Not Our Brand

Okay, like many people in this nation, today I am totally glutted with chips and other verboten carbs. I didn't even really watch the game that closely, more engrossed in my mother's gardening books (ooh, nice border!). I take that as a signal to perhaps plan for a TV-less day come same time next year.

The title encapsulates my reaction to this Sunday's sermon at the default church. Hard to put the experience in words to do it justice (at least in the short time I have to write and post this). In short, a guest speaker aurally assaulted me (and perhaps others) about the many mission activities happening in the Muslim world, and the importance of "our" continued work. There was no overt political statement, but my mind couldn't separate the well-intended Goddy message from the politically motivated activities that may be complicating the issue. The delivery was non-modulated in two ways: 1) vocal delivery was at same zealous pitch, relentless; 2) there was no qualification, critique, acknowledgment of the philosophical complexities of championed mission activities. A few people left the room halfway through his talk, I don't know why (and it's such a huge congregation they could have just needed to pee). The main question from this new believer: did I have a hard time swallowing this because I'm not used to this sort of aurally masochistic a---kicking to become a more mature Christian, or did I have a hard time swallowing this because in some way I know this way of going about things ("things" being this particular style of rhetorical "persuasion" on local sermon and global mission levels) is not necessarily the most effective?

It didn't help that the speaker was the pastor's brother. The church search continues....