![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/821\/2022\/03\/change-g1e64f876c_1280.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Reformed\/Protestant tradition tends to be a dumpster fire, mired down by its own insistence on always having the \u201ccorrect doctrines.\u201d But it need not be that way. In fact, as I understand things, the reformers believed the church should always be reforming.<\/p>\n
Oh, how far we\u2019ve come\u2026<\/p>\n
Not!<\/p>\n
Now, if they were listening, here\u2019s 10 things I\u2019d tell them to reform right way (as if they care what I think).<\/p>\n
(Note: This isn\u2019t just a list of reforms for the Evangelical church. It\u2019s a list of reforms for any Christian to apply accordingly.)<\/p>\n
The belief in an inerrant Bible is childish. And while children are cute and cuddly, their immaturity shouldn\u2019t be one of the things we attempt to emulate. Their curiosity? Sure. Their creativity? Perhaps. But not their childishness. The belief in an inerrant Bible, then, is to not take the Bible seriously. It\u2019s to approach it childishly. It was never meant to be viewed as an inerrant document, and approaching it as such causes more problems than it solves.<\/p>\n
I recently read a depressing Patheos article found on the Evangelical channel. I won\u2019t link to it because I don\u2019t want to cause my fellow LGBTQ+ members any harm. And I don\u2019t want to give this bigot any clicks. But it basically said that to love us is to denounce our sexuality and gender identities. This is plain wrong. How do I know? I don\u2019t experience love when someone says that. I experience shame, condemnation, and judgment. These are the opposite of love. Love\u2019s basic ingredients are empathy and compassion (Derrick Day\u2019s terms<\/a>). Christians who denounce the LGBTQ+ community withhold these things from us far too often.<\/p>\n Hell can go to hell. In fact, if I understand the Bible correctly, this is God\u2019s stance as well (see Jeremiah 32:35). It is a doctrine that causes long-lasting trauma. It is also a doctrine that turns God into either an impotent savior or a tyrannical monster. Historically, it has been used to justify the murder of heretics, reprobates, and apostates. You know, the murder of people like me and many of you who read this blog.<\/p>\n White nationalism has infected the church, in ways that are overt as well as subtle. It\u2019s one of the largest blind spots for many white Christians. One way in which we can start reforming is by rejecting white Jesus. White Jesus never existed. Real Jesus was Middle Eastern. He was probably darker than most would be comfortable, which speaks to some inherent racism, doesn\u2019t it? So, start there, and then continue listening to non-white voices. Read James Cone<\/a>. Listen to the Heretic Happy Hour\u2019s decolonizing series<\/a>. Apply accordingly.<\/p>\n For all their talk of reformation, many Christian influencers really hate it. Alisa Childers. John Cooper. Sean McDowell. All three of these Christians have built massive platforms by being the anti-deconstruction creators. But what they all fail to understand is, well, what deconstruction is. Instead, they need to listen with empathy and start deconstructing their need to be right. Then they can move into other arenas. The problem, of course, is that you don\u2019t choose to deconstruct. So, I\u2019m not sure what can be done about them.<\/p>\n Purity culture has destroyed countless lives, most of them women\u2019s. But men\u2019s too. I just saw a video on YouTube where a dad was going on and on about his daughter\u2019s virginity\u2026with her in the video! She was 21. My wife and I couldn\u2019t help but think how messed up she is going to be when she finally starts exploring her sexuality. A large part of me said she already has, but that\u2019s probably a discussion for a different day. Point is: Christians need to reform the way they view sex and sexual purity. It may be a culture of good intentions, but as the old adage goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.<\/p>\n Total depravity is total bullshit. Sure, human beings can be pretty disgusting, but a doctrine that states how we are utterly depraved is taking it way, way, way too far. It creates an identity crisis that can take a lifetime to undo. Instead, we need to view ourselves as inherently good, and then figure out where things went wrong from there. You know, put the horse back in front of the cart again.<\/p>\n The patriarchy, like purity culture, can go to hell. If women desire to run companies, then they should run companies. If they want to be lawyers, doctors, and politicians, then that\u2019s what they should be. And if men want to stay home to raise the kids, do laundry, and cook dinners, then that should be praised. In today\u2019s economy, I don\u2019t know how that\u2019s possible (my wife has a fulltime nursing career and I have 3 jobs on top of writing), but more power to you if you can make it on just one income. Ultimately, just put aside the gender roles and work as a team to get things done. Lean into your strengths and work on your weaknesses, regardless of your gender.<\/p>\n When Christians praise the Spirit and demonize the flesh, they are being fundamentally Gnostic. And I don\u2019t use that term as a pejorative. Literally, that is a foundational belief of the ancient Gnostics. This belief has caused us to hate our bodies, to view them as something dirty, or yucky, or icky. Like purity culture, this has primarily impacted women, but some men as well. Instead, we need to have a unitive and integrative new of the Spirit and the flesh.<\/p>\n This last one may be a bit controversial, but I\u2019m the king of theological controversy. Christians need to stop idolizing Jesus and start following him. Jesus never asked to be worshipped. He never asked for us to write shitty songs about him. He asked us to follow him. He asked us to help the poor, the widowed, the downtrodden, the outcast, the homeless. So what did we do? We created images of him and started singing songs about him. Okay, I realize that\u2019s a bit reductive, but the point remains: We\u2019ve missed the mark when it comes to Jesus\u2019 message and mission.<\/p>\n Agree with these? Disagree? Comment below. But a reminder: if you make personal attacks or tell me how stupid I am, you\u2019ll just get blocked. I\u2019ve had too many rude commenters lately, and I\u2019ve lost patience for y\u2019all. Be kind and we\u2019re all good.<\/p>\n If you wanna get to know me better, please follow me on social media. I\u2019m pretty active on all platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/p>\nIII. Their Belief In Eternal Hell<\/h2>\n
IV. Their Marriage With White Nationalism<\/h2>\n
V. Their Hatred of Deconstruction<\/h2>\n
VI. Their Obsession With Sexual Purity<\/h2>\n
VII. Their Belief In Total Depravity<\/h2>\n
VIII. Their Insistence On Affirming Traditional Gender Roles<\/h2>\n
IX. Their Demonization Of The Flesh<\/h2>\n
X. Their Idolization of Jesus<\/h2>\n
\n
\n