LRC, Houston - the weekends-free church in Houston, Texas

We’re seeing what fanatically following of absolutes produces- hell on earth! Once upon a time I was proud to be called a “fundamentalist“. I wore such a label with pride and therein I was making a huge mistake that was leading me into deeper self-deception. Don’t hear that I think ALL so-called fundamentalists are wrong or have evil in their heart. They simply believe too deeply in ABSOLUTES!

Religious zealots and absolutists led the Crussades, the Inquisitons, and much of the hatred that we see in the Middle East. Absolutism isn’t limited to any one religion. As psychologists will tell you, absolutes are what we normally use to justify our VIOLENCE! Can you say wars? We have Islamic, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, and so many more groups of fundamentalists within those majestic religions who are stealing their founder’s message.

Jesus was the “savior of the world” in many respects but it was in His teaching of non-violence and forgiveness that He unmasked the true identity of sin and sin management that the church labors so diligently to control. Those who believe that “their religion” is the only true religion, those that have no tolerance or love for people who believe differently than they, and those who constantly need to identify who is IN and who is OUT are dangerous.

They’re dangerous to themselves and to the witness they think they are preserving.

The subconscious carry-over of the Old Testament “understandings of God” that are birthed in conquering the enemy, imposing bans on groups of people, and the never-ending list of purity codes have caused us to miss the message of Jesus. The myth of “redemptive violence” is simply an outgrowth of absolutism. The stench of exclusivity is just the opposite of the inclusiveness of Jesus.

Absolutism knows no mercy as it’s Old Testament “law based”. Eventually such a mindset will unwind itself on others in the form of violence (passive or active). The blame for evil is “out there” and not here which of course absolves the finger-pointer of any and all guilt. That would be bad enough if it stopped there, but it can’t. That’s another trait of absolutism. It will eventually manifest itself in a rage that even the ego can’t control because it’s usually caught up in a “group rage”.

Let us remember- God is LOVE!