The Spiritually Blind Spout Off

Recently the Central Maine newspapers ran an article I wrote, about the latest Gallup Poll showing that people's confidence in organized church is near an all time low. The essence of that article from which I did a recent commentary, gave widely known, iron clad examples from current events of how messed up the church is and stated 1, that this is nothing new citing the church at Corinth, and stating that in light of all the foolishness and sin on the part of clergy, I am surprised confidence is as high as it is.

Well the letters to the editor are rolling in and of course I am the scourge of the earth. "God is about love and acceptance." wrote one critic. "I don't think he hates any of his children. If we lead a good honest life and treat others with respect and kindness that's all life should be about. "Pastor" Cripe teaches bigotry and narrow mindedness. I think he is a very dangerous person."

A local physician wrote, "The light of God exists in each one of us. Real conversation about this sacred spiritual essence, as expressed by the great wisdom traditions of the world, can only lead a better understanding of God."

The doc goes on to admire the "spirituality" of Jenny Boylan who is the transgendered Colby Prof who opined recently in the paper about "his" beliefs. "I greatly prefer [it] to the myopic self-righteousness of Cripe." Said Madam doctor.

Finally a local Unitarian pastor wrote, "The Rev. Bill Cripe's words were used like clubs to attack the religious beliefs of others. Christian supremacism is not 'manifest destiny.' The world, and our religion, need understanding, not theological claims to superiority."

Admittedly it is difficult to find the connection of the criticisms to the actual article but that is par for the course. I am neither surprised nor offended by the criticisms. These are the ones who need the truth; Christians cannot make people believe. Jesus didn't tell us to make people accept the truth, only to speak it in love. Sometimes the truth hurts.

So I am not dissuaded from continuing to tell it like it is, the Lord knows there is a dearth of Christians who can and will speak the truth in an intelligent, biblically consistent way. And so I continue.