The lesson I take from this high profile hypocrisy of talking the talk without walking the walk is simply that we all need to humbly walk the walk. We should be careful to avoid preaching black and white while living in the gray.
Now this may be a stretch if you are not a fan of Babylon 5 (quite possibly the best TV series ever), but bear with me. There was a threat of total annihilation from a force known as the Shadow. They had overwhelming strength and could simply materialize at will. Now there was surely some psychological meaning involved there. But there was also a wise race governed by what was called the Gray Council. They were so named because they stood in the place between the darkness and the light. Shadows are a difficult place to be, but we must go there. Carl Jung spoke of the "shadow side" not as a force of evil but the necessary consequence of standing in the light. True danger exists in denying the shadow side, true humility and power to do good comes from accepting its presence. Should Randy and Paula White be held accountable for their behavior? Absolutely! In fact, likely the best thing for them is to learn through the consequences of their behavior. I think that that lack of logical suffering due to their wealth and the likely blind following they will keep is what is upsetting Pastor Tom most. I would agree.
Blog you later,
Pastor Ian
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE
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3 comments:
I like how Pastor Tom says he's not trying to pile on...but piles on.
Oh, Babylon 5 was a great show. Provided me with a favorite quote. "I have always wanted to die nobly for a hopeless cause."
So the woman got divorced. If all you needed to keep yourself in a happy marriage was The Word, divorce wouldn't exist. I also take exception to his anger over this woman and her husband continuing to do what they do. I don't care if they're selling Toyotas or preaching, if two people can seperate and then keep their lives half in order- that's impressive.
Oh, remembered my password.
Although I agree with your analysis for the most part, I think this is another example of Tom "calling out" some people who were making money and had a large following and preached a much more optimistic, non-judgemental form of Christianity. I get the impression that Tom is happy about their fall, but more frustrated with their loyal flock. With that said, what they do is shameful if true, but they are able to do this by preaching the Gospel with a hint of QVC and the Home Shopping Channel thrown in to tantalize the would be sufferers.
Tom has this knack for finding stories that should outrage his fundamentalist audience, but I bet a large portion of them may have supported this ministry. One day on his show, someone quoted Benny Hinn. I thought I heard spit hit his microphone in studio, as he simultaneously agreed with the caller on a point as he critiqued their theology.
I don't have the energy to dig up dirt on every would be "wolf in sheep's clothing". And as Christians, our first response shouldn't always be judgement.
"The avalanche has begun, it's too late for the pebbles to vote" - Kosh
There's a new B5 direct to video movie that was released this summer. I just found out about it, it picks up the story at the point the seriese ended.
Oh yeah, this was supposed to be about how bad divorce and the health & wealth gospel is ;-)
There are two stories here. One is how to abide people with whom you differ. That is hard for all of us, but it does seem the Tom is at times too quick to condemn. The other is the use of black & white thinking (in this case, "ask God and you will have wealth, health, etc.") and what to do when it doesn't work. In this respect, the kind of hypocrisy that Tom decries is the very thing he is at great risk of because of his own dogmatic views. I would guess that that is part of his motivation, this hits him where he lives.
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