Christian author has problem with conservatives (Religious Left)

AP via CNN.com ^ | January 24, 2008

[rightwingintelligentsia]

ORLANDO, Florida (AP) -- Donald Miller still loves God and Jesus. Don't misunderstand him.

His problem is with Christianity, at least how it's often practiced.

"It's a dangerous term so I try to avoid it," said Miller, who considered giving up his career as a Christian writer and leaving the church in 2003 because he couldn't attend services without getting angry.

For him, the word conjured up conservative politics, suburban consumerism and an "insensitivity to people who aren't like us."

To quell his rage, he sat in his boxer shorts and banged out a memoir of his experiences with God, stripped of the trappings of religion.

"Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality" sold just enough to pay a few months rent. Then five years later, spurred by a grass-roots movement of 20-something Christians longing to connect to God without ties to the religious right, the book became a sudden hit.

Fans were buying caseloads and passing out copies to friends. It peaked at No. 18 on The New York Times list of best-sellers among paperback nonfiction in November. He was mobbed by fans after a recent Young Life conference in Orlando where he addressed a crowd of roughly 4,000.

[jude24]

When you identify yourself as a "progressive Democrat," a lot of inferences are drawn, usually justifiably so. Many of those traits are unequivocally anti-scriptural. Do you expect them to be celebrated by evangelicals?

I don't identify as such - but I've seen it happen.

[tx_eggman]

aren't those who not those who = aren't those who

just damn ..

[CarryingOn]

“Miller’s book embraces cultural relevance”

This idea or opinion is not new. A lot of people in the modern American culture have tried to make the Christian faith conform to modern life-styles and opinions. I think that most people that say they are Christians would say that that is a backwards approach to Christianity.

[RobRoy]

This guy does have some good points, but some of the comments in the article are a little concerning. But they are taken out of context so I need to read the book to get the actual meaning of what he says.

This whole thing reminds me of something written by my favorite 20th century Christian author, C. S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity:

“That is why a cold, self-righteous prig who goes regularly to church may be far nearer to hell than a prostitute. But, of course, it is better to be neither.”

And yeah, as a professing Christian fundamentalist myself, TBN gives me the willies. It is an embarrassment. As is the Left Behind poppycock.

[GloriaJane]

"It's not unilateral - just try saying you're a Progressive Democrat in your typical Evangelical church. People will look at you like you have a demon in you."

I don't go to church. But I would look at a progressive democrat like they have a demon in them. Because progressive democrat says socialist or communist leaning ideas to me.

[i_dont_chat]

Wouldn’t that be like commenting without reading the article? No one does that around here...

lol.

[boop]

"In his book, Miller describes his disdain for the us vs. them mentality between Christians and non-Christians."

Remarkable. So he admits he's full of "hate".

[LiteKeeper]

As is the Left Behind poppycock.

Why do you say this?

[AppyPappy]

The article. Did you read it?

[scripter]

Last Easter I approached a pastor and told him I wanted to set up a booth at the mall with a sign containing the following message:

What is the significance of Easter?

I wanted input from the public so I could better understand from where they were coming. The pastor asked me if I had read Blue Like Jazz because my idea sounded like something the author wrote about.

Hearing that I was intrigued and the pastor highly recommended the book but I never made the purchase.

I would often talk with this pastor about current issues and homosexuality would often come up, especially since the Fred Phelps clan once came to our town. This pastor had some of the strangest ideas on homosexuals and homosexuality that I ever heard, and I've heard a lot! I laughed at his arguments and asked if he was serious, and he answered in the affirmative. With this and his other strange socialist ideas, I lost a lot of respect for him after that.

After reading this review I can better understand from where the pastor was coming—he was a liberal. BTW, he's no longer a pastor as he had an affair and a drinking problem last year and had to resign before he was fired.

[Abigail Adams]

Just more Emerging Church heresy!

http://www.svchapel.org/Resources/BookReviews/book_reviews.asp?ID=216

http://www.svchapel.org/Resources/Articles/read_articles.asp?id=122

http://www.understandthetimes.org/

Beware the Emerging Church, Contemplative Spirituality, and anything Purpose Driven! The great falling away is happening right now, in front of our very eyes!

[Steve_Seattle]

"We are called to love our enemies. That is unless they are Democrats, Clintons, liberals, or don't believe that all Hispanics should be instantly deported."

No doubt many or even most conservative Christians fall short on the "love thy enemies" test. But so do most liberal Christians, who might even be worse.

[Tribune7]

They were also the architects of 20th century liberal ecomonic policy. At least Bryan was.

Very true, but being a fool on economics is not the same as active opposition to the teachings of Christ, which is what the Democratic Party has basically become, and that is why evangelicals and practicing Catholics are much less likely to be Dems than they once were.

[blue-duncan]

“Hearing that I was intrigued and the pastor highly recommended the book but I never made the purchase.”

Having represented many Pastors, including some in my family, he probably didn’t read the book. Most of them buy books or read reviews or excerpts and think by osmosis they have absorbed what the writer is saying.

You won’t agree with all that he is saying but he has some legitimate insights. A “blind hog...” and all that.

[JenB]

That’s because Progressive Democrats really are demon possessed.

Or at least, they support infanticide and that’s close enough for evangelicals.

[Niteranger68]

I say adios MF’er! (But that’s just me....)

[Pietro]

"It does move us away from our smug complacency."

I'm not sure how anyone can be a smug Christian, as if we're walking around w/ Christ in our hip pocket.

Jesus challenges us every day to do what's right.

[ohioman]

This book will look great at the bottom of my mom’s birdcage.

[Prov3456]

... or, say you’re an Evangelical Republican in a Progressive Democrat church?! I suspect the reaction would be identical.

[tpanther]

“insensitivity to people who aren’t like us.”

Yeah...we’re just not sensitive enough to honor killers, throat slashers and beheaders.