Ten Things I Hate About You: "And now, a word from our sponsors..."

While I've been trying to hash out #2 in my Ten Post series, I wanted to bring up some great posts from across the Progressive Christian Blogosphere which have really captured my attention. Many of these posts touch upon the ten points that I want to talk about, so I think it's all rather apropos for what I want to do...


Slacktivist: Casting The First Millstone

The Left Behind series have quickly gained popularity amongst many mainstream Christians, primarily the more right/centre-right evangelical conservative Protestant crowd. You could say it's become the "Harry Potter" of the conservative evangelical Protestant Christians. Which doesn't sound so bad, until you read and find out that the books paint an "awful vision of a blood thirsty Jesus". But who's fault is it for Christians lapping this stuff up?

...The main problem here, though, is that such critics are blaming the victim. That's just wrong. Someone who has been tricked into paying good money for a Clay Aiken CD has suffered enough. There's no need to add insult to injury..."If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin," Jesus said, "it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck." That's angry. But the anger is directed at the proper target -- at the powerful and not the powerless.

More Than Fine: The Romeo and Juliet Effect: Why Christians Keep Having Sex Before Marriage

It's a valid question, and more often that not, the reason is staring us right in the face.

I'm a Christian and I think sex should be saved for marriage. However, if I had a teenage son or daughter, I think I'd rather they have a condom instead of some glorified notion of a supernatural ability to resist the devil. But that's just me. Despite high rates of teen pregnancy and STD transmission, I guess people still think that the way people are raising their kids now seems to be going just fine.

(I also really recommend reading the followup to this post, Pre-Marital Sex: Where Christians Get It All Wrong.)


Conscious Christ: LISTEN

In the film The Big Kahuna, one of the main trinity of the characters gives a little advice to his new co-worker, a self-affirmed Baptist who's not afraid to wear his cross on his sleeve, as it were. In doing so, he gives us all a little reminder of one of the issues with blind, aggressive evangelism that many Christians all too often forget, or choose to ignore:

Phil Cooper: "...It doesn't matter whether you're selling Jesus or Buddha or civil rights or 'How to Make Money in Real Estate With No Money Down.' That doesn't make you a human being; it makes you a marketing rep. If you want to talk to somebody honestly, as a human being, ask him about his kids. Find out what his dreams are - just to find out, for no other reason. Because as soon as you lay your hands on a conversation to steer it, it's not a conversation anymore; it's a pitch. And you're not a human being; you're a marketing rep."

The act and art of truly listening to someone is harder than it seems, which makes it all the more important, especially to members of a faith community trying to reach out to the world around them. It's a critically important basis for dialogue, and without dialogue, we get nowhere with those around us.

Really listening to someone does more than impart to you the other person’s knowledge. It is one of the best ways to show someone love, respect, and concern. It is the easiest way to make someone new feel at ease, and the simplest way to express interest in another person. NOT listening is the quickest way to build a wall, as it expresses a lack of respect or genuine interest.

Said of one of someone I’d like to emulate:
"She is completely present when she's speaking with you - she gives herself to you at that moment. You come away from her feeling good about yourself, that you are cared for."