Family and Parenting and Theology Michael Krahn on 22 Dec 2007 08:41 am
Overchurched
I’ve been thinking more about the Tim Challies post I wrote about earlier this week. I don’t want my kids to be as “overchurched” as I was.
I should explain what I mean by that term. I don’t mean that I want them to be pseudo-Christians or secret Christians. I want them to be bold and prepared and I want what they believe to play out in the real world. Even though I never went to a Christian school, I was so immersed in church and church culture that I avoided making non-Christian friends and to this day I often find the concept of not being a Christian hard to grasp and that makes communication difficult at times.
I know even grade schools have changed in the two decades since I were there (feeling old yet?) but I don’t see the doom and gloom and I never have and, frankly, I’m not sure how useful it is. The threat of secular humanism does exist, but what more am I going to do about it? What will it change about the way I do things? My kids will go to the same schools, I’ll keep living my life the way I am and if at some point in the future that becomes more difficult to do and there are consequences, then so be it. Where I would certainly take action is if there was ever a threat of serious physical harm, and I know in the US that is a real concern in many places.
Some call that “burying my head in the sand” reasoning. I don’t know, I mean I have three kids and a full time job – there’s no time to fight the secular humanists after bedtime. So my part in the fight is raising a family that will stick out in society. That includes sending them to a public school, having them talk about Jesus there and probably being persecuted for it.
I don’t think that we should pray for persecution… I can’t remember that being in scripture anyway – but we should expect it.
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Just for fun, click here to see Google search results for the word “overchurched”
Michael Krahn (michael.krahn@gmail.com) is a husband, father, Pastor, writer, and recording artist who enjoys books, theology, technology and the Ottawa Senators.
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on 03 Jan 2008 at 9:01 am # Michael
“The threat of secular humanism does exist,”
The threat?? that sounds very ominous! Honestly, I think there are greater threats one should concern themselves about. In any case, I’m struggling to think of how secular humanism could be frowned upon by anyone other than a full blown, card carrying militant theist.
Not having a conversation with God every evening before bed is only a very small part of secular humanism. There are so many positive aspects that most christians would identify with. (notice I refrained from preempting the word Christians with ‘nutty’. I’m still in the christmas spirit you see :)
Ps, I think you’re a bit of a secular humanist really. Apart from the religion and ghost bits, the rest sounds just like you.
on 03 Jan 2008 at 5:29 pm # Michael Krahn
Hey Michael,
It is good to hear from you again and I’m glad hear you’re still in the Christmas spirit. I am too!
I do frown on militant secular humanism while maintaining that there has been a lack of proper humanism among evangelicals for the better part of the last century.
So you do have me partly right, but the humanism that elevates humans above God is a foolishness – a point about which we will no doubt disagree.
on 03 Jan 2008 at 5:39 pm # Michael
But why would an humanist philosophy elevate man above God? I mean, leaving aside the fact that as a humanist God is irrelevant, the central tenants of humanism are more than compatible with most religions. If anything (as you suggest) various religions could learn a thing or two from us lot!
on 03 Jan 2008 at 8:05 pm # Michael Krahn
Possibly because (in your case for example) the secular humanist does not ackowledge the existence of God, therefore man is the sole focus of his attention.
Please state what you see at the “central tenants” of secular humanism, especially those that are be compatible with Christianity.
Ah, I have missed you. Thanks for dropping by again.
on 03 Jan 2008 at 8:44 pm # Michael
Okay, let’s say I agree with your initial assertion; tell me this, why should man not be the sole focus of his attention? Neither of us believe that a secular humanist’s sole focus is himself, but rather the well-being of mankind. How is that so different to how you would want others to live their lives?
For me, God or no God, our first thought should be for our fellow man, our families, our planet. I would find it very surprising if you thought for one moment that your God would not be the first to wave the secular humanist banner.
If he were to exist I think (apart from the not believing in him bit) secular humanism would be a philosophy he’d be more than willing to trumpet. Or is he so vain that believing in him takes precedence over treating others with respect and love?
Think about it, if your kids grew up with respect for other people, for the the planet, didn’t cause any harm to others and lived every day to make sure it was better for the people they knew would that be so bad? Would it matter that they didn’t believe in God?
IMO, the moment one puts God before fellow man is the moment we’re all in trouble.
Ps, I’m not really back, just putting my toes in the water again :) I got fed up with arguing about religion with complete nutcases. “Fossils are the work of the devil”. Erm….You inbred lunatic. Where are your thumbs?
on 03 Jan 2008 at 9:03 pm # Michael
Oh, and I have a really interesting question for you. I’ve been puzzling over this one. I was chatting with a friend the other day. He’s a bit religious and he said, “How can you live thinking that death will be the end of you? how depressing”.
Okay, it’s a tad boring but here’s the question. Why do Christians get upset when faced with death in the family? If my son died I’d be distraught, naturally. But if I truly believed that this life was just a junction, a way to get to eternal happiness, well, I’d be fine. I’d think ‘lucky bastard, he’s up there with God living the eternal afterlife in pure bliss’. I’d be more annoyed that I’m not there with him.
So what’s up with Christians getting so upset? the same goes for those that make a big thing about people sacrificing their lives. It’s not a bloody sacrifice! If I thought I could help others by going to war and if I died I’d be able to eat Big Macs in heaven all day without getting fat, I’d be first in line. Sign me up to that kamikaze course sergeant!
But seriously, why the heck do Christians get so upset about death? I simply don’t get it.
I’d love you to write a little on this. Should death be seen as a negative? Shouldn’t it in fact be celebrated by those that truly believe? (and I’m not talking about a few drinks after the funeral, I mean real celebration) :) If not, why not? If a close relative of yours dies, (I’ll use the term, God forbid) would you be upset? Why? Shouldn’t the first reaction be a clench of the fist and a knowing smile?
Ps, and what’s up with this focus on Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross? For goodness sakes, earth was shite for him, he would have been relieved to get up there with dad and the rest of the family.