Critical Christian Critics Criticising Critical Christians
March 26, 2008 by Randy
Filed under Christianity, Church, Friends, Gratefulness, Humility, Life, People, Prayer, Religion
Have you noticed that it is chic to be a critic against “the Church?” Especially if you are a Christian criticising the church. Have you also noticed that it is cool to criticize critics of the church? … you know to be a Christian criticizing Christians who criticize other Christians? It’s so … exhausting.
“Snarky” is not one of the gifts of the Spirit.
Now, I don’t want to sound critical ::: smile ::: but what if we spend more time encouraging, where we can, critical Christians we Christians are critical of? A humbling question could be, “How can I engage the Spirit to edify “the Body” instead of being critical for the sake of being critical?” What ways can I be grateful for the efforts of the historic church and other Christians who do things differently?
::: this is my lunchtime meditation today :::
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“Snarky” is not one of the gifts of the Spirit.
Are you sure?
Yes.
On Wed, Mar 26, 2008 at 10:16 PM, Disqus <
Oh, ok.
I have been informed that “Revelation is kind of dedicated to that.” I can't speak to Revelation or its dedicatedness because I haven't read it in forever.
I think we should (constructively) criticize things that are wrong (eg the traditional attitudes so many Christians take towards gay and Lesbian people), and that it is incredibly important to do so. But it isn't ok to criticize for the sake of being critical, so we should criticize people doing that as well. But, as you seem to be pointing out with your war against whining, we should try to emphasize the positive as well.
Are you saying that it is especially offensive for Christians to do this critical communicating?
Lately, I've taken a couple of direct shots of snarkiness from non-Christians (I assume) for my guilty-by-association connection with Oklahoma Rep. Sally Kern. AND, I've taken a couple of verbal (actually, written) hits from Christians for the same. This snarky stuff is something I am capable of.
Dr. Throckmorton has got me thinking this week in the challenge to live the golden rule.
Yes I am. If it isn't constructive and wrapped in grace it isn't everything that it could be. I think people can be critical but it isn't profitable to be critical just for criticism's sake. It is not enough to just continuously spout off the list of disagreements. If we feel the need to speak a corrective word fine…just do it like the way you mentioned…with the Golden Rule approach.
I am just seeing a tsunami of Christians being lazy and flippant with their criticism towards others and it irritated me to the point of wanting to write the above for about a week now. Thanks for the comment LizaLeigh :).
Yep we are tracking. Except for Revelation… there isn't a thing about that book that seems snarky to me. It's all scary judgment and epic worship for eternity. It's to big for me to wrap my concept of “snarky” around.
I agree. Sometimes I am good at taking a moment before I open my trap. Rarely do I uzi those around me. My snarkosity is troublesome.
Well, this is good.
I think his point was that Revelation was dedicated to causing un-snarkiness. I don't really know.