AaronMarcelli.org

Posted By Aaron Marcelli on October 7, 2009

Last week in his sermon my pastor said that sometimes we all need a “butt kick”.  The comment made me chuckle but also think about how just a few years ago it may have shocked me to the point where I judged him unspiritual or irreverent in saying such a thing.

It kind of amazes me when I look at the atmosphere I was a part of just a couple years ago and how there are still many in that camp who get hung up on so many small things.  There were people at my college who would condemn and ridicule others, and sometimes me, for things as simple as what preachers we watched on tv or what books we chose to read in our free time.  And their reasoning was not that those preachers or authors were teaching for another religion or a cult, but rather they were not using the King James Bible, they were a different denomination, or the worst offense of all, they were “purpose driven” and talked about God’s love too much.  Looking back, I’m so thankful that I never got sucked in that narrow-minded and all around hateful attitude these other folks had to where I would have robbed myself of all the blessings of being open to learning from those who were unlike me in philosophy or practice.

Having that closed minded mindset where you feel there are so many already determined absolutes I think comes from very shallow and most of the time, inherited beliefs, where one stays committed to what he believes but never allows himself to have dialogue with someone of new or opposite ideas so that they do not get sucked into the “heresy”.  Being in that atmosphere during high school and college did affect me and for a while I was very hung up on things such as Bible versions, the proper dress for someone preaching, and thought that if you ever cursed or drank you were surely away from God.

There was an instant in the preaching workshop class I took as a senior in college where one of my fellow students was delivering a message.  As part of his introduction he described some kind of opposing idea or belief to what he was going to preach about.  In describing this other philosophy, he stuttered some over his words and then boldly pronounced, “and that’s just crap”.  After his well worded message (which he delivered while wearing a three piece suit) the professor and classmates showed no mercy in tearing apart his unforgivable language while preaching.  The professor said his Christian cussing showed how unprepared he was and another student said it offended him and was a disgrace to the place of preaching.  Excuse me, but doesn’t the Bible call preaching “foolishness”?  When it came my turn to give feedback, I didn’t even address the use of the “c” word because it had not stuck out to me that much, plus there was no mud left to sling once it had got to me.

Another instance comes to mind in which some members and staff alike were appalled when one of my friends sang a song in church that called Christians “whores” when we continually deny God, sin against Him, and then put on our best and pretend to worship when the time comes.  Um, hello….  If we are His bride is that not the perfect word to use when we go out and cheat on God?

I was raised with a conservative, traditional background just like many of those I went to school with but am so thankful that somehow I was raised with more balance or security or maybe I just came to understand that the Bible says to try all the spirits and to take everything with a grain of salt.  I learned that I do not have to hide in a closet when the big, bad contemporary preacher comes around.

When talking about doctrines and philosophies, I had someone in my church small group tell me that whenever he is making an argument, he always does so with the understanding that he may be wrong.  That has stuck with me.  There are so many wonderful things I would never have experienced if I were not open to evaluating new methods, looking into different systems, or even being willing to test my own beliefs.

Category: My Life / Personal
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