I never understood the concept of an open letter. I mean, really it signals that someone was too cowardly to confront someone in person, or they are incredibly bitter about a situation. It rarely is a healthy way to confront. This one featured on CRN is no different. And, while I don’t have alot of time, here are some thoughts on the letter
* Why do people thing that wanting to create a place where people are valued and live in community is in direct opposition to worshiping and glorifying God. As if by creating a place where “everyone knows your name” flies in the face of glorifying God. rediculous.
* I cannot stand outlandish comparisons from ODMs. This is a great one:
Scott Distler said, “I think Grace Church needs to become more like a bar! It’s time to light the neon sign in the window that says, “The Bar is Open”. After all, we serve the best drink in town…the living water of Jesus Christ!”
Does that cross the line?
Well, how about this statement?
“I think Grace Church needs to become more like a strip club! It’s time to light the neon sign in the window that says, “The Strip Club Is Open”. After all, we serve the best stripper in town…Jesus Christ strips us of all our unrighteousness!”
That makes absolutely no sense. You can go into a bar and not sin… drink a coke, order some food –heck, even drink beer. Jesus probably hung out in alot of places that looked like modern day bars, places serving wine and hosting the least of society. However a strip club is inherently sinful. You go there to look and lust at nude women. Fries and a Beer vs. Nude dancing women… uh, is it really that fair of a comparison?
* Lastly, I have never heard of Lititz Grace Church. They do not have a huge influence on the world. And because of this, is it really necessary to warn the WORLD of the supposed evil that is practiced there? I could somewhat understand if we were talking about Willow Creek or Saddleback, but this is some random church in PA. I am convinced that most people blog first and think later. If they realized that they were actually speaking to THE WORLD, they might actually rethink some of the things they published.
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8 Comments(+Add)
It seems that this guy was a former member. I entirely disagree with the pastor’s clumsy attempt to label the church building as some type of spiritual alehouse. Dumb all around.
as i said the other day, Jesus’s first miracle involved making sure a wedding didn’t lose its only selling point for all the attendees, i.e., free booze.
because otherwise, weddings are completely boring, and Jesus understood this.
Nathan,
i have written a couple of open letters and my motive was more of frustration as the people seemed to care for actual discourse. I have used the open letter to point out certain doctrinal issues that person has as they are attacking others for theirs.
As far as open letters to people like John MacArthur I just figured he would never read it anyway… whether I sent it to him personally or not…
Now, I see nothing wrong as long as the person has made genuine attempts to talk to that person. With rare exception such as the case of the one open letter I wrote to JM… which was more of a hypothetical, “if I ran into JM how would I respond to his accusations.”
Many of the ODM’s are just rude and confrontational.
Anyway, I personally do not discredit anyone for “the open letter” as most time they are meaningless and if answered really do nothing.
iggy
for a true exposition of the open letter, all should visit McSweeney’s (www and the Mcsweeneys and the dot net) and peruse the “open letters” category.
As I take the envelope in my hand, I run my finger under the flap and then take out the letter. Suddenly I realize what once was a sealed letter is now an open one addressed to me. Oh my, what could it be??
Oh…it’s an open letter from the electric company requesting my payment. I will respond…
The tactic or switching illustrations to try and prove a point is rather common among the ODM’s – and more often than not they have to alter the original meaning to make their point.
The point that is most often proved/illustrated is the weakness of their own position – or they would not need to employ such tactics.
Neil
I don’t think I can take any more of this. I think I’m gonna have to stop reading your site.
If I read “wordly” one more time…
My wife is actually from Lititz. It’s a very small town in Lancaster County. It’s kind of funny that CRN thinks it’s worth posting this “open letter” for the world to see.
Maybe idiotic is a better word…