They will know we are Christians by our... what?

Yep, its official. At least in my book. The once loved "hippie" song, They will know we are Christains by our love, has forever been changed to: They will know we are Christians by our multiple doctinal, non-transubstantiational, pre-lapsarian but post-tribulational, you-better-believe-what-I-believe-or-you-WILL-burn teachings.

I know what you're thinking... pretty long huh? So we'll shorten it to They will know we are Christians by our... what? I like it, has a catchy post-modern vibe to it. Little guitar, some djembe, maybe a tamborine or two and you have yourself the beginning of a great worship set.

Of course this is only a painfull reality in the case in my specific denomination. It seems that my church has founded itself so deeply in biblical truth (and I beleive it has or I wouldn't be here) that we don't leave any room for those who think and perhaps have... can I say it? questions.

Kinda funny, we evangelize the hell (pun intended) out of people, wooing them to the church, but if you are in the church and don't agree with some biblical or doctrinal points, or lifestyle issues we shun you as if you have some infectious disease that might spread causing a pandemic episode of apostasy whereas all of us will be bowing down to a picture of a pope-like figure, while we huddle in some adobe huts in the desserts of southern New Mexico, claiming that there is no christ but the oreo. A bit over the top but it works. Seriously though this saddens me. It hurts. We love sinners (at least I hope we do), but we have a hard time loving saints who have become "sinners."

I thought I remember reading Jesus tell us that if a person refuses to listen to the truth, treat them as if they were pagans. Meaning: fall all over yourself to love them back. Hmm... but I guess that doesn't apply to your own church members. We believe the Holy Spirit can bring someone into the church, but if they should question and disagree on main matters of faith He is powerless to guide them so we must protect the flock.

What kind of a crazy God would think up something like grace anyway? What a kook. Grace... ha thats a good one.

Was it really God's purpose?

Just some thougths...

Sometimes I think we as youth workers get a little too fast and loose with the lines "it's all part of God's will or plan." We read stories like Joseph's where he says to his brothers, "you didn't sell me into slavery, it was God's purpose for all that to happen to me." Really?

I guess I can see God's purpose in that, thousands to millions of lives ultimately saved from starvation. But what I have a problem doing is then transfering that ideology to our day and age.

I just got back from camp where I met a girl who was having a really hard time understanding the how and why of God's plan in the physical abuse her father gave her and her family a couple of years ago. God caused the events in Joseph's life, maybe. God caused the events in this young girl's life, I don't think so.

I can't believe that it is God's intention to cause bad things to happen. God can use bad things as well as good things to work out His plan, but does He cause them happen in the first place?

God has a plan, and can make it happen. But everything that I read in the Bible says that God's plans for me are for good. I don't have any really good answers, but I think it would be a good thing if I and others were a bit more careful with what we attribute to God.