but we still complain about other sinners? Instead of joyfully climbing into the darkness with a bushel-less light some point fingers at lost sinners.
Jesus did not come to condemn the world – THEY ALREADY ARE CONDEMNED. Ingrid’s attitude misrepresents the gospel thoroughly.
I’ve always lived by the idea that we as Christians should never be shocked by the depths of sin. Part of our understanding of the world is just how present and persistant sin is, this isn’t the effect of a sexual revolution, this is the effect of fallen humanity being fallen humanity.
Maybey I’m just too young, maybey I didn’t get to share in the perfect world that apparantly developed after all the rampant sin of bilical times up until the founding of America that existed before the 60’s screwed it up, man if I only had a sinless utopia to pine for maybey I would be shocked when I see sin and could trace it to it’s very recent cause…
Sorry my last paragraph should read:
“I didn’t get to share in the perfect world that apparantly developed after all the rampant sin of bilical times during the founding of America that existed before the 60’s screwed it up, man if I only had a sinless utopia to pine for maybey I would be shocked when I see sin and could trace it to it’s very recent cause… ”
And I love how slice managed to blame a generation from the 60’s when the teacher in question is 25…
darn it, I missed the second link in the slice article with that last comment, today is not my day
Good post, Rick.
I often wonder at Christians who spend energy and money and write books and give seminars on ways to “reclaim” our: country, culture, life etc. — there is some merit to part of what that goal is, but another aspect is what you’ve written above, the part where the world is sinful and not really our home and why are we trying to make our lives here easier and more “heaven-like” when that is not our purpose on earth?
Spread the Gospel. Quit crying about the destruction sin has wrought, or you’ve already lost no matter what battle you think you’re busy fighting.
Julie,
the irony is that if we got on with the ministry of reconciliation, this world would be more “heavenly”… but some are content we being accusers of the bretheran instead of uplifters.
Yes, this world is sinful… but not by its own choice… and unless we “sons of God” reveal ourselves it will have no choice but to stay that way until we reveal ourselves in Christ Jesus.
Be blessed,
iggy
Dude, you should like, totally write a book.
Tim R,
Dude, you called Julie a Dude… what are you a TNIV reader or sumptin’?
ig
Dude.
Ingird’s quote
[are the ones making big statements about the safety of our children in our communities when there’s a Presidential election coming up. These are the folks who brought us the sexual revolution. They are the ones to blame for this unspeakable moral cess pool in which we live today.]
Thats so wrong. Our inherrent sin nature is the reason why there is a ‘moral cesspool’. It has nothing to do with woodstock or plasticstock or metalstock. (OK another bad joke). Anyway, the bible predicted clearly that the world was getting bad to worse.
While it is true, as she said that the war against God’s word leads to sexual anarchy, she is wrong to say that its due to a single event. Its intrinsic and clearly the corithians did the same too.
Personnally, i used to like ingrid, but she’s become over-the-tangent and starts assuming things without checking. She also overgeneralises things and makes illogical asumptions. I’ll back it up if needed but i think you all agree with me here.
Wow,
I am a sinful product of that 60’s generation!! I didn’t grow up in a Christian home either! It must be my fault that the world has turned into a cesspool.
Paul used to persecute Christians so he must be the reason Christians are being persecuted today.
King David was an adulterer and murderer so he must be the reason we have so much of that going on.
The woman at the well had 5 husbands and the one she lived with wasn’t. Are you sure she didn’t start the hippi generation?
Just a little humor and “peace” to my brothers and sister.
Deborah,
Nice joke. My sentiments exactly. “peace” to you too
Arrogance, thy name is Ingrid.
She is such an arrogant person who
- has at least two marriages
- and when her adopted daughter didn’t fly right – she was flown out – read her early HIL post about it.
- then had the gall to write an article about how her younger son wrote that she was the best mother
Well duh!! Of course he would write that – he doesn’t want to be carted off.
I cannot believe the arrogance of this person. I e-mailed her once about an issue reagarding being graceful to others and she did responde to me but in the most ungraceful, arrogant way.
Even if those things were not true about her she still deals with issues, people, and the Scriptures in an arrogant and sometimes maliscious way. And who has two blogs, one for devotion and one for destruction?
Oh yea, Chris Lyons, I forgot! (I’m back!)
Welcome (?) back, Rick…
She is such an arrogant person who
- has at least two marriages
- and when her adopted daughter didn’t fly right – she was flown out – read her early HIL post about it.
Is this true?
If so…I would hope she would hold to her convictions, but show a lot of humility and grace as one who has failed and known the love of God.
It makes me wonder if she has not be shown the love of God in the face of her failures.
If that’s the case, then it explains alot.
I just found the post about her daughter.
It sounds like she really went through something hard.
I don’t know if it’s fair to make the situation about her.
The 2 marriages…yep. Open for scrutiny, but ultimately grace should be shown.
Her struggles with a rebellious teen…nope. People should leave them alone abou it.