Reformed theology appeals to people who at some point in their lives were "not very nice." Perhaps they were ostracized by others, constantly in trouble, and on the wrong side of the law, literally lost in their misfortune, and someone came to them and said "Jesus loves you."
It is possible that this is the first time anyone has ever told those words, that even they can be loved. So, it is no wonder they were drawn to it.
I have known many a Protestant who told me "You wouldn't have liked me before I was saved," or "I was nasty, I liked to cut people down with words, etc." and similar stories.
Such people found a new and better self in Christianity and a lifeline that sustains them, so I can't really blame them. To them, the humility of catholic and orthodox Christianity is too reminiscent of them being a fringe, rejected, laughed at, and worse. Nothing is more repulsive to them than being humble; they needed a crutch and an ego-building compliment, strength, not weakness, even something as unChristian as pride, something they never had but always wanted. And they found it in the Reformed theology.
They are saved, they can do now wrong in God;s eyes, no matter what they do, what they say, how much they fail. They have been given the ultimate assurance that, contrary to human realization that we are all ignorant, nasty and selfish creatures by nature, they will be rescued in an easy way with magic words. Anyone can do that, even the worst of us. Hecne the appeal. Reformed "worship" is all about "God loves me, halleluyah", a pagan-like spectacle one would expect to see in a pagan temple, all swaying their hands in the air like something from "Indiana Jones" movie.
Catholic and Orthodox worship and theology is like that tax collector in the Gospels who feels so undeserving he can't even look up, but can only beg God for mercy. How could you expect people who seek low self-image therapy and food for their narcissistic nature to subscribe to that?!
Consequently, I think people end up in a camp that suits their personality and world view, as well as self image. You see the same segragation among Muslims (for exmaple Sufis and more ilitatnt groups) and Jews (Orthodox, reofrmed, Liberal, etc).
wow, you are so absolutely correct! By the age of 7, when I came to Jesus, I was such a derelict---- gosh, I carried double cap pistols, shot up the cow pasture, hated school, said I was sick when I wasn't, and got beat up my brother. And I bet many people here were worse.
Funniest post I have read in a long, long time!!!
I didn’t realize that you had such a great sense of humor!
Funniest post I have read in a long, long time!!!
I didn’t realize that you had such a great sense of humor!
Certainly a good thesis. I'd also add that it appealed to a lot of robber barons who feel the onset of mortality, and all of a sudden get super sized Jiminy Cricket chirping at them and this is the only way to quiet him.
They are saved, they can do now wrong in God;s eyes, no matter what they do, what they say, how much they fail. They have been given the ultimate assurance that, contrary to human realization that we are all ignorant, nasty and selfish creatures by nature, they will be rescued in an easy way with magic words. Anyone can do that, even the worst of us. Hecne the appeal. Reformed "worship" is all about "God loves me, halleluyah", a pagan-like spectacle one would expect to see in a pagan temple, all swaying their hands in the air like something from "Indiana Jones" movie.
Mob emotion can be a frightful thing - look at the rallies used by some of the finest dictators in the world.
Catholic and Orthodox worship and theology is like that tax collector in the Gospels who feels so undeserving he can't even look up, but can only beg God for mercy. How could you expect people who seek low self-image therapy and food for their narcissistic nature to subscribe to that?! Consequently, I think people end up in a camp that suits their personality and world view, as well as self image. You see the same segragation among Muslims (for exmaple Sufis and more ilitatnt groups) and Jews (Orthodox, reofrmed, Liberal, etc).
I wonder what that says about folks like me who wandered afield and was largely horrified by what I found and hurried back home after my stint in the sty...
In fact, it's to be expected.
"What communion hath light with darkness?"