Thanks for posting this Mitch. We have this situation in our family. My husband and I "were saved" at a revival-type series of meetings. It was the best thing that ever happened to us (two hippies that got high and drank too much with a little girl who depended on us to be grown-ups). We not only grew up, we let Jesus guide us on and He has. Although at that time, we were in the midst of Pentecostal-type preaching, we soon found it didn't feed us in the long run. Good, solid sermons, calm reflection, etc. was what we wanted in a church. We now attend a Baptist church and it's a happy combination of just that with a teeeny dose of "livelieness" thrown in (some people raise their hands when we sing-that's about as crazy as it gets!). There may be laying on of hands in special situations (a young man sent off to Iraq-we prayed for his safety and his parent's peace-of-mind), but never any speaking in tongues or "slaying in the spirit"-thank GOD. My mother, however, attends a full-blown charismatic church and you can't get any of us there with a ten foot pole. I do believe it's scriptural, and there is room in the world of Christianity for all types of worship, but the speaking in tongues thing and the extreme emotionalism of it just plain creeps me out. It's kind of like a drug, I think. People attend that church for help in their lives (it's fantastic at reaching out to the lowest and most down-and-out). And they are sincere, loving people. But to me tongues should be reserved for privacy-it's almost like showing off and it's truly off-putting to outsiders. I think many people do it because they don't want the others to think they aren't really saved or something. I can just see you and your family sitting there in the pew! Been there and done that as well-eyes big and face incredulous! Well, it takes all kinds....

This part of the Internet Monk's post I really liked:

"Revivalism, in my life, is a version of Christianity that continually stresses my own failure- and our corporate failure- to adequately submit to God, surrender to God, serve God or pray to God. It is this failure that accounts for the deadness of churches, a lack of “victorious living,” and, of course, the failure of millions to "be saved" in a spiritual awakening/revival movement."

Boy, ain't it the truth. There's a constant drumbeat on how we constantly fail and will fail and the world needs us to stop failing. Around the time of night I fix supper, the radio usually has preachers I admire greatly and I listen kind of half-hearing. Background noise you could say. Anyway, I get so tired of hearing about how God wants us to do this or that but we're always going off our own way and not waiting and listening, striving to find His way, etc. WHY is it that God always seems to have some other way and to find it we have to solve what seems to be some sort of riddle?! We're always bad, we're always on the wrong track, we never listen, we never wait, blah blah blah. Man it makes me crabby! It's gotten to where I turn it off and I've begun to realize that they have to put on a sermon because it's their job-I'm sure the well runs dry and they have to say SOMETHING and that's the easiest route-harangue us for not being what we should be. We already know that and look for the day when we will be. Until then, we do our best under the parameters we know to be true and I will not sit around berating myself because I can't figure out the answer to a stupid riddle every day. Jesus paid for my redemption, I accept Him as my Savior. Heaven awaits and God is victorious and in our lives we do our very best for our families and those around us (be they near or far). Those are the important things-the rest is fluff. End of story.

I had to change part of the Internet Monk's post to get past the filter! It didn't like two words where I have injected "be saved". Criminy.

That's surprising, Colleen. When I read the nutty stuff you post here, I just assume you're speaking in tongues.

AC - are you ALWAYS such a crass, ignorant JERK?

That was very unkind of you Log Lady. I'll have to start praying against you.

Nothing AC says either surprises me or bothers me. His posts are like pig farts...you expect nothing but stinkin', hot air from him.

My dear Lord Satan, I pray thee to give Scary Colleen hemorrhoids and a severe paper cut.

I'm glad you found the IMonk -- check out the archives. There's more where that came from. He's quite the prolific and insightful writer...rather removed from the pop-Evangelical (or depressing mainline) world of the faith.

Colleen,
Remember the Beatitudes. Every snarky thing Unfunnyclown says about you is a gift.
"Blessed are you when men curse you, revile you and utter all manner of evil against you for my names sake. Great is your reward in Heaven."

Remember also the Mitchitudes: "smart are those who treat Angryclown's snarks with the gravity of that crazy guy at the bus stop. Complement his fez, ask how the Mets are doing, and move along".

Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.

Yeah, you wingnuts are all about following the beatitudes.

I'm praying for a plague of locusts to infest Colleen's shredded wheat.

"Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy."

Ridding Afganistan and Iraq of their dictators was nothing if not merciful.

"Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God."

Destroying those who fed people into plastic shredders makes the world more peaceful.

Glad to have confirmation that words have no fixed meaning for you right-wing kooks, Cal. At least you're sure that God hates gay guys, eh?

That's a real nice Fez, AC.