From: danielg@med.unc.edu (Daniel G. Sinclair)
Subject: Re: Returning to secular music
Organization: UNC-CH School of Medicine
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 13:55:07 GMT

In article <1992Dec11.173416.25963@galileo.physics.arizona.edu> krueger@galileo.physics.arizona.edu (Ted Krueger) writes:
>
>About 1+1/2 years ago, a problem developed between me and my 
>church.  It was learned by my pastor that I was involved in something that 
>he thought was anti-christian.  
>We
>found another church, and were comfortable there for a time, but after 
>a few months, we began to see that the same requirement which had caused 
>so much trouble at the first church were also present at the new church.  
>We were expected to agree with the pastoral staff on the most minute 
>matters.  In order to avoid the previous heartache, we left that church as 
>well.  Currently I am not going to church often (although my fellowship 
>and relationship with God and Jesus are doing alright), and when I do, I 
>usually bounce around from one church to another.
>
Wow, what a major bummer.  Sorry to be nosy, but I didn't quite catch the
description of the 'unchristian' activity.  Was it reading sf/fantasy?  Or
something really unmentionable like going to secular concerts or *gasp*
dancing?  Being in leadership is kinda funny.  Somehow you are expected to
keep up a certain image as to not offend nobody. 

Which brings up an interesting question.  Many times I hear people say
'Sure, you could do that and it woudln't be sin, but wouldn't it cause
others to stumble?'  Usually this is in reference to drinking alcohol
(when I was in England and Germany this summer, I was mildly shocked to
find *real* fired up Christians going to the pub for a pint after service!
Here I am sitting in a pub drinking a cold one with what I perceived to be
mature Christians!  This guy next to me is showing me pictures of his
missions trip to Romania.  Culture shock...) or dancing (since most clubs
have sleazy music or atmosphere, I resort to aerobics to satisfy my
dancing bone).  But I ask you, what kind of message do we really give them
by being legalistic and prudish?  Sometimes I like to say, 'yeah, I want
to show them that as a Christian you can love God, be pure (they can tell
by my speech and kindness), and still be free from 'rules and regs'
Christianity.  They've seen enough fundies, so they know that 'Christians'
don't drink, don't cuss, and don't chew.  Maybe they would be changed by
seeing freedom.'

Now I know the standard objections and associated scriptures, but my heart
is, what kind of Christianity am I representing?  Another example.  I am
about to start a growth group (cell group, house group, kinship group,
whatever :) at my home in January.  This sunday, they were taking pictures
of the leaders for the bulletin board.  Like usual, I was dressed in
jeans, hiking boots, tshirt and sweatshirt, plus, my hair is kinda getting
long and wild looking (for a guy).  The picture dude didn't take my
picture but asked me to dress up a little better and he'd take me next
week.  |-\  Bummer.  You know, there are tons of nice WMC (white middle
class) home groups, but where are the long haired alternative types gonna
hang out?  Not at the Cleaver's house!  Of course the beave won't come to
my house, but maybe some of the *many* people who want to follow Jesus but
*don't* want to be part of stale Christian culture (the old one - I really
belive that a new Christian culture is sweeping in to replace the old)
will look at my unkepmpt mug and go 'now *that* home group might be worth
going to - look Mabel, he's not even wearing a button down!!'

Anyway to summarize (darn, is this stuff fit for this group?  Let's start
a group called soc.culture.christian)

	1. what was your faux pas in these churches?
	2. what activities should leadership refrain from?
	3. what sort of image should we portray? (to drink or not to
	drink.  to dance or not to dance.  to wear nice clothes or not
	to.)
	4. does anyone else see the new culture rising?

Respectfully and full of hope,

danielg

-- 
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* " When our humanity is in danger, the artistic spirit suddenly lives." *
*     -Leland Ryken from _The Liberated Imagination_                     *
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