Critiquing the critiqued and those who endlessly critique and critique
It's easy to judge, critique and see how people or groups match up to your standards. Chances are, most people do not match up to your standards or my standards. We love comparing.
Ecclesiastically, this happens a lot. Movements critique others movements to make sure we are aware of why we need to be separated from this movement or that movement because we must be pure and follow standards X, Y, & Z. Denominations critique other denominations, telling us why they are more pure and what problems the other denomination(s) has/have.
When was the last time you saw a pastor or leader in a church, movement or denomination get up and publicly say, "we have some things we need to take care of...."?
THAT would be shocking.
Sometimes, though, I think we must do this. This morning I read this familiar passage from Luke 6 for a Bible study :
6:41"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
There is so much to unpack in those few words, but something that I believe is very applicable on a macro-level.
First of all, I have been in my share of "movements" as I have journeyed through life. Everything from being Southern Baptist as a child, later to a form of Landmark Baptist (and also being heavily exposed to Independent KJVO Fundamentalism during college), to flirting with the Emergent Movement for a short time in 2001 (before it was cool) to settling in as a conservative Presbyterian (PCA).
In every movement, there are always problems with other movements and it seems so easy to point those problems out.
Reading materials or listening to lectures from various movements, whether it be a firey sermon by a Landmarker on why Presbyterians are Papists in disguise, or reading an Emergent essay on why the author loves JESUS, but hates the church, or even reading things by Presbyterians on why Dispensationalists are stupid, there is always something missing----self-critique.
When we approach a topic that we may differ with other Christian groups, we must be willing to see where we are blinded by our own pride and traditions before we lash out at fellow brothers and sisters.
It's so hard to swallow at times.
There are so many times I want to lash out and critique people endlessly and point out why they are so wrong, but rarely do I wish to confront ways of thinking in my life where I am open to criticism.
I need more self critique, movements and denominations need more self-critique.
Ecclesiastically, this happens a lot. Movements critique others movements to make sure we are aware of why we need to be separated from this movement or that movement because we must be pure and follow standards X, Y, & Z. Denominations critique other denominations, telling us why they are more pure and what problems the other denomination(s) has/have.
When was the last time you saw a pastor or leader in a church, movement or denomination get up and publicly say, "we have some things we need to take care of...."?
THAT would be shocking.
Sometimes, though, I think we must do this. This morning I read this familiar passage from Luke 6 for a Bible study :
6:41"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
There is so much to unpack in those few words, but something that I believe is very applicable on a macro-level.
First of all, I have been in my share of "movements" as I have journeyed through life. Everything from being Southern Baptist as a child, later to a form of Landmark Baptist (and also being heavily exposed to Independent KJVO Fundamentalism during college), to flirting with the Emergent Movement for a short time in 2001 (before it was cool) to settling in as a conservative Presbyterian (PCA).
In every movement, there are always problems with other movements and it seems so easy to point those problems out.
Reading materials or listening to lectures from various movements, whether it be a firey sermon by a Landmarker on why Presbyterians are Papists in disguise, or reading an Emergent essay on why the author loves JESUS, but hates the church, or even reading things by Presbyterians on why Dispensationalists are stupid, there is always something missing----self-critique.
When we approach a topic that we may differ with other Christian groups, we must be willing to see where we are blinded by our own pride and traditions before we lash out at fellow brothers and sisters.
It's so hard to swallow at times.
There are so many times I want to lash out and critique people endlessly and point out why they are so wrong, but rarely do I wish to confront ways of thinking in my life where I am open to criticism.
I need more self critique, movements and denominations need more self-critique.
posted by Bobby's blog at 12:54 PM
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