They're at it again.
I recognize that relationship changes the lens through which you view someone. For example, if Dr. John MacArthur is your pastor, you're much more likely to overlook him taking Scripture out-of-context and bending it to fit a particular view of war.
I also see it works the other way in people like me giving people like Doug the benefit of the doubt.
But if you are hell-bent on skewering someone in the Emerging church movement, you'll take any and all opportunities to do so... jumping on whatever statement you can find that proves your view of someone as bad is true. When Doug appeared with MacArthur the other night on CNN and the two debated the issue of Yoga, it was basically a draw with Johnny Mac making the statement ""[It] would depend on how the yoga is conducted. If it’s just purely exercise and you’re a strong Christian, it probably wouldn’t have any impact on your faith” and Doug saying much the same.
However, Team Pyro went after a comment Doug made in a podcast afterwards as well as his tone towards Dr.MacA, and yeah- in the short clip he sounds pretty disrespectful of his debating partner... But the offending comment was something to the effect that "Got stress? Just read your Bible" is probably kind of a silly way to look at it.
That earned him the above Team Pyro poster and his very own post.
We'll see how long my comments last (I'm under a lifetime ban after all- But so is Dave Rudd and he squeaks a few by now and then) but here's what I posted (UPDATE- Deleted... of course- shame since it was turning into a nice conversation):
"Just to be clear...
Frank said- "As I said, and as I think Dr. MacArthur said, there’s nothing wrong with body movements – exercise is fine and healthy. The questions are whether techniques like "emptying you mind" or vedic meditation are actual, active idolatry or not, and whether or not those techniques are a legitimate substitution for drawing nearer to God through the sole sufficiency of His word."
Doug is not advocating "vedic meditation". He's advocating the use of yoga as exercise and doing so in the context of Christian spirituality.
When he talks about going or not going to Scripture for "stress relief" he's attempting (and you Pyro commenters will scoff and mock but it's true nonetheless) to keep people from claiming of Scripture what it doesn't claim for itself. The Bible is not your handy stress reliever. It's God's Word. It's not your nutritional diet guide, or your handbook to a better marriage, or anything else people try to make it out to be... it's a testament, cover to cover, to Jesus and the Gospel.
If someone told me "Want to relieve stress? Read the Bible!" I'd tell them, that's a pretty low view of Scripture..."
Dave R actually had a great comment (non-deleted!) that summed up the whole thing:
"i listened to the podcast which excerpted doug's podcast and was disturbed.
i didn't like the seemingly mocking tone in doug's voice when he questioned "going to the Scripture to relieve stress".
i was also disturbed with the way he talked about Dr. MacArthur. I felt it was irresponsible of him to "apologize" for him.
Then I listened to the whole of Doug's podcast. There he gives more context for the clips I had heard. he explained that he did not desire to reflect poorly on Pastor MacArthur. i'll take him at his word that those were his honest intentions.
realistically, i think if asked, doug would say that he does believe the Scriptures are a great place to go if you are stressed. i think he would also say that there are other places one might go for stress-relief (i.e. "pound it out in the racquetball court"... i know, i know racquetball and yoga are different animals and the tone in his voice was inappropriate). at least, i'll believe that about him until i hear differently... just as i'll believe dr. macarthur's views are deeper and wider than what were expressed on the interview.
that said, i found the whole tv interview to be extremely unhelpful. I don't think either MacArthur or Pagitt were able to unpack their thought, and any issue reduced to soundbites is ripe for misinterpretation particularly from those holding heavy presuppositions.
i think both men have taken undo criticism as a result of this."
But of course this isn't the first time the Pyro guys have taken Doug to task- and unfairly I might add. And when I say "unfairly" I mean "Intentionally misquoting him so as to make him a more suitable target for their ridicule."
This poster is a poke at Doug.
It's a reference to this article in which Doug says "A sermon is often a violent act," says Pagitt, a key figure among emerging leaders. "It's a violence toward the will of the people who have to sit there and take it."
Notice the crucial word in Doug's quote that is conveniently missing from the Team Pyro poster?
I'll give you a hint: "often."
By intentionally taking that word out, the entire impact is changed.
But even if we say "often", does that excuse Doug's clear attack on expositional ministry, his blatant attempt to mock the preaching of the Word???
I mean, where would he get such an Emergent idea?
Maybe from here:
"I once had a listener stand up, wave his fist at me and yell 'That's not true.' I probably had it coming. I had challenged his point of view, and he had no appropriate way to respond. I was standing in the pulpit, and I had all the power. Ethics in preaching demands that we speak and act respectfully towards our listeners. The pulpit is a place of power if for no other reason than the traditional sermon offers little opportunity for dialogue or interaction. Any half-truths or untruths can be devastating to people unable to defend themselves...
We must be careful not to use the pulpit as a means to bully people into submission."
Whoa! Radical stuff! Where's that from? An Emergent Manifesto? The latest Brian McLaren?
No...
The Art and Craft of Biblical Preaching- edited by Haddon Robinson.
I'm convinced some people will take any and every opportunity, regardless of the intent of our words to twist and manipulate them- all to make their own point.
