And They'll Know We Are Christians...by the way we Fight, Criticize, and are not Like Others

This past Sunday I did something in my sermon that I normally try to avoid – I directly criticized another group of Christians. Now I have taken my shots at the Fundis and the closed minded bigots, but seldom if never at one specific group. Yesterday I directly criticized Catholicism. The criticism was in reaction to the most recent brew-ha-ha about sexual abuse, cover-up, and denial. I criticized the hierarchy, the idea that the priest is above everyone else, and the all boys club that the hierarchy has become. Some of this criticism came out of a recent Newsweek article, “A Woman’s Place is in the Church” by Lisa Miller. Miller argues that the leadership in Catholicism needs the views and sensitivities of women to keep them honest. So, in talking about the authorities of the church, and how Christianity is often forced and contrived I took a pot-shot at Catholicism.

I did not expect the reaction from the congregation; all positive. Some of it was, I think, from many of the ex-Catholics, and some of it was from the birth-Baptists who were affirming their identity. The point was made, we have freedom in the Baptist movement, and I hope the point was received.

Part of me wishes I could have made that point without criticizing another group of Christians. Protestant America (and Christianity in general) have identified themselves by saying who they are not, and how they are not like those other people. It seems so often that we have an identity of rejection rather than an identity of affirmation. It may be that this is human nature (I think Durkheim said something about this), and this may be a reality that we have to live with. I guess as long as we all agree to hate each other equally, and walk hand in hand towards Christ with an equal amount of criticism launched at each other, then it will be ok (what is the best font to convey sarcasm?).