Wow. That's a doozie of a problem.

As a preacher myself, I've had some crappy sermons... and I think the ones I gave that were bad and filled with bad theology were the ones in which I was either in a bad place when writing (which sometimes happens when you leave your sermon writing till Saturday evening) OR I lifted whole chunks of my sermon from another preacher without looking over it word for word.

I'm not saying that your preacher did either of those two things, all I'm saying is that there's possibly a reason behind the crappy sermon. If you think this was a one time thing, I'd perhaps let it go... but if it is something you've experienced multiple times, perhaps you'd be brave enough to talk to them about it.

^ this is good advice. We've all said stuff we later regret/disagree with.

I also agree that there's a big difference between a one time thing and an attitude you've seen over and over again.

If you're able to tell us which one it is I'll have more thoughts. In the meantime I don't want to assume anything. :)

Well, not really looking for answers - more of a place to unload. I've made my own bed by being part of an evangelical new-reformed charismatic church. It's just that sometimes the enormity of what that means slaps you in the face. It was guest preacher from a similar church nearby and it was the sort of thing i've heard preach a thousand times - it wasn't an off-preach, it's what they all believe to be true. It's funny that we taught the same things over and over - you'd think it would have worked by now that we would have got it by now. The problem is that it has no relation to real life. When i drop my kids off at school i don't see the other non-christian parents feasting on the entrails of their young, shagging each other, popping pills, shooting up and then stealing each others cars. Poor buggers, they are slaves to sin and can't help but be evil all the time in all things, whereas I, child of god, am an agent of light, a slave to righteousness, spreading joy and healing in my wake - provided you believe.

Sorry, this is sounding like a rant from a decade ago - just sometimes it gets too much and one of these days i will stand up and start shouting because we are all being deceived. If it was truth then it would, i dunno, "work" in some way.

If i can find the time i'll put together a blog about it - that'll show 'em! :)

Fair enough! Rant away.

I personally couldn't stick around in that situation without copious amounts of chocolate and other sweet stuff. But that's not the healthiest coping mechanism. :)

Well, that just sucks then. Sorry.

If you're part of the music leadership, perhaps you can just start wearing earbuds or something and then just pipe in a message from a preacher you like listening to!

Hello, dear Robin. I haven't been here in ages either, and stumbled in tonight. I'm glad you're not looking for answers, as I'd be in short supply. I've been pondering the whole church "us vs them" thing lately myself. I haven't run across anything as blatant as what you encountered during your service, but it seems there's an underpinning of separation in most houses of worship. More and more I find myself just wanting to love people, celebrate them loving and marrying who they want, and respect and honor their faith - or lack thereof. See? No answers here, and yet I feel like I could spend a good amount of time soul searching and wrestling with this between us.

Doug

There is a reality that we are so hesitant to admit. It is that people on the inside of our churches aren't. for the most part, significantly different than the people on the outside of our churches. I'm not sure anyone wants me to prove that. Undoubtedly the language of judgment regarding the evil "outsiders" has done little to either change spiritual and moral culture or put us into dialogue with those on the "outside".
It takes a head on collision with grace to transform our confessional posture to that of weakness and commonality. It takes an amazing faith in the Father's grace to adopt the language of weakness in order that He may be seen as strong. In evaluating our language we must evaluate outcome.