Folk Religion

[OBW]

I read something during the last week that reminded me of some of the flaws in the LC, and, unfortunately, in the thinking of many people in many of the churches some of us attend. I don't hear it in their leadership. But in the LC it is a major component of the "God-ordained" culture.

The issue is "folk religion." The writer described it in a blog as follows (read the entire article HERE):

Folk religion is religion that thrives on an anti-intellectual preference for comforting clichés such as “God always has a plan” without examining them for their truth content. Most such clichés have some truth . . . . The problem is that they are in and of themselves insufficient to deliver the whole truth (that can be delivered and needs to be delivered).

Folk religion may be “found” on bumper stickers, walls (e.g., wood “plaques” with cute sayings on them), in songs, stories, “evangelegends” [wild stories or teachings circulated by certain preachers or evangelists], sermons, conversations. Folk religion resists any critical examination of such clichés or the beliefs they express.
. . . .
The key thing is resistance to critical examination even from sound biblical exegesis and hermeneutics. Even concepts like “biblical exegesis” and “hermeneutics” are despised by folk religionists.

Folk religion thrives on traditions handed down and passed around that have little or nothing to do with the Great Tradition of Christian thought. And folk religion reacts very negatively when someone challenges the cherished tradition or belief — even on the basis of known facts.
. . . .
Folk religion is fiercely anti-intellectual; it demeans the life of the mind, critical thinking, in favor of believing whatever sounds spiritual, gives comfort, feels good, or “has always been told.” Or it is so enamored with a particular spiritual writer or speaker that it gives him or her absolute authority to govern beliefs even if what is being said is absurd.

I will admit that the overly Calvinist statement that "God has a plan" is so prevalent throughout Christianity (of which the LC still is a part) today. I do not deny that God has a plan. But when we turn teary-eyed at the repetition of the phrase in response to every event, good or bad, to the rise to power of every politician in every country, to the fact that so-and-so has been diagnosed with cancer, etc.? Like saying "he/she is in a better place" or "I guess God needs them more than we do" to the family of a loved one just laid to rest in the local cemetery.

And when it comes to feelings, I note that the current craze for "contemporary worship" is too often seeking a good feeling. The songs are rarely somber in character and seldom not about "me." I've heard a couple older than I am saying they go to the contemporary service because it makes them feel so good. (As an aside . . . I am not saying that those uplifting songs are theologically wrong — though some are — but that too many of them are hardly examples of the worship of God. More of a reflection on what I have received than on who God is. Better for personal reflection or even a gospel meeting.)

I know that I have noted in the past that it is often so hard to say things in opposition to certain LC teachings and practices because they just sound/feel so spiritual. How could anyone say anything against them? Well, if they are wrong, then it does not matter how spiritual they sound. And it doesn't matter how good anyone felt when the heard or read it.

But the resistance against it is strong.

One of the writer's last statements is quite chilling because it speaks to the pervasive extent to which folk religion has inundated the thinking of too many Christians.

Once you know what folk religion is, you see and hear it all around in American Christianity. It is the default religion of most American Christians. And it gives Christianity a bad name; it gives skeptics and critics of Christianity the proverbial “rope.” It diminishes Christianity’s “voice” in the public square. It opens Christianity up to valid ridicule.

I might disagree with his claim of "most" Christians. But it probably is "too many" Christians, and they are scattered around in almost every group. Thankfully, not always as part of leadership, but you even hear it on religious radio in the DJs and teaching segments.

Before anyone writes of this guy as some liberal theologian, you should understand that he is a strong evangelical pentecostal. Not just charismatic, but old-school pentecostal. He knows where feelings can cloud judgment.

This is just for consideration. Comments or thoughts welcome, but not required.