Day: November 28, 2005

The Hidden Messages of American Christianity

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Reading between the linesThis is a notice of an upcoming series of posts on American Christianity and its hidden messages. What’s a hidden message? Usually, it’s a well-intentioned message that has unforeseen negative consequences, or it’s a message that was never intended in the first place, but assumes prominence.

The Gospel is fairly clear, but our transmission of it periodically suffers. Likewise, the American Church has bound up the truth of Christianity with American Manifest Destiny and that old classic, the American Dream. The result is that the world perceives a bizarre mish-mash of pseudo-Christian ideals coming out of the American Church. What makes these hidden messages so pernicious is that no matter our church slant (traditional, emerging, charismatic, mainline, evangelical, or fundamentalist), we can fall into these hidden messages.

This series will be a little different. Rather than pontificating off the top of my own head all the time, if there is a hidden message that particularly sticks in your craw, e-mail me and I’ll write about it. Have a great week!

The Series so far:

1. Hidden Messages of American Christianity: Classism

2. Hidden Messages of American Christianity: Kneeling at the Altar of Excellence

3. Hidden Messages of American Christianity: Correctness Before Love

4. Hidden Messages of American Christianity: Pastor O’Gill and the Little People

5. Hidden Messages of American Christianity: “We’re Cool, Too!”

6. Hidden Messages of American Christianity: “Family Cocooning Session: No Trespassing Allowed!”

7. Hidden Messages of American Christianity: The Outstretched Hand

Aftermath of the Blogout

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The Blogout for the Kingdom is over and I must admit that—at least here—it was not quite what I had imagined.

Car troubles consumed far more of my time than I had planned. As a result, much less got accomplished than I had hoped. I did get my thank you notes written to folks who had been an influence on my spiritual development, so at least that was completed. But otherwise, too many things on my list were punted.

It was a great week for relationships, though. We spent time with my side of the family, hung out with a couple who are great friends, and I contacted an old friend who was able to get together with my brothers and me.

But for all my hope for a spiritual retreat week, well, I recall something about mice, men, and plans that certainly applies.

I retreated from all other blog-visiting, too. Combined with my own Blogout, I was surprised at how little I missed it all. I've long wondered if blogging substitutes for personal relationships in some cases. I know this is not a popular opinion, but I found the face-to-face contact I had this week to be more "real" than Web-based contacts. This isn't a slam on the relationships I've developed online—by no means!—but encountering a person face-to-face is just better.

This got me back to the theme I've explored a few times this year: whether blogging is worth it. My conclusion after this week is that I'm not sure. I hope that doesn't disappoint anyone.

Does this mean that Cerulean Sanctum is going away? Probably not. But this last week reminded me that I was missing out on a few things because of blogging. That goes beyond writing this blog and to the others that I read, too. What it may mean is that December becomes a light month. I know that I MUST complete my novel in the next few weeks. Regular posting may be the casualty—but I've said that before.

If you joined in the Blogout, let me know how it went for you.