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An Appetite for Fanaticism

Is there something wrong with saying "You've gone too far"?

by Michael Spencer

...But tolerating fanaticism has turned American Christianity on its head. Rather than being a religion of the Word, it is a religion of experience. Instead of being objective, it has become hopelessly subjective. Instead of being a collective, corporate participation in a Biblical community, it has become an individual, radical, quest to "chase God." Instead of being comprehensible, it has become esoteric and mysterious.

In modern Christianity, fanatics have a clear runway to positions of leadership and influence. And virtually no one wants to dampen our appetite for fanaticism, no matter how much scripture and reason indicate a better way. Perhaps we are so sensitive to the secular persecution of our religion, that we are reluctant to criticize anything within our own fold. Our reluctance could prove costly, as fanatics tend to rise above correction, and to only be deterred when the damage has been done....

A Slow Drive Over The Edge

An analysis of fanaticism among evangelical Christians

by Michael Spencer

...Fanatics need to be told that their personal revelations are delusions and the gymnastics of a selfish and vain imagination. Whether they are saying that God has called them into Gospel music or told them to run naked in the park, fanatics don't deserve our patient approval. They should be put out of the household of faith. It is demeaning to the Bible to listen to them act as if God is speaking to them as he did to Moses or Paul. No wonder scripture is held in such contempt today by most churches. Men and women have become their own Bibles. Everyone is on the isle of Patmos, waiting for one more vision and voice....

...Evangelicals are fanatical about the end of the world, overcompensating for their doubts and fears about current events and their meanings. I am part of a branch of evangelicalism that seems to think advanced forms of celibacy for young adults are scripturally prescribed, even to the point of bragging that "my wife and I never held hands till we were married." Is this overcompensation for the sexual revolution? Wheaton College just said it was OK to have dances. What kind of fanaticism ever convinced us there was something wrong with a dance in the first place? Yet I grew up hearing dozens of sermons against such cultural trivialities, all decorated with rhetoric that sounded as if God really cared about such things. Spiritual warfare easily moves into fanaticism, but I will spare you how I know that.

Can we just say a few things here? Why do we have to have so much external Christianity in our lives? Why do churches act as if every day needs a church activity? Why does all our music have to be Christian? Why do Christian t-shirts appear to remind us that we have to "be a witness" in everything? Why do we need Christian animation for kids and Christian books for teens and Christian movies and Christian novels and a smothering, mediocre Christian product for everything? It's because we can't spot or admit fanaticism in ourselves. We can spot it when our kid hangs Eminem on every wall and dyes his hair and talks in rap lyrics, but we can't spot it in ourselves. We can spot it in our neighbor's devotion to NASCAR or our boss's insistence that everyone come to the company picnic or be docked, but we can't spot it in ourselves. But it is there nonetheless....

I'm weary of weird Christians

by Michael Spencer

So they said to him, "Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe
you? What work do you perform?" John 6:30

So the Jews said to him, "What sign do you show us for doing these things?"
Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it
up." John 2:18-19

And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, "Why does this generation seek a
sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation." Mark 8:12

I'm tired of weird Christians.

I am tired of hearing people I work with say that God is talking to them like
He talked to Moses at the burning bush or like He talked to Abraham. I'm weary
of people saying God speaks directly to them about mundane matters of
reasonable human choice, so that their choices of toothpaste and wallpaper are
actually God's choices, and therefore I need to just shut up and keep all my
opinions to myself until I can appreciate spiritual things. I'm tired of people
acting as if the normal Christian life is hearing a voice in your head telling
you things other people can't possible know, thus allowing you a decided
advantage.

I mean, if all this were really happening, wouldn't these people be picking
better stocks? ...