sometimes Christians make me sick

I usually wait to write my posts (especially the more passionate ones) until after the initial wave of emotion has passed. I’m not doing that today. We’ll soon find out if that’s a horrible idea or not.

A fair amount of my time is spent reading, listening to or engaging with Christians. For the most part we’re a tame lot interested in the betterment of others and serving Jesus with our whole hearts. Most of the folks I’ve met through social networking, the worship and music industry and missions work are people truly committed to Godly relationships and friendships. With that being said, there are things I read or hear on a weekly basis that literally make my stomach turn.

I grew up pentecostal and have worked in the charismatic church world most of my adult life. I believe in the power of the Holy Spirit inside of believers and long for God’s voice and work in the lives of all Christians. However, if there was a dollar for every time a “charismatic” believer celebrated the gift (or their gifts) more than the giver, there would be enough money to make Kenneth Copland blush. I remember being in a meeting once where someone went through a list of things to give God praise for. Salvation (small cheer). The Holy Spirit (nominal response). The “fact that some of you will get out of debt this year (WILD, enthusiastic praise). I wanted to puke.

I hate our judgmental attitudes but think it’s a loving thing to talk about sin plainly. I hate when we sell people on a God who’s biggest asset is His ability to solve their money problems. I hate when we think tearing each others theology apart is the most important thing we can do. I hate it when hype stops us from pressing in and truly experiencing the life-giving presence of God together. I hate it when people pimp spiritual giftedness for personal recognition and ego stroking. I hate when we elevate our “thing” to be a God thing. I hate ridiculous book burnings, sign holding and preaching solely about how much better believers we are than those folks at that “other church”. I hate feeling like we’re better than others because of what version of Scripture we read or whether or not we were predestined to read that version or not. But the thing I hate the most is when people say things that are “God” when they clearly aren’t.

I know I’m going to get ripped that this isn’t loving enough so let me end it this way. The reason these things make me sick is that I deeply want people to know and be engaged by God. And the crap that goes on only serves to distract people from the most rewarding and life giving relationship they could ever have. It’s been said before, but Christians can certainly be the biggest obstacles to people experiencing Christ there is.

I love Jesus. I love His Church. I love His people. And when we are so off-centered we distract people away from His all-surpassing glory it makes me sick to my stomach.

God save us from ourselves.