"Jesus Camp", Shame and Fundamentalism

I just watched Jesus Camp and one word sticks out for me: shame.

A lot of what was said I would agree with at some level, but for all the shame that was involved. I saw that shame in these children's tears. They internalized all the sin they were told was in them and in the world, and the it seems like it was that burden that caused the intense emotions that expressed itself as tears. They cried because they had been named as evil, and then told that it is their responsibility to tell everyone else they are evil. Shame is naturally evangelistic, and so it's not much of a stretch for these kids to easily become evangelists of this bastardized "gospel" of shame. When a person is consumed with shame, they cannot love, all they can do is shame others.

Speaking of shame, I don't want to vilify the specific people who were portrayed in this movie. Instead, I would like to ask broader questions about what should be taught to children, both in the church and in the home. Or, perhaps more foundationally, how is your theology different than that which was portrayed in the film (or is it?) and why? And what part do you think shame plays in fundamentalism as a whole?

a wedding

This past Sunday, a wedding was a part of the church service. The liturgy just sort of stopped after the offering, and a guy in a tux and a woman in a wedding dress got up and were married. Then the wedding paused while the bride and groom served us communion, then the pastor did the whole kiss the bride thing, then the benediction and that was the end. It was easily the simplest wedding I've ever been to, and it was incredibly beautiful. I'll bet this was cheaper than a Saturday wedding too. And what a great theology of church. I don't even know these people, but I was invited to their wedding because they chose to have it in the middle of a church service that I happen to be attend. This has changed my entire hermeneutic for what a wedding should be. What a great thing, not to invite only close family and friends, but to invite your local instance of the body of Christ to attend your wedding.

See you later, Billy

This made my day/month:

Kentucky welcomes new coach Gillispie

Congratulations, and Bon voyage! Go beat Florida for me.