It’s Not So Fundamental

I have never been so convinced of one thing in my life more than right now; what is this epiphany I have had? Essentially, I am firm in my conviction that life is incredibly messy and chaotic; life is confusing and it is difficult, and honestly, life normally produces far more questions that it produces answers. For this reason I feel it necessary to address a very large and very loud group of people within my faith tradition…let’s call them the Fundamentalists (you know who you are). These are the folks that would like to simplify life down to what you can and cannot do, in fact, they would like to simplify faith down to that as well, a simple laundry list of do’s and don’ts and doctrinal statements. Frankly, the Christian faith is fraught with individuals who think this way, and even within those who recognize the complexities of life there is still a fundamentalist core that says they must define themselves by what they are against rather than what they are for.

This is the line of thinking that scares me. For one, it seems largely irrational, after all, could you imagine someone running a political campaign where all they did is simply list of all the things they are against? Eventually, people would start expecting some comment on what they actually do stand for, and what they will get done in their political tenure. Unfortunately, too many fundamentalists have actually rejected the fundamentals of Jesus. These folks tend to forget the harsh words Jesus had for the Pharisees who had morphed faith into a holiness code. Despite Jesus seemingly harsh treatment of Pharisees in the New Testament, Pharisaism is alive and thriving today. It thrives in Christian communities who reject the mysteries of God and try and simplify Him using the scientific method. It thrives on Christian college campuses where students refuse to ask difficult questions about their faith for fear that their world will simply come crashing down. Frankly, for many of these folks, having everything crash down might not be such a bad thing.

So, what’s the point? Here’s why I am frustrated: we are losing a generation. We are losing a generation because Christians refuse to speak the language of that generation. Good luck to the fundamentalists who think they are going to scientifically prove the tenets of Christian faith to a postmodern generation. Good luck to the fundamentalists who think being anti-film, anti-music, anti-gay, and anti-culture is actually the way to go when it comes to reaching a generation for Christ. Personally, I think most “outsiders” of the Christian faith are tired of the Christian agenda that seems more interested in conservative politics rather than the needs of real hurting people.

We are losing a generation to brokenness. We are losing a generation to rape, abuse, molestation, and divorce. We are losing a generation to violence, gangs, drugs, and suicide. We are losing a generation because of bad politics, war, and intolerance. We are losing a generation because of Pat Robertson, Fred Phelps, and every other “Christian” who espouses hatred rather than love. We are losing a generation because of people like Joel Osteen who would rather give you the “seven steps to becoming the best you” rather than teach about the transforming power of faith through Jesus Christ. We are losing a generation because modern Christianity cannot answer the questions of our postmodern world.

My message to the fundamentalists: please stop talking…you’re making Jesus look bad. Another message to the fundamentalists: the teachings of Jesus are actually more important than the commentaries of the Apostle Paul (it’s the whole God in flesh vs. Man thing…God always wins). It’s interesting that most people really like Jesus when they get to know the real Him, but people really distrust most “Christ-followers.” Perhaps Gandhi said it best: “I love your Christ, but it is just that so many of you Christians are so unlike your Christ.” That line of thinking is echoed in the thinking of the new generation. Somehow, we need to get people to Jesus without exposing them to Christianity (I haven’t figured out how yet).

Fundamentally, our Lord’s message was Himself. He did not come merely to preach a Gospel; He himself is that Gospel. He did not come merely to give bread; He said, “I am the bread.” He did not come merely to shed light; He said, “I am the light.” He did not come merely to show the door; He said, “I am the door.” He did not come merely to name a shepherd; He said, “I am the shepherd.” He did not come merely to point the way; He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” –J. Sidlow Baxter

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~ by ascrawford on February 25, 2008.