Good Friday Christianity vs. A Christianity that Condemns
For this year's Good Friday Service I preached on Colossians 2:13-15:
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
That written code that is mentioned is probably something like a record of debts, or IOU's, it's the things that condemn us, the things that God could hold against us. All of that has been taken away. As I thought about this passage I thought about the words of a young man named Robert who, at the Letters from Leavers site, said that he couldn't take the condemnation of Christianity anymore:
That's what Christianity does, makes you hate yourself. To be a Christian, one must believe that their self, their essential self is bad. Christianity takes away the natural exuberance from life. That's what happened to me as a child, and I spent the next 20 years trying to make peace with the angry sky-god I was told about as a young child. Finally something in me snapped, and I said "ENOUGH!". The last 10 years have been a search for self and truth. I will not go back to the mental slavery and self-hate that has so colored my life.
I am now trying to get back what was stolen from me years ago.
Robert seems to have experienced a church that didn't believe the message of Colossians 2:13-15, that the cross removes condemnation. I can relate - while I have found wonderful evidences of grace in the church I have also found hideous examples of condemnation. Often I have witnessed, been subjected to and have been an agent of condemnation. And, even in a situation like I am in now, where I do not face barrages of condemnation, it is very easy to condemn myself.
It seems that, if we take Colossians 2:13-15 as a unit then the armaments of the powers and authorities, which Jesus destroyed, would be the accusations on the list, the written code mentioned in v. 14. This ties in with Satan's nature as accuser. His greatest weapon against us is accusation/condemnation. And all too often, as Robert says, the church is his ally. Rather than applying grace to sinners, we apply further condemnation. Rather than focusing on what it means to be made in the image of God, we exclusively focus on people's depravity and sin. I know that we live in a time when people don't take sin seriously enough, but if we can't speak of sin without speaking even more of grace and forgiveness and acceptance, I don't know how we can avoid situations like Robert mentions.
If the cross canceled the written code, the debts, the IOU's then we ought to do the same in our speech with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Related Tags: Religion, Theology, Christian, Christianity, Church, Easter, Good Friday
David said: "I ask that because I once heard a joke that Christians are the only people who can make grace sound like bad news. Was that your experience?"
Yes, in fact to a certain extent that is true! The Christian "good news" is not good news at all, its more like a mugging: comply or else.
Posted by: Robert | April 14, 2007 at 11:05 PM
Good post. My reply is to Rick's comment. Yes, as a believer I want to love Jesus more and more - and as the years go by I know that I do. However, to sin less and less - I guess I just speak for myself, but I don't know that I can honestly say I sin less. Is that what Christ's death is for, so I sin less, or so that my imperfect, sinful human self can experience God's gracious forgiveness. Maybe it's just another way of talking about becomming more Christlike, something I do strive for. I guess I just find myself comming up against the idea that if we strive for sinning less and less, do we ultimately reach sinlessness? As I sin less, do I need my savior less?
Posted by: Tracy | April 13, 2007 at 01:25 AM
Good post. My reply is to Rick's comment. Yes, as a believer I want to love Jesus more and more - and as the years go by I know that I do. However, to sin less and less - I guess I just speak for myself, but I don't know that I can honestly say I sin less. Is that what Christ's death is for, so I sin less, or so that my imperfect, sinful human self can experience God's gracious forgiveness. Maybe it's just another way of talking about becomming more Christlike, something I do strive for. I guess I just find myself comming up against the idea that if we strive for sinning less and less, do we ultimately reach sinlessness? As I sin less, do I need my savior less?
Posted by: Tracy | April 13, 2007 at 01:24 AM
The reason that people who are adept with the Scriptures can point to condemnation, judgment, and punishment is because it is there. As Jesus said in Matt 10:28, "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
But grace is there too, it is not an either/or situation, it is both/and. We need not pit the condemnation against the grace. None of us likes to be condemned, Robert is not alone. But it is only when we understand how much we deserve condemnation that we appreciate the grace and mercy of God. Our message is bad news/good news, the deliverance in the Gospel only makes sense against the backdrop of the Law's condemnation.
It is tragic that Robert seems never to have heard the second half of the story. It is indeed true that "God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day." (Ps 7:11). But Robert did not need to spend 20 years trying to make peace with this angry God. As you point out from Colossians, that condemnation was removed at the cross where Jesus said, "It is finished."
We always tend to miss the truth on one side or the other. Law without Gospel leads to Robert's kind of despair. But without the Law, we remain proud and are deaf to the message of grace.
"Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men." (Rom 5:18). Thank you, David, for preaching the forgiveness in Christ and the triumph of his cross.
Posted by: Norm Carter | April 12, 2007 at 09:04 AM
Everything is true, I say. Open your mind to all ideas. You are God's mind. Ideas and thoughts are creation. All exists.
I have some questions for Mr. Broadwater. Is the idea that Jesus is the One Way to God true as well? You did say "everything". Or is this idea somehow an exception? And if so, are there other exceptions?
Posted by: Mwalimu Daudi | April 10, 2007 at 08:27 PM
God's Harmful Idea
by Jason Broadwater
The other day I heard a man close to thirty years old say that his uncle was found dead unexpectedly. He told us of his uncle's life - leaving his wife and children to drown in a life of alcohol and constant displacement and desperate acts. The young man finished with, "He was a Christian though, so we know he is now in heaven." This struck me as odd. I would never claim to deny someone heaven; that is not a conversation for logic and argument in my opinion. But there is more in this statement than first meets the ear.
This young man is communicating a core belief. He is proclaiming that his uncle is saved from doom because he accepted an idea. His uncle claimed Jesus as his savior, as the one true way, all other ways misguided. Thus, he will live in eternal happiness. Alternatively, a pious and humble man who dedicates his life to his wife and children, doing what he can to provide and sacrifice out of love and caring, but a man who does not accept a particular idea, believes instead that beautiful Jesus is only one of infinite ways, that the world is rich with ideas and stories and traditions all equally true and inspiring of good - this man will burn in hell for eternity.
There are those who will tell you that the acceptance of an idea supersedes all else. There are those who will tell you that not accepting this idea, and accepting it soon, will doom you to eternal suffering with no hope for redemption. Unfortunately, the above describes the basic underlying (and to varying degrees, outwardly proclaimed) tenant of Christianity, which is why - though full of beauty and full of people who bring so much good to the world - Christianity, not in its congregations and their compassion and actions, but in its core philosophy, is inherently bad for humanity.
I attend a Methodist church. I do not go every Sunday, but I go maybe once per month on the off months and go two, three, or four consecutive Sundays on occasion. We attend church suppers and use the recreation center for family events and celebrations. My wife and I keep the nursery in regular rotation - a nursery where our children have been well taken care of and looked after, our three month old daughter a new welcome visitor. Our son has graduated on to children's church, which means he comes with me to "big church" (while his mother takes our daughter to the nursery) until it's time for him to go with the single file children led by the nice lady out of the sanctuary and down the hall and into a classroom for learning and sharing.
My son was scared the first time, tentative. His big girl cousin, almost five years old, held his hand and spoke comforting words softly to him. Almost everyone around him knew him and felt warm, loving feelings of community to see his father (me) and mother and aunt and uncle and grandfather and grandmother encourage him to go forth. Smiles passed among those the families crowded in the annex and warmth among those the families and couples along the slightly sparser first rows of the main room.
Goodness, caring, loving and warmth fill the rooms of this church. My wife grew up among the church, her home, and her school. She knows generations of the same families in the way our academics romanticize about simpler times like the clans of the northern hills of Scotland, the villages of Europe of old, the tribes of the free-roaming Native Americans, the cultures of the hunter and the gatherer. Those qualities of connection and exchange and familiarity among the group - these are all there in that place, that church.
But there is a shadow there, a darkness, a serpent. This demon lay down with the ultimate good of God's love at the heart of this place. It is an ancient demon, as old as civilization itself. This creature bends the will of masses and demands of all their worship and complete surrender. This beast so elegantly rolled in poetry demands you accept an idea, proclaim allegience to one set of stories, denounce other metaphors as not truth and false teachings, believe that there is only one right way, be afraid to imagine through fear of the ultimate suffering. This charming and generous satan demands that you accept Jesus Christ as your savior. It teaches you that those who have not done like you in this are doomed to the fantastic suffering beyond imaginable torture and pain for eternity. You must save them. Recruit their alliegence to this one idea. They should fear for their very souls.
But why? Why is the core tenant of Christianity that you must accept one idea to be true and denounce others as false to save yourself from ultimate pain and torture for eternity? Why would I teach such a divisive and horrifying idea to my children? Why embrace an idea glorifying judgment and punishment and fear as opposed to openness and compassion and creativity? Will you have life be a story of one choice between acceptance into heaven and damnation to hell? Will you have one truth make all else false? I will not. Everything is true, I say. Open your mind to all ideas. You are God's mind. Ideas and thoughts are creation. All exists. Could there be gathering and love and commonness without exclusion, fear, and disconnect?
Some sects openly discuss the fiery dangers avoided in the acceptance of Christ. Others bury it in their doctrine and coat it with tolerance. But one fact remains: the core tenant of Christianity is one of choice between the "right way" and all else. Anything but the right way is doom.
When I go to this wonderful place, this church, and see the wise and loving people who gather there, I long for our humanity to evolve beyond the judgmental God. Not to disallow Him, but to discover God anew. Will God cast out the uncompromising demon of the Christ Choice? How could He? One has other - good evil and yin yang and up down and hot cold. Though some foresee a kingdom of peace, its own wholeness keeps it away. Such is the wonder of this life. Such is the beauty and horror of God's mind.
Posted by: Jason Broadwater | April 10, 2007 at 08:28 AM
Tim - I had a link to Robert's post in the post but didn't specify that it was from the Letters from Leavers blog, so I'm happy to put a note in there to call attention to your site - thanks for stopping by.
Rick - it was truly one of the highlights of my year to see you again - glad we are on the same wavelength. Did you see the post where I talked about you?
Robert - thanks for stopping by. You'll get no argument from me about all of those who are more adept at the bible than me who can turn the bible into an instrument of judgment and condemnation. Obviously I think they are wrong and are missing the point of the gospel. Would you care to share more about your experiences? For instance, I audaciously suggested that, in your church experience, you must have never heard about grace. Did you? If so, how was it presented? I ask that because I once heard a joke that Christians are the only people who can make grace sound like bad news. Was that your experience?
Posted by: David Wayne | April 09, 2007 at 09:54 PM
If God really is good, and he doesn't send people to eternal torment for not "believing"; then he should've made it unambiguous. Yes, you point out verses that show a gracious God; but others out there are just as adept with the Bible and can point out things that show condemnation, judgement and punishment.
I'm not buying it. God hates humanity. (Hopefully he doesn't exist.)
Posted by: Robert (whom was quoted) | April 09, 2007 at 08:18 PM
Hi David,
It was great to see you in Cleveland last week!
I did some "team teaching" on Good Friday with our 707 pastor. And, guess what? We taught from Colossians 2:13-15.
I ended by saying, "So, you can say to yourself, 'As for all the sins I have ever committed, whatever they may have been, because I am in Christ – united to Jesus – the record of my debt is gone. The very parchment on which it was 'written' has been taken from me, nailed to the cross, and wiped clean. I’m forgiven – set free. Sin shall not be master over me, because I’m not under law but under charis – grace.' Don’t focus on your sins; focus on your Savior. Don’t focus on your debts; focus on your Deliverer. Don’t focus on your crimes; focus on the cross. Robert Murray McCheyne said, 'For every one look at your sins, take ten looks at Christ.'"
No condemnation. Good news. Rightly understood, it makes us love Jesus more and more. And when we love Him more and more, we sin less and less. We don't want to dishonor hurt the One who paid such a price for us.
Rick
Posted by: Rick | April 09, 2007 at 05:22 PM
Hey thanks for checking out the Letters From Leavers site. Would you mind linking to us (or specifically to the letter you quoted from in your post) so other folks can check out the site as well?
Thanks
Tim
LFL
Posted by: Tim Bower | April 09, 2007 at 04:54 PM