Post by Jason_Coates on Aug 24, 2006 15:34:15 GMT
Calling Criticism and Truth “Persecution!”
One of the easiest ways to respond to criticism is to turn it around on the criticizer. As someone who is married I know all the little tricks that we use to defend ourselves instead of examining ourselves or taking the rebuke or correction and working through it a good way.
In this whole cover-up saga the following points have raised their heads again and again: abusiveness, betrayal, politics, name-calling and murderous intent.
Whenever our comfort zones, idols or insecurities are threatened and we react instead of responding with thought and care we easily slip into abusiveness. It is easy for the minister to hide behind the guise of piety: adopting a kind and innocent tone when back on the farm all hell is breaking loose. Just because one is a church minister it does not mean that one can abuse the office by hiding behind it or by coming off as Holy. That kind of tactic is sanctimonious and unfair.
My grandfather was an Anglican minister. My dad once shared a story about a couple of Jehovah’s witnesses who came to call one afternoon. Inviting them warmly into his home, my grandfather listened nodded attentively as they delivered whatever they had to say. They were blissfully unaware of his vocation. At the end of their opening speech regarding the Watchtower message, my grandfather said that he wanted to respond in detail and would they mind if he just changed into his work clothes quickly as he would have to drive straight to work after their chat. Happy to wait a few minutes and also hopeful of a lift back into town, the innocent pair waited for him ready to resume their religious conversation. By all accounts my grandfather, whom I never met, had a wicked sense of humor and he returned with a flourish wearing his cassock and dog collar for his duties later that evening. Upon seeing him in his full attire, the two gentlemen got up and with stammering apologies made a hasty exit with my grandfather protesting at their sudden change of heart.
That is a rather mild and relatively innocent example of the use of one’s title or position and perhaps even a good witness to the authority of the church when it comes to defending the true gospel. The more insidious type of manipulation and playing to the crowds is the one that uses scripture and teaching to defend injustice and abuse. A political game of hide and seek is played with those that dissent and then when it becomes public domain the very same persons that were avoided before are now painted as villains, deceivers, anti-Christ and more by virtue that the guilty, accused or ashamed say that they are suffering as Jesus did.
John Rendon who was employed by the Bush government to provide spin leading up to the latest war said: "This is probably best described in the words of Hunter S. Thompson, when he wrote, 'When things turn weird, the weird turn pro.'" Rendon who describes himself as an:” . . .information warrior and a perception manager" has been involved somehow in nearly every conflict America has found itself in over the last two decades. Despite the fact that the invasion of Iraq was based on a lie partly engineered by Mr Rendon we have him saying in the end that was done was for the good of all Americans. "For us, it's a question of patriotism," he said.
Distilling any world problem into a question of American patriotism may seem far-fetched to some of us in other parts of the globe, but to many Americans it is reality. To many people in the church their reality involves unquestioning fidelity to their leaders first. People in abusive or cultic or even dysfunctional churches are subtly groomed to believe that everything their leaders do is for the good of the church and the Kingdom of God. Well, I have news for you. Leaders make mistakes and are fallible. Leaders can also lie, cheat and steal. That is why St. Paul set a very high standard for ministers and elders. They are meant to be lead examples and persons accountable not just amongst each other, but to the people whom God has entrusted them to.
One of the easiest ways to respond to criticism is to turn it around on the criticizer. As someone who is married I know all the little tricks that we use to defend ourselves instead of examining ourselves or taking the rebuke or correction and working through it a good way.
In this whole cover-up saga the following points have raised their heads again and again: abusiveness, betrayal, politics, name-calling and murderous intent.
Whenever our comfort zones, idols or insecurities are threatened and we react instead of responding with thought and care we easily slip into abusiveness. It is easy for the minister to hide behind the guise of piety: adopting a kind and innocent tone when back on the farm all hell is breaking loose. Just because one is a church minister it does not mean that one can abuse the office by hiding behind it or by coming off as Holy. That kind of tactic is sanctimonious and unfair.
My grandfather was an Anglican minister. My dad once shared a story about a couple of Jehovah’s witnesses who came to call one afternoon. Inviting them warmly into his home, my grandfather listened nodded attentively as they delivered whatever they had to say. They were blissfully unaware of his vocation. At the end of their opening speech regarding the Watchtower message, my grandfather said that he wanted to respond in detail and would they mind if he just changed into his work clothes quickly as he would have to drive straight to work after their chat. Happy to wait a few minutes and also hopeful of a lift back into town, the innocent pair waited for him ready to resume their religious conversation. By all accounts my grandfather, whom I never met, had a wicked sense of humor and he returned with a flourish wearing his cassock and dog collar for his duties later that evening. Upon seeing him in his full attire, the two gentlemen got up and with stammering apologies made a hasty exit with my grandfather protesting at their sudden change of heart.
That is a rather mild and relatively innocent example of the use of one’s title or position and perhaps even a good witness to the authority of the church when it comes to defending the true gospel. The more insidious type of manipulation and playing to the crowds is the one that uses scripture and teaching to defend injustice and abuse. A political game of hide and seek is played with those that dissent and then when it becomes public domain the very same persons that were avoided before are now painted as villains, deceivers, anti-Christ and more by virtue that the guilty, accused or ashamed say that they are suffering as Jesus did.
John Rendon who was employed by the Bush government to provide spin leading up to the latest war said: "This is probably best described in the words of Hunter S. Thompson, when he wrote, 'When things turn weird, the weird turn pro.'" Rendon who describes himself as an:” . . .information warrior and a perception manager" has been involved somehow in nearly every conflict America has found itself in over the last two decades. Despite the fact that the invasion of Iraq was based on a lie partly engineered by Mr Rendon we have him saying in the end that was done was for the good of all Americans. "For us, it's a question of patriotism," he said.
Distilling any world problem into a question of American patriotism may seem far-fetched to some of us in other parts of the globe, but to many Americans it is reality. To many people in the church their reality involves unquestioning fidelity to their leaders first. People in abusive or cultic or even dysfunctional churches are subtly groomed to believe that everything their leaders do is for the good of the church and the Kingdom of God. Well, I have news for you. Leaders make mistakes and are fallible. Leaders can also lie, cheat and steal. That is why St. Paul set a very high standard for ministers and elders. They are meant to be lead examples and persons accountable not just amongst each other, but to the people whom God has entrusted them to.