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Stealing the title from U2’s song Pride (from their 1988 album Rattle and Hum’) I’ve recently been looking at different ways that people express their faith and or beliefs to others. Bono, the Edge, and the rest of U2 have used their music to express their political and religious views and have reached a wide array of people. They extend this past their music to all to action - Bono is one of the loudest voices calling attention to the AIDS crisis running rampant in Africa - and calling specifically the church to action. However recently I have found several groups that have used a completely different approach. I have struggles with posting any links to these sites (I don’t want to encourage any of them to continue, and I don’t want anyone to go and post to ’set them right’ for it would not do any good. To have a true discussion one has to be open to being changed - not that change will happen - but they must be able to hear and converse rather than speak to - the sites only want to speak - not listen.) So I offer this one site that tries to reach people through tracts (which I have never been any fan of). In fact recently it was through them that I learned of my eternal damnation (to specific tract that I have linked to - while others of you may need to find another one to seal your fate).
Fear the motivatior? In fact one line describing their DVD (I know its scary) reads ‘You can almost feel the crackling flames of Hell as you watch!’ -That’s not quite the community of the triune God that I read about in scripture. I am not quite ready to get into the discussion of the existance of hell and its characteristics - but rather if Christianity is fear based it has been emasculated - completely devoid of the sacrifical acts of love which unite the creator and the creation.
The other sites alluded to but not linked are hundreds and hundreds of pages of links, comments, and posts attacking other Christians, churches, and schools. I understand the importance of discernment and addressing issues that come up between individuals, churches, or schools. However, the tone of these sites is spiteful and contain words of hate and condemnation and not one seeking reconciliation and the resoration of community. In fact they are done on the internet and not addressed with the individuals or churches that they attack.
Its sad that the Kid Rock CD I am listening to testifies more to the need of community on the faith journey than is demonstrated on these christian sites.