Stuff you should know and why - Pt. 3

Post-Cynical Christianity - By Tony Jones

First of all, recently became Dr. Jones. Which makes me think of these clips:

If you have not read Dr. Jones' article, here is why I think you should. 

We live in the age in which it is en vogue to deconstruct and tear things down. I am a big fan of deconstruction of all sorts of embedded theologies.

Part of the popularity of deconstructing is the relative ease it takes to do it. When we have poked holes in people arguments and broke about every sacred cow down it makes us feel like we accomplished something. And we did. Which is why we do it again and again. 

But if all you are doing is taking things apart at some point you will be surrounded by nothing but parts. 

Dr. Jones' line is spot on:  

You can either be a stand-up comedian, or you can be an agent of change. Few people can make the transition from one to the other.

I am do not want to be in a church with a bunch of clowns. I am far more fascinated with architects.

Stuff you should know and why - Pt. 2

Why "Millennials" are leaving the church - By Rachel Held Evans

First of all, you should know who Rachel Held Evans is. Period.  

Beyond being well written and comical, you should know this article at least for the following reason sated by Evans: 

Time and again, the assumption among Christian leaders, and evangelical leaders in particular, is that the key to drawing twenty-somethings back to church is simply to make a few style updates – edgier music, more casual services, a coffee shop in the fellowship hall, a pastor who wears skinny jeans, an updated Web site that includes online giving.

But here’s the thing: Having been advertised to our whole lives, we millennials have highly sensitive BS meters, and we’re not easily impressed with consumerism or performances.

In fact, I would argue that church-as-performance is just one more thing driving us away from the church, and evangelicalism in particular.

Enjoy!

Stuff you should know and why - Pt. 1

The next several posts are dedicated to the stuff that has come out recently and that I want to recommend to everyone to encounter. 

I know that I can "Facebook" this stuff out and give you a direct link to the article with some silly comment attached to it. However, these articles and videos are too important for you to just see the link and clink on it when you have time (or there is no one posting some funny pictures on Facebook that you would rather look at). 

Which is why I will share the link to the article and the write why I think everyone should know it. Close readers will be able to pick up not only why I think you should know this stuff but also where I stand on the matter. 

So the first article I want to share is The rise of the Religious Left by Jonathan Merritt.

The reason I think you should know this is that the religious right's voice is becoming diminishing while the religious left's voice is growing. Some see this as a threat and others see this as progress while others do not have an opinion. Regardless of where you stand, the data suggests that the voice of Christianity for the first thirty years of the millennial generation may be all together different over the next thirty years.