Common Sense Christian

The Thinking Christian’s Site

Daily Devotional – August 27

The ME Christian

Sometimes you gotta’ rant!

We are truly entering the age of the “ME Christian.”  Christian snobbery, phariseeism and self-righteousness is back in vogue.

This Sunday, a well-known T.V. pastor made the following assertions:

In order to be “successful” in life you need to surround yourself with people who are good for you.   You need to disassociate yourself from those who are “bad” for you.  (Gee, I need to clean house!)

But, seriously,  this isn’t just an isolated case, it’s epidemic.

  • This same weekend a friend told me of an assistant pastor had said that he didn’t want the kids who came from the trailer park.   They were bad for the church.
  • Numerous ministers are promoting out-dated self-love psychological theories that developed decades ago.  Theories that are currently being debunked and viewed with skepticism by the medical and psychological communities.

My Jesus surrounded himself with the struggling–criminals, beggars, recovering addicts, uneducated, weak.  His life wasn’t about himself–it was about others.  Ironically the most “righteous” among us would be enough to “bring him down” including the shiny haired preacher in the expensive suit preaching to thousands.

When are Christians going to understand that its not all about them?

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

Rant complete.

August 27, 2007 - Posted by bereans | False Teachers, Selfishness | | 3 Comments

3 Comments »

  1. Narcissism is pervading every aspect of American culture, it is well documented that our youth especially have become more self centred and shallow, this is another manifestation. I think a lot of it is due to relentless and ever more effective advertising aimed at teaching us that life is all about getting whatever we desire whenever we want. Strange days.

    Comment by unitedcats | August 27, 2007 | Reply

  2. Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2007 14:07:00 -0400

    Imagine being told you couldn’t take your child to the doctor for a full year. What might happen if your child got strep throat and had to go without medical attention for months and months?

    This sad scenario will be a reality for many U.S. families if the rules aren’t fixed: Under new rules, made by the President, some children who depend on lower-cost health care coverage will have to wait a full year–with no insurance at all–to qualify for help. This outrageous requirement is part of a slate of changes made to limit the number of children who can benefit from the lower-cost health care coverage of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). We can’t believe that in a country where 1 in 9 children go without any health care coverage at all, there is any thought of more limits. This senseless rules change is especially surprising because SCHIP is supported by Democrats and Republicans alike.

    Everyone, it seems, except for the President, sees the value in giving kids healthcare. Let’s send a strong message together.

    But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

    And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

    Dearest Paul,
    Tell Grace I said hi.
    P.S.
    Ever been locked up, told to take enough medicine to tranquilize a small horse, or you would be strapped down and given it by injection?

    Comment by Voice of Reason | August 27, 2007 | Reply

  3. Good to hear from you, Doug. It does seem to be a cyclical thing, doesn’t it. Brings to mind the passages:

    2Timothy 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

    2Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

    Don’t get me wrong, though–I fall prey to this category often and am subject to the same failings as anyone, but it does sadden me to hear it taught. As Christians we aspire toward loving others greater than self, but that just doesn’t seem to be the ideal being promoted anymore. We serve God to get, we love Him for some ulterior motive. We offer incentives for one to follow God–”He’ll take care of your problems, He’ll make you rich, He’ll heal you, etc.”

    I read your site often and in reference to one of your concerns–war and much of heartache in this world could be assuaged if Christians would have learned from the sacrifice of the one they claim to follow. But instead of becoming a light we contribute toward the darkness.

    Good to hear from you also, Voice.

    I DO LOVE GRACE!

    I understand that a prominent church recently built a building to the tune of $55 million dollars; another $24 million. It is state of the art, has a coffee and souvenir shop. I learned two weeks ago the utility bill at a local church is over $1 million a month. Now think of this on a national and international scale, and it should make you wonder why our children go without medications.

    In regards to the second question, I would have to say, no, I have never behaved myself in unseemly enough fashion for this to happen…So far… :)

    Paul

    Comment by bereans | August 27, 2007 | Reply


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