Evangelical Hate Mail (1/3)
“Christian arguments with false teachers in their midst happened a lot, as far back as we have records. These internal Christian debates were often filled with vitriol and hatred. Christians called one another nasty names, said ugly thing about one another and pulled out all stops to make their Christian opponents look reprehensible and stupid.” Dr. Bart Ehrman in Forged.
As mentioned in my previous blog, it’s baffling to me that with all the talk of “God’s love” in their mission statement, the progressive congregation still receives hate mail from conservative christians. One such hate letter, taped to their front door, accused them of “false teachings”.
Here is the hate message in its entirety. (If you are the author of this note, I would love to talk to you.)
Beware of False Teachings – 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
- On God and Law – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1
- On relationships – “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” Leviticus 18:22
- On government – “for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.” Romans 13:4
- On Jesus is God – “I and the Father are one.” John 10:30
- REPENT AND BELIEVE – “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” – Mark 1:15
What became clear to me, while reading this hate message, is that its author apparently knows practically nothing about the progressive church and what they actually believe. It’s obvious that he/she has never read their mission statement nor ever spoken to anyone associated with the church. It’s probable that the only thing he knows about them is that they are an inclusive church, welcoming the LGBTQ community, and that they have women pastors. Even though the author uses scripture to support his condemnation, there is little evidence to suggest that he actually understands the random verses he quoted. If it weren’t such a blatant expression of ignorance and bigotry it might be considered rather humorous.
In part two of this blog we will explore each part for its validity, but first we’ll explore the history of christians calling other christians false teachers.
Let’s start with the verses from “TWO Corinthians“, as someone near and dear to evangelicals’ heart would say. And since we’re talking about people who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ, why is it that somebody who is completely ignorant about the bible is not seen as an obviously false christian? Why has that someone instead earned the status (among evangelicals) as the “anointed”? But that’s a topic for another blog. For now, let’s get back to the hate note.
Beware of False Teachings – 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ, and no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore, it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds.
According to New Testament scholar Dr, Bart Ehrman, contrary to what most christians believe, Christianity was very divided in the first couple of centuries. Many different groups with conflicting beliefs called themselves Christians and each group believed that only their version of christianity was the one true religion. (Sound familiar?) Many of the letters in the New Testament were written, and sometimes forged, in fierce defense of their one true religion.
“Christian arguments with false teachers in their midst happened a lot, as far back as we have records. Our earliest Christian author was Paul, and in virtually every one of his letters it is clear that he had opponents on all sides. One thing that these attacks show, beyond dispute, is that virtually everywhere Paul went, even within his own churches, he and his views were under steady assault by Christians who thought and believed differently. Paul’s opponents in the church of Corinth insisted that he was a weak and pathetic speaker who showed no evidence of being empowered by God.” Bart Ehrman, Forged, chapter 6.
Paul had to respond. So, in his second letter to the Corinthians as found in chapter 11 he responds to the criticism aimed at him. This response from Paul is what the writer of the hate note is referring to when he says, “beware of false teachers”. I have paraphrased what Paul is really saying in his defense, (starting with verse 5.)
Paul’s response:
“Hey I’m as good as or better than those other apostles. I might not be good at speaking, but I’m knowledgeable. Can’t you see that? I didn’t even take any money from you guys. I stole from somebody else so I didn’t have to. And this is the thanks I get? You believe somebody else’s gospel? They’re all fakes and I’m the real deal. I don’t mean to boast, all though I know I foolishly am, but just take a look at my credentials. I’ve been beaten numerous times, shipwrecked, hunted, and I just barely escaped being arrested in Damascus. Okay, so maybe I’m boasting but bear with me because the gospel I’m teaching is the real one. These men call themselves christians but they are deceitful fakes. It’s no big surprise because even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. These guys who oppose me are his servants and they disguise themselves as christians, but it will all come back on them, you just watch and see.”
So much for “we’ll just have to agree to disagree”. What Paul is really saying here is that anyone who criticizes him or questions his authority is of the devil and is evil. By the way, this is the only reference to “Satan as an angel of light” in the entire bible.
Disguised as an angel of light?
How many times have christians used that “angel of light” phrase as an excuse to discount people with whom they disagree? “I’m a christian and you’re a heathen, end of discussion”. This simple-minded reasoning makes it so easy for christians to dismiss others who believe differently. I see this all the time in my research of christian writers, but that doesn’t make it right. What the author of the note is implying is that those darn progressives are disguising themselves as christians but they are actually servants of Satan. That is absolutely absurd and here’s why.
The progressive church is extending God’s love to everyone regardless of who they are or who they love. The author of this note doesn’t like that concept. Perhaps he (like most evangelicals) doesn’t believes that everyone is worthy to receive God’s love and he (being a true christian) will be the judge of who is worthy. So, if the progressive congregation extends God’s love to everyone, including to those whom the author deems unworthy, then they are false christians. That’s the bottom line.
An Enduring Christian Tradition:
It’s interesting that of all the traditions of the first century church, like communal living (gone), shared possessions (gone), and living a life of poverty (gone), the one that has survived to the 21st century is the tradition of “Christians calling one another nasty names”. So, if there’s one good thing that can be said about the author of this note, it’s that he is continuing a first century christian tradition. If it’s good enough for Paul, then it’s good enough for modern day christians.
Even though it’s obvious that the author of this hate message knows very little about the progressive church, that doesn’t deter him or other evangelicals from calling them false christians. As we will see, it doesn’t even matter if their criticisms are unwarranted. What really matters is that they feel righteous in their judgement.
In my next blog we will put the author’s criticisms to the test, but for now let’s focus on what the progressive congregation really teaches and then perhaps we can discover why the author of this note felt the need to call them false and deceitful christians.
Progressive stance:
- Salvation: The teachings of Jesus have led us to believe that… Christ died for all the world and God’s love is accessible and available to everyone, everywhere. The embrace of God is an inclusive, unstoppable love that calls us to believe and bear witness to the belovedness of every human being. God’s love is eternal, always welcoming, and does not require any transaction on our part.
- Our Relationship with God: We cannot create our union with God. It is objectively given. There’s nothing we can do or not do to increase or decrease God’s love for us.
- Spiritual practices: Our mission is… “to do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with God.” We believe that when we embody this mission, we will be an extension of God’s welcome in the world.
- Our life in Christ: As a faith community, our call is to accept that we are already accepted by God, and to live a life imitating God’s love.
Not being an evangelical any longer, I’m not really sure what the writer of this note objects to about the progressive mission statement (if he had actually read it). Perhaps here are some things with which evangelicals might take issue.
- God’s love is accessible and available to everyone, everywhere
- The embrace of God is an inclusive, unstoppable love that calls us to believe and bear witness to the belovedness of every human being.
- God’s love is eternal, always welcoming.
- God’s love does not require any transaction on our part.
- There’s nothing we can do or not do to increase or decrease God’s love for us.
- Our call is to accept that we are already accepted by God, and to live a life imitating God’s love
This is only a portion of progressive mission statement, yet notice how many times God’s love is mentioned. If we really can judge a tree by its fruit, the progressives’ repeated reference to God’s love is a pretty clear indication that it’s important to them.
If the progressives’ “end shall be according to their deeds”
…then it will undoubtedly be a good ending.
Coming next: A Conversation With a Progressive Pastor
During our conversation with a pastor of the progressive congregation, she talked frankly about her spiritual journey to reconcile her love of God, her lifelong devotion to ministry, and her identifying as being gay.
From Where I Stand
Dale Crum
mt.toll@comcast.net