Walls of Hate and Fear

My heart is breaking once again over the hatred I see in the Christian Church. I have been reading quite a bit of opinion over the recent invitation and un-invitation of Shane Claiborne to Cedarville University. The commentary is shocking and sad, a clear picture of the walls we build to bunker ourselves from each other and things we don't understand or don't want to understand.

Shane Claiborne has chosen a radical form of sharing the Gospel by living in community, called The Simple Way, in the slums of Philadelphia. I have followed his ministry with interest since I have very good friends doing similar ministry in Vancouver and I also worked with people from Servants to Asia's Urban Poor in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Critics call this type of ministry as heretical since it does not start with proclamation of the Gospel, just all love-centered. There are even blogs (ironically ones that do not invite comments) that have been devoted to "Shane-bashing," warning Christians of his occult-like practices and "wish to teach false doctrine."

Bloggers all have their right to opinions and each have their own quirks and unique ways of expressing themselves. In fact some of the arguments I see in the blogging-sphere end up skipping the issues for conflicts over personalities and methods of communication. Blogging, however, can provide a forum for healthy discussion of issues. But there are people who would rather not engage the issues or discuss practices or theology; they would rather just attack the person and label them into a box so they can say anything they want and understand as little as they wish. To me this is scandalous and unfair. It is immature and harmful.

Quite honestly, I am sick of the bashing. I am sick of the labels. I am sick of the FEAR and HATRED that we promote when we stoop to such behavior -- attacking fellow Christians who have chosen diverse ways to follow Jesus and make Him known. Why can't we accept that the Spirit may lead each of us to do that in different ways?

I, for one, do not feel arrogant enough to damn another brother or sister to Hell for the ways they follow Christ. Yet I see that very thing happening in blogs that lump men such as Ron Sider, Tony Compolo, Brian McClaren and Jim Wallis together as those who are propagating heresy. Do I agree with all the perspectives of Pat Robertson or James Dobson? Certainly not. But do I think they are going to Hell for the views they propagate? Absolutely not! They, too, are doing good work for the Kingdom. Is there any way we can share our views together as Christians without stooping to name calling and stone-throwing?

I am sick when I read the labels we use as bricks in walls we mortar with hate: left-wing, right-wing, conservatives, radicals, liberals, progressivists, humanists, heretics, emergents, uncompassionates, fundamentalists, post-evangelicals, relativists, etc. . . . and I've heard plenty of denominational labels to divide us too. Rather than look for Christ in the other, we assume He is not there and use labels to prove it. I just wish we would stop it -- it is so childish to live in mortal fear of ideas and faith practices. (thus my picture of Dr. Seuss's book, The Butter Battle). We prove again and again that we have no trust in the Spirit when we allow such behavior to exist in our ranks.

I was shocked to read Pastor Silva at Apprising Ministries, who uses Scripture to warn the Church, "the time we live is not a time for unity; it is a time for division." His site is dedicated to pointing out "heretics" who are infiltrating the Church. Yet, in his, perhaps well-meaning, efforts to use Scripture to boost his ambitions, he defeats the very prayer Jesus prayed in John 17. My heart breaks when I see examples such as his.

Shame on US all! Satan is having a hay-day seeing us Christians bicker and fight. WE are to be the CHURCH together!!! Or did Jesus only pray for certain parts of the Church? I know I cannot spend lots of time on such sadness; it can quickly drag me down. But reading about it reminds me that no matter what conversations we promote or how much understanding we beg, it is only through steadfast prayer that any inroads toward unity can ever be made. When will we ever truly be able to celebrate the resurrection of Christ's broken Body together?

Lord, have mercy on your Church.
Christ, have mercy.