Who is the American Idol? **UPDATED**
Ingrid makes a pretty harsh stab at American Idol contestant Phil Stacey. Phil is a Top 7 finalist on American Idol. He is a devout Christian, family man, Navy vocalist, Christian songwriter, and a worship leader in his local church. After his father-in-law writes a letter to the media about Phil’s Christian music, many in the discernment camp fire out insults. This is a dissection of Ingrid’s letter back to Phil Stacey’s father-in-law.
What’s a “devout Christian†doing attempting to become an “American idol?†Is this what Jesus did when he came 2000 years ago? Was he interested in winning a popularity contest by the world, or was He going about His Father’s business here on earth?
This coming from a woman who speaks on a radio show that airs around the world and promotes her show when ever she gets an opportunity. Today they talked about the issues of tax reform in America, specifically attacking the Democratic Party. What exactly is she doing becoming a political activist/analyst? Is this what Jesus did when he came 2000 years ago? Did he want us to be radio talk show hosts or to go about our Father’s business?
Only in America do Christians believe they can have the applause of the world while still obtaining the blessing of God. Christians in North Korea and China and other nations around the world know that following Jesus will cost them everything. Not so, in America. Our American idol (the god of evangelicalism) calls us to be personally successful, popular and all that we can be. The true Jesus calls us to die to ourselves, take up our crosses and follow Him.
Probably one of the most twisted teachings of the discernment party is this concept that is you are not suffering horribly then you are out of God’s will. There is no room to be a successful artist, a influential doctor or anything other than a distressed human being. Here Ingrid basically says that American Christians should not pursue the dreams and plans that God has for us because the church is suffering in North Korea and China. When Jesus calls us to “die to ourselvesâ€, he is not asking us to live some impoverished simple life, but to lay down our own plans and ambitions for His.
So what would that look like with and American Idol? Well, right now American Idol is the most watched television program on the air. Basically Phil Stacy has the largest platform in all of America. He has openly said that he is a believer, and is now interested in sharing his music with the world that shares the truth of the gospel. He has authorized this open letter to the press. I cannot speak for the man, but it would be easy for him to just be an idol… to just soak in the glory and make it all about him. But, he has died to self and is making this a ministry opportunity.
Two things… Why is it not ok for Phil Stacey to pursue this dream, but men like David Crowder, Chris Tomlin and Steven Curtis Chapman pursue it? The music of these men is played all over Mike Corley’s show each week. Is this not a double standard? Also, why are they not attacking anyone in a prominent position in the world… Christian doctors, politicians, lawyers, authors, media personality… why now attack a man who is interested in using the largest public platform in the world to share the gospel.
Ingrid ends with this
When you do that, you will lose the applause of the world, period.
Maybe if you taught the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ and not the idea that to follow Christ means to be impoverished, persecuted and tormented, we would not lose so much of the applause of the world.
This quote by Marianne Williamson sums things up for us as Christians
Our deepest fear is not that we are in adequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond all measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us the most. We ask ourselves, “who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?†Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just some of us; it’s in all of us. And, when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberated others.
PLEASE NOTE: The author or this blog does not support all of the ideas, philosophies, writings or theologies from Williamson. All I am saying is that this quote sums up my thoughts. The end.
![Image of The Prodigal God (An Unabridged Production)[2-CD Set]; Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31Jl6fhDLxL._SL75_.jpg "The Prodigal God (An Unabridged Production)[2-CD Set]; Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith")
52 Comments(+Add)
Spot on Nate!!!
I don’t have time to give a lengthy applause for this post, but this was one of your best ever! Great post!
God Bless,
Nathan
There she goes again, dictating which careers are appropriate for Christians and which aren’t. I guess she won’t be satisfied until the remnant is all gathered together in Wisconsin and waiting for the second coming.
RayJr – at least I live in the right location of Wisconsin so I can hopefully be gathered with the remnant….unless they find out what I do for a living [NOT singing - trust me...] or what I wear to church or when I attend church or because my kids are in public school or because I listen to and enjoy beat music or because I enjoy an occasional adult beverage….shoot, just kick me out now. Unless I can clean myself up enough to be acceptable to them.
Perhaps she’s forgotten 1 Cor 10:31?
The last couple posts from Ingrid…
Whine, whine, whine, whine, whine…
How did one woman get so angry and fearful?
And again, Ingrid, a woman who should be in subjection to her husband as well as church leadership scolds and corrects an ordained minister. Whether he is right or wrong in his Biblical understanding is not for women to decide or even unordained men, if he is misguided it is for elders to lovingly correct him. The church is not a building and it isn’t just contained in a local fellowship, it is invisible and visible throughout the world.
Is this teaching about authority and doctrinal correction another area that is unclear in the Scriptures? If not, and the orthodox group considers it clear, why do people like Ken Silva post her corrective articles on his site? It is because he himself is selective in which Biblical commandments and teachings he adheres to because Ingrid agrees with him. Ingrid should not be allowed to correct ordained men either in a church building, on her radio program, on CRN, or in a grocery store.
The contention that the internet is not a church is bogus. So if Ingrid wanted to scold and correct her own pastor it wouldn’t be acceptible in the church building but if she asked him to walk accross the street she could let him have it? I have addressed this to Ingrid and Ken and they have refused to provide me with Scriptural evidence that what Ingrid is doing is Biblical in nature. They would be greatly offended if an unordained woman would start to correct John MacArthur.
As long as they shoot at the same targets they will allow authoritative gender blurring and ignore the Scriptures which they claim everyone else does. If you believe women can be elders that is another subject, I’m sure Ingrid and Ken do not. They just believe a woman can act as an elder as long as she is chastening the usual suspects. I would never allow my wife to correct other men much less other elders, but then maybe Ken and Ingrid oversee their homes differently. Show me from Scripture and I will espouse at least a woman’s Biblical right to correct ordained elders while still not endorsing her self righteous approach.
Honestly, I think one of the issues here is the word “Idol”. That, to Ingrid, means someone we worship.
I have a conservative Christian coworker who heard I got a vacuum cleaner. She asked me what kind and I told her it was a Dirt Devil. She gave me a dirty look and said, “You would allow that in your house?”
Sometimes a cigar is only a cigar.
Matt,
That’s a funny story. I actually know someone who will not let their children play organized sports because some colleges have devil in their name. Being a Duke hater, I almost agreed with them but…:)
Peace!
Rick,
I am not too sure if I would say that it is unacceptable for a woman to correct a man. I have has several women in my own ministry bring concerns and gentle rebuke to me. It has been helpful… but let’s not get into the issue of gender roles or we will be here all day.
The issue extends beyond Ingrid. Mike Corley has written a post and several other men have linked to it. This is a positions shared among the discernment camp that is absolutely rediculous. It’s as if Christ called us to love lives way below the level of gifts, abilities and talents that he has given us… just for the sake of being dead to ourselves.
There well may be a few interpretations and perceptions about that, so much about personal separation is between the believer and God. (except when particpating in obvious sin). And how do you discern between an American idol who has devotions and witnesses and a same age believer who has no personal life of devotion or service? I would not encourage anyone to go on American idol but I would not castigate a believer who did. At worst he is making a mistake. Been there anyone?
My point was this, the teaching about a woman correcting a pastor as did Ingrid in her piece is clear. So how can she publicly name and address a person on a matter of separation when she is openly disobeying the teachings of Scripture. And instead of even writing about the Biblical principles of separation and their reason she must attack and in her attack she brings the boy’s father-in-law into her crosshairs and questions his spirituality and his view.
And as proof she offers a hymn written in the 1600’s by a man who would probably tell her to keep silent in the church. What an incredible mess!
Steve Camp admitted that he listens to Caedmon’s Call, a band who is named after a 7th century monk (read: Roman Catholic). Derek Webb, former key member of CC, writes for Burnside Writers (http://www.burnsidewriterscollective.com/authors/). Burnside is a cornucopia of who’s who in the in emerging church. Derek is still friends with everyone in CC. So, does this make Mr. Camp emergent???
I personally hate American Idol on an artistic level, but to me it makes no difference if a Christian is on the show. If this is the level of nitpicking we are going to engage in as the Church, we are truly missing the point. Who appointed Ingrid as the nanny for the Church?
Speaking of silly things, the story about the Dirt Devil vacuum cleaner reminds of something that happened in our church. The worship leader bought a new keyboard, it was a Korg “Triton” with the word “Triton” on the back of in pretty big letters. Well one of the pastors was worried about that because of Triton being a pagan god and all, so the name had to be covered up by duct tape. Whenever I think of that situation I just think of Groundskeeper Willie from the Simpsons saying “That’ll do it” (from the episode where Bart falls down a well, and to prevent it from happening again, Willie puts a sign near the well that says “Beware of Well” or something like that).
“I would not encourage anyone to go on American idol”
Why is that? If someone is talented in the musical arts and wants a platform to express that, then why would you not encourage them to be the best at it?
I always wonder why the arts is the one occupation that we draw a HUGE dividing line between the sacred and the secular. We have Christian music and secular music. We have Christian movies and secular movies.
Imagine someone asking, “are you a secular doctor or a Christian doctor?” Or even “are you a Christian school teacher or a secular school teacher?” Why when it comes to the arts do we need a big fat boundary? Would we encourage a Christian mathematician to not begin the process to receive the Nobel Peace Prize? No. They why would we not encourage a Christian artist to aspire to the most highly acclaimed place in the music industry?
Nathan,
I wholly agree with your comment about Christian musicians. I think some of the issues go back, in a way, to how we do church in our culture. Think about it – the way we set up a church service isn’t much different than a theatrical or musical performance. We give people the impression that people who are on the stage then should be people in the “Christian” profession. So people think Christian on any stage should be preaching, whether it be through a sermon, a song, or movie or whatever.
I would love to see more Christians going the route of Switchfoot or Reliant K, where they are Christian musicians, but they don’t use their music as a way to preach to people.
I am allowed to have my own parameters of Christian separation, am I not? I did not say anything about God’s will, I said “I” would not. Personally as a singer/songwriter/pianist I think the whole music thing is overblown. Talent is heralded way above character.
One man’s opinion without tears.
You are allowed, and your explanation made more sense. I thought you had some type of moral issue with a Christian going on American Idol. And yes, talent is often (most of the time) heralded over character. However, there are plenty of talented people in the industry that I work with that have great, Godly character. (and I am not saying you thought there wasn’t. I just wanted to reiterate the fact that you can be very talented, successful and have great character.)
Quick story about the dirt devil vacuum, we had a youth group outing planned that involved going to a hockey game. We had an elder okay the trip, but said that we weren’t allowed to support the home team (the NJ Devils) while we were there.
I was hooked on American Idol for a time… not the last 3 seasons as it seems more and more boring.
I always had an issue with the show title… but that is what it is…
I have seen Christians go an and actually been a good witness… and some with incredible talent have gone on to careers as singers.
In a way i see it as a mirror to the world as a hole… as we being followers of Jesus walk “in the world” we are not of it… I see that these contestants are doing just that… the are in the show… but not of it… and you can usually see those who are in their attitudes…
I think we need to be careful… I think as Rick points out some degree of separation needs to be there… yet if we were to live as separate as Ingrid implies… we would be falling into the error that some had as Paul corrected in 1 Cor 5:9 -10 “I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people– not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.”
So again as Rick stated each of us should live by our “own parameters of Christian separation” as some may have beer at times and others may fall into deep sin if they did… it is to me a Romans 14 issue…
Blessings
iggy
Uh Oh Nathan,
Ken’s saying that you either are an idiot that can’t do your homework, or that you’re just dumb. At least that’s what he says about Rob Bell for using the same quote you used above.
There are so many many things I’d like to say to Ken.
LORD, help me to not say many of those things.
Peace!
Joe, what did Ken say?
You’ll have to go to his piece on Rob. It makes me so mad when he spits this crap. He’s just such a jerk. It really makes me ponder 1 John when I read his stuff. Just go to his post today. Fair Warning! Don’t do it right after eating like I did.
So here’s my question for Ingrid. What if someone is very talented at baseball. Should they not try and play in the Majors? I mean if I could throw a 95mph fastball I’d be playing. It’s just terrible logic.
Joe,
I think you have start a team Bible study or a home for troubled teens if you’re a Christian athlete – it’s somewhere in Philemon. Honestly, I have enough to worry about with my walk with the Lord to worry about what other people do.
Please understand, I’m not saying either of the two things I mentioned above are bad, I’m just using them to prove a point. It is so easy to sit back and talk about what other people should do just as an excuse to ignore our own faults. Something ’bout logs and specks, you know…
I’m a musician and have been for a LONG time. I am now a lot closer to 60 than I am to 50. Spent most my time with secular bands. Why? It put food on the table and paid a lot of my bills. I use to take a lot of heat for it too.
I remember some time ago Pat Robertson interviewed the bass player of Kansas(one of my favorite bands). Pat was absolutely shocked that the guy after accepting Christ as his savior was STILL playing in a “Rock” band. The guy did an excellent job explaining the good he could do where he was but the clincher was….he looks Pat in the eye and says, “When a carpenter becomes a Christian, does he stop building houses and only build churches?”. Needless to say the conversation stopped at that point…….
My keyboards and vocal chords were and are my tools nothing more nothing less. Just as the mechanics wrench is his tool to repair your car and make a living doing it.
Actually Nathan… I hate to say this Ken is right on this one as that is not a nelson Mandela quote…
Please see the two links…
1. Link one
2. Link two
It is often incorrectly attributed to Nelson Mandela… and I think that even a broken clock will be right at least twice a day… which is more accurate that Ken usually is.
blessings,
iggy
I have never seen American Idol, not even once. And Marianne Williamson rather creeps me out, although I do understand what you are trying to say by using her quote.
But she still creeps me out.
yeah… she creeps me out too. Maybe we can just imagine Nelson Mandela saying it
Deborah…
you could take the trip, but not support the very team you ostensibly were going to see play and win? Because of their name?
All due respect to your church leadership, but what planet are pople living on?
Henry Frueh,
Strange how you liked Ingrid Schlueter a great deal when she was linking to your articles just a few months ago. You nearly became a contributor to Slice until the Slicers decided against you. You repeatedly linked to Ingrid’s site up until the time that you didn’t get the contributor gig, then you suddenly developed a passion against women doing talk shows and having blogs. What hypocrisy!! If she was so off base biblically, why didn’t you say so when she was linking to your articles!! Also, I find it interesting that you hate her so much you prefer to find common cause with people who read goddess theologian Marianne Williamson. Shouldn’t you be objecting to this site’s propensity for quoting women like her? Ingrid is a sister in Christ and your slander of her on public boards is beneath contempt. Why don’t you find something more godly to do with your time, buddy, instead of picking on women? You disgust me.
Oh Tito,
What’s your real name? Please tell me this isn’t Ingrid posting under another pseudonym? Chris, I have a comment from Ken that I can’t seem to moderate. Can you take of that for me?
While you’re at I’d love to know what the ISP is for Tito. But that’s just me. I cannot stand cowardice.
Well, Tito, how’s Herndon Va? I used to live there. Why don’t you tell us a little more about you?
Tito, three things.
1. “Ingrid is a sister in Christ and your slander of her on public boards is beneath contempt.”
Are Rob Bell, Rick Warren, Erwin McManus, Dan Kimball, etc. not brothers in Christ? When was the last time you accused Ingrid or Silva of being beneath contempt?
2. “you prefer to find common cause with people who read goddess theologian Marianne Williamson.”
If you actually read the article, NO ONE read Marianne Williamson’s theology. I simply miss quoted Nelson Mandela, apparently a common thing to do with this quote. Somehow now Ken Silva thinks we are Williamson fans because I misquoted someone with her work. I had never even heard of the lady until he corrected me (with incredibly flawed logic too).
3. If you have spent any amount of time on this board you would know that Rich / Henry is definitely not towing our “party line” (if there is such a thing). He is a definite free thinker here.
Joe,
Please don’t say the name of the place I live if you know it – but I’m just curious, do people who run sites know where people live simply from their sending comments to their site? How does that work?
Nathan,
Help me understand your logic. You think that Ingrid slanders Rob Bell, et al so it’s okay for you or Henry to slander right back? I don’t defend slander period. I see this constantly on emerging boards/blogs. “They attack Rob Bell so we can call them ***heads, (that was on the ooze) or accuse them of being all manner of psychopaths, heretics, etc. etc. and tear them down with our own emergent attack watch bloggies. If they are positioning themselves as our enemies, wasn’t Christ’s command to love them? I don’t get how because “they” do something it justifies us doing the same. I don’t see the love here. This entire site is dedicated to attacking others. Why don’t you guys lead by example? If you say that your site is needed to set the record straight, that’s the same line they use. How are you different? It is because you’re “right” and they’re “wrong”?
tito,
“I don’t defend slander period. I see this constantly on emerging boards/blogs.”
Do you see this on the “discernment” boards as well? You seem very biased.
“They attack Rob Bell so we can call them ***heads”
I don’t think we have done this here at all. I am sorry you have had that experience elsewhere.
“This entire site is dedicated to attacking others. Why don’t you guys lead by example? If you say that your site is needed to set the record straight, that’s the same line they use. How are you different? It is because you’re “right†and they’re “wrongâ€?”
Tito, we expose the truth here about those who are attacking the church with skewed logic and misquoted scripture. We don’t attack the church, we try to defend the church fro those who are attacking her.
I see it like this. If a man is beating up a woman in an alley, do I say “I can’t get involved because I would be just like him”. Do I not intervene because I would have to fight him like he is fighting her?
“This coming from a woman who speaks on a radio show that airs around the world and promotes her show when ever she gets an opportunity.”
Uh, not the same thing. How will winning American Idol help the expansion of the Kingdom? That is the question. All things are permissible, but they are not all edifying or beneficial.
Perhaps one day when the wenies that call themselves men of God stop trying to relate to their feminine side and be PC, then Ingrid wouldn’t have to bear the burden.
Marianne Williamson??!!! nuff said there!
“PLEASE NOTE: The author or this blog does not support all of the ideas, philosophies, writings or theologies from Williamson. All I am saying is that this quote sums up my thoughts. The end. ”
Do you guys ever actually read what you write?? LOL!!
That quote IS Williamson’s theology, ideas and philosophies.
But hey you don’t agree with her. The slithery serpent lives!
We are all free thinkers, some of us are more free than others. Relativism and subjectivism and “whatever” methodologies are not freedom
I see that Nathan on his newest post admits his problem. He is an M.A. in Theology. Too bad the apostles didn’t have the knowledge that we have today. Think of the success thay could have had, “Macedonian Idol”
Pragmatism is what they must teach in Divinity school these days.
When Stacey delivers an address like Peter did on the day of Pentecost, then call me. This is all about him.
Apart from Christ, the new man, we are dead in our sins. dead men have no destinies. Regenerated men have the destiny of Christ as their fulfillment is not an issue. You are gifted to serve and glorify Him, not draw attention to your “testimony”. I no longer have to worry about me. That is true freedom.
I write and lead worship in a thoroughly contemporary manner. In fact in the manner of world cultural style. However I find Chapman, Crowder, Tomlin etc to be formulaic and me-centered. CCM is all about the money, and so is Mr. Stacey.
There is a gift called discernment I suggest that you use it, if you actually possess it.
Chris P
You wrote
We do – which is why we disagree with 99% of what you write
Another Nathan, your assesment would be correct, we could go to the game, but not support the team. If I only knew what planet those people were from! The pastor is a relative and we used to go to that church (at that time we were involved in the youth group).
Just for fun, here is a little story about them. This past monday I found myself in a position where I had to open an emergency shelter, with at least 50 people looking for a place to stay. I asked the (above mentioned) pastor if he could watch my kids for an hour or so while I tried to provide seizure medication for someone whose prescription was now under 6 feet of water. I had already lined up babysitters for the rest of the day. He refused as he was too busy making copies for a program they were running that night (it ended up being cancelled).
So I partnered with the local branch of the apostate church of rome, who opened up their building, prepared at least 2 full meals, cancelled every program they had for 4 days so their volunteers could assist us, consolidated their day classes so the teachers could help us and provided their students with cold lunches so the cafeteria workers could give the planned hot meals to the victims. The priests who helped out wore street clothes so they wouldn’t threaten the refugees and gave several hours of assistance, but the pastor of the fundamental church couldn’t spare 1 hour.
I’ll take the apostates any day over the fundamentalists.
Amy,
Through one of the admin panels in the site (and the domain admin, as well), I can see your IP address, and it matches the state you live in (which I believe you mentioned once over on VS).
As for Tito, I’ve always suspected him of being the same person that owns the registration for the Slice/CRN domains (and the general location fits)…
You can actually take the IP address and do a “whois” search too, which is where I found Mr. Tito.
Chris P,
You wrote
Have you been taking remedial logic lessons from Ken?
If Marianne Williamson noted “the sky is blue”, and I agreed with her, that does not make me a supporter of hers. Insofar as ANYONE notes something that is true, then what they have said is truth – whether the rest of what they believe is bunk or not (the phrase ‘even a stopped watch is right twice a day’ comes to mind).
The slithery serpent does live, which is why we have corrected the slander put forth by him.
You wrote:
So let me get this straight. If I was a plumber and a Christian, my working as a plumber is “all about me” if I don’t get up and give an address like Peter on Pentecost as part of my profession of being a plumber? Please.
Actions speak far louder than any words, Chris. I seem to remember someone saying something like “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – which doesn’t require giving a Shavout dissertation at the drop of a hat…
Chris P.
Your logic is so twisted I can hardly even follow it, and therefore will not spend too much time addressing it.
We don’t support Williamson in ANY way, I misquoted Nelson Mandela. You apparently jumped over the conversation about quotes, the quoter and truth.
If you can’t see how a Christian having the highest platform in the world to share his music about Christ would be beneficial, then you must be blind.
“CCM is all about the money, and so is Mr. Stacey.”
I am sure that you have had a discussion with him about this, or seen this from some blog or email. or, maybe you used you magical powers of discernment to see this. Sounds pretty mystical to me.
Chris P, How about we start here:
when you, Chris P, deliver an address like the Apostle Peter did on the day of Pentecost you call me. Sound fair, to you?
Joe,
Does that require 3,000 to be saved as a result, as well, for it to be deemed as ‘like the Apostle Peter did on the day of Pentecost’?
In all seriousness, litmus tests like this and criticisms of Christians solely based on their being on a public stage is just sad, sad, sad.
Tito – as for the purpose of this site when differentiated from CRN/Slice 2.0, please refer to the verse quoted at the top of the page (Matt 23:23), and its context within scripture. It should give you a more full answer to your question…
“Perhaps one day when the wenies that call themselves men of God stop trying to relate to their feminine side and be PC, then Ingrid wouldn’t have to bear the burden.”
Relating to their feminine side includes allowing a woman to take a man’s place and endorsing her unScriptural ministry. Only men, ordained men, are Biblically allowed to be overseers of other ordained men and correct them. Are you relating to your feminine side when you endorse Ingrid or other women like her as they openly disobey the Scriptures?
Regarding the quote, my two cents worth:
I initially saw it on the homepage of Nathan’s website, a couple of weeks ago. The quote in my opinion, did not represent truth, as I did not assume it was addressed to Christians. This part especially disturbed me, “We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just some of us; it’s in all of us.”
Even as a Christian, I cannot accept this quote directed to me, regardless of who wrote it:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are in adequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond all measure.”
No, I absolutely know that I am inadequate. And I absolutely know that it is only Christ in me who is powerful beyond all measure.
” It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us the most. ”
No, the light within me is Jesus Christ, and he does not frighten me in the normal sense of terror. FEAR ITSELF comes in the person of Satan.
“We ask ourselves, “who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?â€
I don’t ask myself any of that. If any of that applies to me even minutely, I know it is a gift of God.
“Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.”
This kind of statement is a slam on all the “weak things of the world” – the physically disabled, the mentally disabled, the “ugly,” the “untalented” but “extremely service oriented” who are CHILDREN OF GOD.
“There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won’t feel insecure around you.”
Is this quote just encouraging self-confidence, or a sense of MY POWERFUL SELF?
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just some of us; it’s in all of us. And, when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberated others.
We do need to be liberated from fear, which can keep us from doing many things, including things which do not seem beautiful, brilliant, artistic, or appreciated. Christ may ask us to do something which is extremely unpopular and doesn’t fit our “gifts” at all. We need to be free from the fear to be obedient to Christ no matter what the cost.
Amy, you misses the whole point of this quote. I am not suggesting that we do great and amazing things on our own… it is Christ within us that empowers us to do these things. Unfortunately, many in the church have been told that you should not have any ambitions for greatness. It has become a four letter word. That it is prideful, ungodly and selfish. Because of that, many Christians sink into the background of society, afraid of the greatness that God has placed within them. I know that there are hundreds, no, thousands or amazing athletes, artists, engineers, thinkers, activists in the Christian world who hold back on unleashing the power of God within them because they have been neutered and told to be “humble” or that Christians shouldn’t be a part of these things.
Christianity, because of this, has become a safe and civilized organized religion. No one accomplishes great things, no one challenges the social status quo, no one knows that Christ wants to expand their life into something great! Instead, we sit in our warm pews and tell stories of the great barbarian Christians who are working in closed countries around the world to share the gospel. We sit in awe of the few who are living life with risk, and passion and fullness in Christ. It really is such a voyeuristic lifestyle. And at worst, we create blog sites to shoot those who are making a difference down to make us feel more significant in life.
Do you ever wonder why the leaders and artists and great men and women of the world look down at Christianity? It is not Because the gospel is offensive and a stumbling block to them. it is because they look at our tame and housebroken Christian culture and wonder why they would want to be a part of this. The Jesus Christ that I read of was a wild man. He turned over tables, healed the incurable and taught with passion and vigor. He lived a life worth emulating. Today he is reduced to a 1980s Lifeway rendition of a smiling while man with a white robe and blue sash. Somehow that doesn’t fit. Did he die so we can be insignificant and passive?
Our lives as Christians should look much more like Braveheart and much less like Little House on the Prairie.
Well, that’s my rant about that. I am sure I will get harpooned for something in there
Ok, regardless of where we are on the faith-0-meter, from fire and brimstone fundy to tolerent liberal, I think its easy to agree on one thing…Ingrid is a total wackjob. Somehow, I can’t get the thought out of my head that somewhere, God is just shaking is head and thinking, “No lady, you just don’t get it…your narrowminded judgemental ways are not what this whole thing is all about, so lighten up, huh?”
Its not a tough conclusion if you’ve listened to her on the radio, or have followed Slice.
This is the same woman who on her radio show several years ago accused an 8 year old girl of “flouncing along a swimming pool deck”. How does an 8 year old “flounce”, and would an 8 year old even know if they were “flouncing”. And what kind of body-image issues are your dragging around if you can find something dirty or immodest in an 8 year old in a bathing suit on a summer day.
The mind reels…
So its no wonder that something as uncomplicated as performing on American Idol can peg the needle on Ingrid’s personal faith-o-meter.
The gospel according to Ingrid? No thanks, and I hope my sense of judgement is never so impaired that her brand of religion starts making sense.
Oh, and along the lines of the Dirt Devil story, I once heard a very concerned and well meaning caller object to Devil’s Food Cake, and Deviled Eggs being offered at a church function.
Yikes!
Typos withstanding (yeah right I have more typos than…) I agree with you Nathan. I think part of the problem we (at least I did) have is a Biblical understanding of Humility. There is a preacher who honestly preaches some stuff that I don’t agree with at all but he helped my understanding of this concept Scriptures. We (at leat I used to) think that humility is some sort of denegrating of ourselves. We have to put ourself down so we can lift God up. Then I read this verse:
Numbers 12:3
You know who wrote the book of Numbers? Moses did. If Rick Warren wrote that, or Erwin or Rob people would be tearing their clothes and sitting in ash cloth and ashses. The label heretic would be lobbed like tank shells. Shrieks of “emergent” would be heard from sea to sea. Sorry I’m on a little sugar high.
Peace
yeah… if I could only type as fast as I think, I would never have a typo problem.
hey, off topic, but how do you search ISPs? I have a number, I want to track it…
Just google, “Whois Search” pick one of the choices that come up. put the ISP in and Voila!
“Do you ever wonder why the leaders and artists and great men and women of the world look down at Christianity? It is not Because the gospel is offensive and a stumbling block to them. it is because they look at our tame and housebroken Christian culture and wonder why they would want to be a part of this.”
That’s not what scripture says. Scripture says that Christ himself is a stumblingblock to unbelievers. And that noone can come to Christ unless the FATHER draws them.
And there are many, many Christians who are not “tame and housebroken.” And they go and share the gospel “to the ends of the earth,” defying all they have learned in America about putting their own safety, their own health, their own needs, their family, before the kingdom of God.
And some people to whom they go receive Christ, but MANY of those people to whom they go to share the gospel REJECT Christ. People can only believe in Jesus if the Father draws them and no amount of “barbaricness” (what is the adjective?) is going to change that.