Sunday, December 30, 2012

The New "Church Lady"

 
Not having grown up in the church I think I have an advantage.
I grew up around sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll. Well, more sappy country music than rock. I was more than happy to escape that dysfunction for Christ and I embraced Church.
At any rate I grew up "un-churched" and maybe I'm glad I did.
Something I'm really noticing the last several years are the people who did grow up in the church and have now seemingly hijacked it. Maybe it needed hijacking, but I don't think it's much better off with this group at the helm.
 
You might recognize them- they are mostly from my vantage point women who are authors, speakers and bloggers. They bemoan the legalism they grew up with. They complain about their kids, don't seem to be able to stay at home- it's too boring and the kids are exhausting. Their kids are enrolled in private schools, as many after school activities as their parents can find, and carry around cell phones at a young age (in order to keep in touch with their parents).
These women are embracing feminism and evolution and leaving their young children in the care of others for the sake of the excitement of church planting and world travel- um, I mean missions.
They speak out loudly and critically of conservatives. They mock homeschoolers.
They are the new breed of Christians who don't like to be called Christians. They are hipster church ladies who have thrown off the oppressive cloak of "holier-than-thou" and traded it in for  "cooler-than-thou".
 
You've seen them and you know what I'm talking about. They are often doing good work- feeding the homeless, adopting and feeding orphans, planting churches...thus their flaws are camouflaged and the damage they do overlooked. Believe me, I'm not saying they aren't doing good. I'm not saying they don't have a few things very right. They are doing some things we all should have been doing all along.
 
 
But no. I'm not impressed. Not having grown up in a legalistic church maybe I don't understand. I don't have anything to rebel from. Yes, I can't deny these hipster church ladies are out there moving and shaking and doing some social justice and they can teach a few things to the old church ladies who are more interested in keeping social rules than feeding the hungry, and yet...are they misusing their liberty?
These women have some influence in their spheres. They are often pastor's wives (and daughters) whose husbands casually drop references in their sermons to casually drinking beer and smoking a cigar or two. Their small groups get together to "study the Bible" er, I mean watch a video teaching of a popular pastor/speaker while knocking back a few cold ones and the women, their wine coolers. Oh, they're a cool group alright.
Is this supposed to make Jesus look cooler? More "marketable" or something? Or are they really sincere? I don't know. I haven't figured it out yet. It's not attractive to me and I don't participate. I have sat back and watched truths come out. Drinking problems. Affairs. Divorce. Sad.
 
I don't know. I don't know a lot of things. I just know there's something about these popular women in the church culture right now that bothers me.
 
What do you think?
 



4 comments:

  1. I agree wholeheartedly, Dalyn. I don't know any one person who fits all these descriptors, but I know several women who fit quite a few of them. It reminds me of 1 Timothy 5:13 "At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention." I realize this passage is talking about widows, but I think we are all in danger of falling into these sins. We must instead obey Titus 2: 3-5: "Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored." I truly believe we are living in the days where men (and women) will not put up with sound teaching. (2 Timothy 4:3) I'm not sure what to do with that. My personal inclination is to stay away from them, but I'm not sure if that is what God would have me do. (Isaiah 30:18)

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  2. I don't post comments normally - I enjoy your blog when I'm able to check it out. I agree and I notice also. I read it to my husband and he said he's proud of you. I think the spirit of Jezebel - I also think that the closer we get to the Lords return we will recognizing many things separating between the wheat from the chaff. I don't know if this makes sense. Long day! lol Happy New Year - God's many blessings to you and family.
    In Jesus, Vicky

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  3. Very much agree! I have often struggled with not "doing enough" outside these walls, but then I look at the bigger picture, I realize what an awesome journey God has me on in raising up more saints for his kingdom. Thank you for the reminder again today and that I am right where HE wants me!

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  4. I've never really been around ladies like this, but then again I'm not in church. But I am frustrated by movements that try to make Christianity cool and marketable.

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