I am going to believe the best, and say that the General Editor at CRN is not as ignorant as this article seems to show. For the last time, when Rick Warren said, “the future of the world is not secularism, it’s religious pluralism”, we was not advocating for one global religion. He was simply stating the facts. Just like when I say, “the future of my friend with cancer appears to not be a long life, but an early death”, I am not advocating the ending of her life. I am simply stating where things are headed. So, I hope we do not see a plethora of posts about how Warren is calling for one big global religion, or accepts all religions as true.

But, when you say things like

Richard Mouw, president of Fuller Theological Seminary (FTS), and his embracing of apostate Roman Catholicism as a Christian denomination it would appear Rick Warren is not the only one interested in a future of Global religious pluralism…And apparently this religious pluralism extends to non-Christian cults as well.

It does not make sense. If it was meant to be a jab at Warren, it was not very good. If it was meant to show that cults would be a part of a religiously plural society, you as simply stating the obvious.

AN UPDATED SIDE NOTE

I laughed so hard at this video. The music, the captions, the exclamation marks! Check it out

If on Tuesday, February 5th  you happened to be at the mall at the same time as my family you would perhaps notice that we are all decked out with shirts and hats from the latest Super Bowl in Glendale, Arizona. Perhaps you might even say to yourself, “Lucky dogs they got to go to the Super Bowl. It must be nice to have that kind of money.”

That’s perception.

Reality? My sister, who lives in Arizona, arrived yesterday for a visit. Her flight from Phoenix to Chicago was rescheduled, so she had a lot of time on her hands. So,my sister, doing what she LOVES to do, shopped the Airport stores looking for gifts for each of us. We all now own a hat or shirt that advertises the Super Bowl game that will take place on February 3rd in Glendale, Arizona. The hats and shirts will be the closest we ever get to a Super Bowl.

As you can see there is a big difference between the perception of the first paragraph and the reality of the second.

In Evangelicalism, perception IS reality. It doesn’t matter what you believe. Truth doesn’t matter. What others perceive your truth to be….that is what matters. It is quite common in Evangelicalism to tar other people with labels like heretic or declare people deniers of the gospel. It doesn’t matter what the truth is. All that matters is what the critic percevies the truth to  be. When challenged about their false perceptions, the critic attempts to sidestep the issue by playing the guilt by association game.

The guilt by association game works like this: “You have a link on your website to Rob Bell, Donald Miller, Brian, McLaren, Billy Graham, etc so you must be ___________________.” (fill in the blank with perceived judgment)  If you drink or smoke or do any of the things perceived as wrong by the morality police then you are jusged as  worldly or even unsaved. If something is perceived to be worldly then it is worldly. Truth doesn’t matter.

For all the blather in many Evangelical circles about truth, I am not convinced truth really matters. It is all about perception. I have been accused several times of denying or compromising the gospel. Never mind the fact that  NO proof for that assertion exists. In fact, I will give someone a 100.00 if they can show one instance where I deny the gospel. I figure that 100.00 is never going to leave my bank account. But, truth doesn’t matter. I defend Rob Bell, and Rob Bell denies the gospel, so I am guilty by association. (and BTW, I do not believe Rob Bell denies the gospel.)

Years ago, I preached in a little Baptist Church in Utica, Ohio. When it came time to collect the offering the pastor put a blank, folded piece of paper in the offering plate. He told me afterward, that it was important for  Church members to “see” (perception) him giving, so when he didn’t have anything to give, he put in a blank piece of paper. Once again, it is all about  perception.

Sometimes, I wonder how much of my Christian life is built on perception rather than reality. As a minister, I learned quickly how to act the part of a super-spiritual Christian.  Reality didn’t matter. All that mattered is that people perceived their minister to be a “man of gawd”.

I wonder if our Churches could really handle reality? Honest, open, confrontational, loving reality.

Your thoughts?

Last year, Rick Frueh granted us a gift with “Humor Day”, an event that (at least I thought) was greatly needed and edifying to readers and writers alike. In this spirit, I’d like to open today as “Humor Day: Part Deux”. Since I’m not sure I could say it any better, here’s the premise, as described last year by Rick:

Serious discussion can still continue, but I am inviting humor from every perspective. Good hearted, clean (please), pointed, self demeaning, all kinds of humor. No taking offense, save it for tomorrow. Let’s laugh a little and remember we are all in the same family!!

Have at it!

 

 Mars Hill: Does God Have a Sense of Humor?: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download