There are a variety of new sins on the market today. You know, things that didn't used to be "bad" but are now. Like, being boring. That's evil. Claiming that there is absolute truth. That's just wrong. Or how about "political correctness"? Everyone knows that using terms that might possibly be remotely offensive in some sort of misunderstood context is wrong, wrong, wrong. But, of course, one of the "deadly sins" now added (I believe) to the list of "7 deadly sins" is confidence. No, not confidence in yourself. Confidence that what you believe is true. Now that, dear friends, that just shouldn't happen.
Well, let's be fair. If you are confident that, for instance, the president's healthcare reform is good, then that confidence is okay. If you're certain that the Church should not recognize sin as sin, then that's perfectly acceptable. If you affirm that science is right and anything that might disagree is obviously wrong, then you're doing fine. No, no, it's confidence in beliefs that are outside the vogue. You know, if you believe, for instance, that the Bible is God-breathed, well, now, that's just arrogance. If you think that Christianity is true, that's simple intolerance. And to suggest that people need salvation, now that's just downright mean-spirited.
The "bad zone" obviously spreads a little farther than that. (Ask General McChrystal.) It was right and good to be unkind, mean, and demeaning to President Bush, but it is evil and wrong to even think bad thoughts about President Obama. What are you ... a racist? Now, you can say, "I don't know if what he's doing is great." You see, that's not "confidence". That's more of a question. And we here in America have free speech, right? (Again, ask the general. Maybe not all of us. But, hey, that's the way it works.) But what's wrong is if you say with certainty that what he's doing is wrong. Do not claim that he is the most pro-abortion president to ever be in office. That's evil! Don't even begin to compare his policies with socialism. That's ignorant! And ... well, you get the idea.
When did it become evil to be confident in what you believe? I really don't know. I've studied, for instance, a wide variety of views on eschatology -- what will happen in end times. I've had a variety of opinions myself. And after careful study and lengthy analysis, I can boldly and plainly state ... I don't know. So you won't likely hear me taking a strong, confident position on that stuff. On the other hand, I have also spent a great deal of time studying and analyzing a host of Christian doctrines such as the Atonement, the Trinity, Original Sin, and the like. Everything I read brings me to the conclusion that my beliefs on these topics are in line with orthodox Christian views. They are in line with Scripture. They are biblically, rationally, and historically defensible. I am, therefore, quite confident that my views on these are correct. But let me express those with certainty and I'll be transgressing that 8th deadly sin -- "confidence". And never let them hear you say, "The Bible is quite clear that homosexual behavior is a sin" because that cannot be stated without being arrogant, judgmental, and intolerant! (I know this from people who have arrogantly judged me for it and won't tolerate my view.)
Funny thing. A lot of what is called "sin" has moved to "tolerable", then to "normal", and finally to "admirable" while other things have shifted the other way. Why is that? And when did "sure of what I believe" become a bad thing?
5 comments:
This is all about a reference point; a point from which all things are measured. Atheist pagans and liberal Christians have a reference point totally different from you, themselves. Yours is the Bible. Of coarse defending it is going to be seen as evil by these people. Jesus foretold this:
John 15:20-21
20 Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.
NIV
What's a "liberal Christian"? And what's the difference between a liberal one and a conservative one?
The "liberal Christian" concept came about in the 1800's with a wave of skepticism that decided that the Bible was not the "Word of God". At best it contained the Word of God. They were not interested in conserving Christianity (you know ... "conservative"), but in progressing. The "Evangelical" and "Fundamentalist" movements were the result, both calls to a return to biblical Christianity. So ... typical "liberal Christians" are searching for new meanings in Christianity while "conservative Christians" are typically trying to retain the historical, traditional orthodoxy.
I have a better explanation:
A conservative Christian is generally accurate in his understanding of the Bible and God's will found therein.
A liberal Christian never is. There's always something about the liberal Christian's POV that is unChristian or UnBiblical.
I'm damned confident about that, too.
I was being as broad as I could in my explanation. I would consider "liberals" who deny basic Christian doctrine in their move to progress as not "Christian", so if they are in the category of "unChristian" and "unBiblical", that wouldn't fall in the category of "liberal Christian" in my book.
Oh, and I don't think confidence should be condemned to Hell.
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