Musings of the Minstrel
Friday, December 4, 2009
Carnival Christianity
I have been amazed lately at how quickly people walk away from what has been so dear to them. I have watched men & women walk away almost callously from their families. I have watched as people removed themselves from the friendships that took years to establish in just a few moments. Even sadder is to see people throw truth away under the guise of spiritual freedom. Experts tell us this is part of the "post-modern" mentality. If it is then my heart is broken for the coming generations that will feel the negative effects of such temporal decisions of the present generation.There seems to be a blurring of reality. This is why the "virtual world" that the internet provides has become so popular. It is reported that social networking has now replaced pornography on the internet as the most used activity. People are creating "pseudo-relationships" with people from the past and with total strangers, people they would never even be interested in talking to in a real-time relationship. This blurring of reality makes the mind "...a switching center for all the networks of influence"(Jean Gaudrillard). This generation is being bombarded by many influences but is failing to maintain strong personal distinctives and the result is a blurring of truth.
Kenneth Gergen states that in the present condition of "decentered self", confusion will reign and "without external standards and without internal standards there is only cynicism, panic and freefall"(The Saturated Self").
When the moorings that have held generations strong are pulled up...long term commitments become a thing of the past. "Instead of long-term commitment, the postmodern self just moves onto the next game, to the next show, to the next relationship"(Middleton and Walsh) "This is the nomadic self, on the road with the carnival"
I am watching spiritual carnival teams start up very often these days. Their well decorated "carny" buses pass me by on their way to yet another empty lot in the seedy part of town. Bright lights, party music, cotton candy sermons (lot of fluff & color but not much nutrition) and a different crowd every night. Nomadic ministry....their christianity is a journey searching and chasing. It seems to be the new cool trend to be "searching" but "finding" is totally out of date.
I guess this is why I see so many "Rolling Stones"....just walking away... They see themselves as pioneers but sadly they just seem to be "wondering nomads" moving from tent to tent.
Labels: c myles young, decentered, internet, Kenneth Gergen, media, ministry, networking, nomadic, pornography, post-modern, Saturated Self, self, social, virtual world
GOD HELP THESE PEOPLE! YOU ARE DEAD ON BRO! THE GRASS IS NEVER GREENER ON THE OTHERSIDE KEEP PREACHING THE TRUTH!
Yessur, and thats all I can really say is yessur. God don't know the people that claim know him that is invisible, and a story to them for that matter. While they chase their billion dollar soul fantasies Jesus is a story figure to them that they can talk and do as they wish with while leading people into a hellish state or just plain hell. Keep on keeping on brother Myles.
Man, Bro! All those compromising idiots! If they'd just listen to someone that had some sense!
This ain't no journey. We've arrived! We are here! Today is the day that the Lord has made. Praise God. Thankful everyday for blogs like yours.
Amen.
All these people that want to analyze scripture. Just listen to your pastor!
In response to Brett's statement: In 2 Timothy 2:15, the Bible says, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Definition of Study:
learning, analysis
I have an AWESOME, INCREDIBLE, WORD-preaching pastor and I love to hear the Word of God preached so powerfully every service. However, it is MY responsibility to study the Word and know what my pastor says is STRAIGHT from the Word. I don't want to "just listen to my pastor". I want to listen to God by way of the Bible and the ministry who gave me a pastor and be assured that I am living right and honoring what God has ordained as the WAY to make heaven my home.
Perhaps you were referring to those who want to misinterpret scripture and twist it to their "own understanding"?
Sis. McVay I just listen to my pastor. I think that verse was written to a pastor anyway. My pastor is accountable for my soul and I have to obey him. I trust his wisdom. He reads from the Bible and is trained well to divide the word.
Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
It's not wise to just blindly follow your pastor, as spiritual as he may be. Don't missunderstand me, I'm not down-playing the ministry in any way (my father is a pastor). But it would behoove us to listen with readiness, then go home and study it out for ourselves. That's why we all bring our Bible's to church and read along... or we should.
What good does witnessessing do when all you can say in defense of your beliefs is, "my pastor said it's right" or "my pastor said it's in the Bible." Sorry, that just doesn't work. You have to know it for yourself, and that only comes by personal study and memorization... (ps. Bible Quizzing is a good thing for kids to get into.)