From: sco@aero.org (Stacey C. O'Brien)
Subject: Re: Mike Warnke
Organization: The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 18:00:37 GMT

In article <1992Jul30.071202.14928@schaefer.math.wisc.edu> mckinzie@schaefer.math.wisc.edu (Mark McKinzie) writes:
>I'm going to get toasted for this one.  Oh well. It is my duty to try....
>(i.e. nothing personal if I offend you -- I just feel I MUST say that
>which follows.)
>
>sco@aero.org (Stacey C. O'Brien) writes:
>
>>In article <1992Jul27.173313.27523@cbnews.cb.att.com> ajw@cbnews.cb.att.com (andrew.j.whitman) writes:
>>>
>>>I'm very, very saddened by this whole episode.  If the Cornerstone article 
>>>is true (and I'm withholding judgment until I read it and Mike Warnke's 
>>>response), then it would seem that a well-known and well-respected Christian 
>>>leader has invented a sordid past and "made up" a testimony.  And I find 
>>>myself wondering why someone would do this.
>>>
>>>Perhaps one lesson we can learn from this is to search our hearts to 
>>>understand why we, as Christians, often pay particular attention to
>>>other Christians who have experienced dramatic conversions.  I don't know 
>>>why this is.  But I know that I do it too.  I deplore tabloid sensationalism.  
>>>I don't care whether Elvis' Martian love twins actually exist or not.  But 
>>>I'm the first to prick up my ears when a brother or sister comes along and 
>>>tells me, "I used to be an axe-wielding, drug-addicted, sex-crazed psychopath 
>>>who killed my mama but then I found Jesus and, praise God, now I'm a normal 
>>>accountant."  
>>Yeah, I agree. I often feel very uncomfortable telling people that I
>>became a Christian at age 3 and stayed a Christian. I feel like I have
>>to explain that I really did understand what I was doing and that, yes,
>>it was real, and, yes, it stuck for 26 years (so far). I feel apologetic
>>for not having had a period of rebellion or major backsliding, never 
>>been drunk or anything like that. I feel like some kind of goodie
>>two-shoes ;-) because I think we look at dramatic experiences as somehow
>>validating Christianity. Somehow it's not really valid if you had a long
>>term, non-dramatic, day to day walk with Christ. You are more valid
>>as a Christian if you had to fight uphill through all kinds of hell to
>>find the Lord. It's as if Christianity wasn't enough on its own, we have
>>to add all this conflict and drama to make it REALLY VALID. Not to put
>>down the affect an ex-druggie can have witnessing to a current druggie,
>>an affect that I may not be able to have, not having been in his/her
>>shoes. But I do agree about this "National Enquirer" Christianity that's
>>so easy to fall for.
>
>Just like a person who was under the influence of hard drugs for years,
>suddenly deciding they've seen THE WAY?  No one asks them (I know -- I've
>been there) to explain how they know it is real and whether they really
>understand what they have committed themselves to etc.....  IMHO this

Yeah, I've seen a lot of people try to sugar coat Christianity, and even
try to sell it under the title of "What Christianity Can Do For You"
(clears your skin, helps you lose those unwanted extra pounds, makes you
popular, athletic, and a straight A student! Just call this toll-free
number and for $9.99 you too can pray the magic prayer...) when in 
reality your committment to the Lord could even lead to martyrdom (it
did for the disciples). So, yes, count the cost before you make that
committment! It has deep rewards, but Christianity is not an "easy"
lifestyle IMHO.

>attitude is a natural result of the pseudo-Christian desire to hide from
>the secular world.  [I AM THE WAY; ergo every other way is not of me,
>and hence evil.]  If everything secular is evil, then EVERYONE who is 
>troubled who seeks the Christian Way is automatically in the right, 
>regardless of their motives (or inability to have rational motives);
>and naturally they NEED to be brought into MY FLOCK in their righteous
>fligt from evil.
>
>HE is the way; kindly refrain from sharing your way to HIM; I'll happily
>find one that is right for me and my troubles.

Wait a second, what do you mean? What did I say, ie., which of my 
statements are you referring to when you say I'm trying to share with
you my way to HIM? I'm just telling y'all about my own personal
experiences and feelings as a person with no dramatic testimony, I'm
not saying that you have to have the same experience!!! I'm a little 
confused, so please set me straight on this!!!
>
>
>Respectfully yours,
>
>
>-- 
>Mark McKinzie          	|    We just won't eat on Sunday
>mckinzie@math.wisc.edu 	|    Got to buy him a limousine
>UW Dept. of Mathematics	|    Somewhere to live, somewhere to pray. 
>Madison, WI 53706      	|               -RJD, "TV Crimes"-


Stacey

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