Where is our generation's Billy Graham?
I just read an article in which a Rolling Stone reporter went undercover to a Texas Evangelical mega church's healing weekend retreat. The article was hilarious. When put on the spot, the author made up a ridiculous story about being beaten with clown shoes as a child, which he then had to stick to and elaborate on for the rest of the retreat. When prompted to speak in tongues, he quoted the lyrics to a Russian rock song (in Russian). But at the end, the author draws some common conclusions that I've often heard among my secular friends and in popular media. Christians are portrayed as empty-headed, doe-eyed mannequins- pretty on the outside, but lifeless inside. Christians accept whatever doctrine and policies are placed in front of them by evangelical leaders. Most Christian rhetoric is judgmental, and created by the Republican party, covered with a Jesus laden veneer. I can't be too offended, since I don't feel that the Ted Haggards, John Hagees, or Pat Robertsons of the world represent my faith. Plus, that brand of stereotypical evangelicalism far more easily lends itself to witty, but shocking reporting (like this article, Jesus Camp, etc) than a more typical church where people are challenged to really know God, seek truth, and follow the radical, life-altering teachings of Jesus.
Back when Billy Graham became famous, evangelists had a terrible reputation for being con men with slicked back hair preying on the trust people of faith would so easily give them. BG decided to make morality a priority, declining money, alienating other prominent religious leaders by looking to God and to the Bible for his politics instead of going with the flow (especially regarding segregation in the South). He gained the respect and trust of millions of people, even prominent men and women with no religious affiliation what so ever. He changed the face and reputation of American Christianity. Who today will stand up in main stream America without hype, without alienating hurting people, to let people know that Jesus loves them-wherever they are, whoever they are, however they act- to let them know that Jesus wants to change all our lives radically for the better? Who will look to the Bible for policies instead of randomly choosing a few issues to protest? Who will champion the unpopular, but extremely important fight against pornography robbing the innocence of young people like MLK and BG fought against segregation?
I've made it a common theme in my life to constantly tell my secular friends that knowing Jesus looks very different from joining the 700 Club, and tell my Christian friends to resist popular Christian media and look to Jesus for responses to the world's problems. I just wish there were more Christians in the limelight doing the same thing. In other news, a very intellectual and openly atheist friend of mine became a Christian in the past month. I personally have been praying for him and telling him about my faith for the past four years. I have no idea what all God has planned for his life, but I'm super excited. He has the passion and intelligence to really change the world for the better.
Too bad no one in Mexico cares about American Evangelical stereotypes...