The rumor going around on our culture is that we’re too tolerant, and that pervasive relativism has carried us to the point where people don’t respect right and wrong anymore.
I see that, and I agree that it’s definitely a problem. I’ve been thinking lately that it affects us in a surprising way.
See, when right and wrong get diluted, then it leaves us ripe to elevate our opinions further than we normally would. In place of moral consensus, we emphasize our own hunches about the way the world ought to be. It’s not just the moral void that’s the problem—our own tendency to fill that void by elevating our own opinions that wreaks havoc on the formation of our character. The result is we live in an age of not just pervasive relativity, but pervasive negativity as well. This is the age of cynicism.
In a world where nobody has the final say about whether or not what I do is good or not, everybody has a say in whether they like it or not—people from every stage of life, young and old, now excel at cynicism in every arena of life. Negative judgmental critiques have become our highest rated form of entertainment—the bold and aggressive cynic is indeed the true American Idol.
It seems that even in the church, people eagerly voice their judgments and shamelessly gossip their critiques of their neighbors. Gone is any hint that the critiqued man, woman or child is a creature who somehow bears the image of God, gone is any impression of their value, gone is the spirit of love that compels us to see the face of Christ on our neighbors. In the place is only what we see and judge by the standards of what we like and what we don’t, what conveniences or annoys us.
We who believe in revelation must be better than that. What we have received from God certainly forms in us boundaries of what we may morally approve, but it is just as true that it should form a boundary of what we freely critique. Just as we must freely testify that Jesus is Lord indeed, we must also give testimony that we are not lords of the universe ourselves. Our witness to what God does say cannot be diluted by assertions of our own will and judgment. In the age of cynics, may the church instead choose to be something else:
May we choose to be prophets.
Prophets who speak the word of the Lord, but who bite our tongues before they spill the poison of cynical, negative gossip.
The anniversary program on March 25 will be held during the normal Bible study time. We would like to video the program. Please see Darrell Gibson or Pat Allison if you would be interested in volunteering to do so.
Remember to check the former member list in the lobby and select people to invite. Also, current members are expected to invite their own family members. Any historical photos and slides need to be submitted by February 12. If anyone has pictures of the homecoming on August 15th, 2004 please see Darrell Gibson or Jenny Calvin.
Volunteers continue to be needed to serve as score keepers, announcers, and to work the sound system. Volunteers are also needed to provide short devotionals during game half time. Check out the information table in the lobby for a schedule of games and available volunteer opportunities. Even you can’t volunteer, please plan to attend a game to cheer for our Upward participants! Remember, it’s not just another basketball game; it’s an opportunity to share the joy of our savior with families in our community.
Remember to check the list of former members in the lobby. Invite as many as you can. The day’s activities on March 25, 2012 will start at the “normal” time – 9:00 a.m. Photos and slides are still being accepted. Please submit any that you have by early February. If you have questions see Jenny Calvin or Darrell Gibson.
Divorce Recovery Groups Begin January 23rd. AGAPE will offer three divorce recovery groups on Monday evenings, January 23 – April 16, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Woodmont Hills Church – Teen Center, 3710 Franklin Road, Nashville, Tennessee. DivorceCare (for adults), DivorceCare for Kids [DC4K] (ages 5-11), and The Big D: Divorce through the Eyes of a Teen (ages 12-17) will be offered simultaneously. The children and teen’s groups use a variety of activities to address their concerns. Cost is $20 for adults and $30 for children and youth. For Adult Classes, contact Lori Crawford (615) 781-3000 or email her at lcrawford@agapenashville.org. For DC4K and Big D, contact Robin Mace at 781-3000 or email her at rmace@agapenashville.org.
Volunteers are needed to pray for Tullahoma’s Civil Servants (policemen, firemen, and EMS workers) over the next three months. This is a great opportunity for CL members (young and old)! A signup sheet is available in the lobby. If you have questions contact Steven Hovater.
