I know…you are looking at that word and saying, “What the what?”  “Is that even a word?”

Why, yes it is as a matter of fact. 🙂 If you go here you can see wikipedia’s explanation of it.  If you go here you can see the article that made me think there was even a word and then made me think even deeper into the subject.  In fact, I’d suggest you read Ed’s whole article.

I was speaking to someone the other day and said “the problem with many missionaries, especially in the past, is they would go into a new culture, speak to them about Christ, maybe win a few and then try to “Americanize” them. Strange…that is what Ed mentions in his article.

I also see it here. This past year we had a family visit when their church closed its doors. They attended for several months; the kids were involved in the youth group; and the mom was eager to learn. There was a death in the family and I went to the funeral home to visit and was well-received, and later thanked by the husband. Then they disappeared. No clue what happened to them. I sent a note to them letting them know I missed them and hoped they were okay. While visiting with a relative I found out the mom and kids (not sure about the dad) were attending another “church.” A home “church” that would also classify  as a cult because of their “Jesus only” belief. Someone recently saw them in public and they have taken to dressing in long skirts and no make-up, etc. Don’t get me wrong: if someone wants to dress a certain way, more power to them. But when dress is made part of “this-is-what-makes-you-a-Christian” I have a major problem. Outward appearance has now taken the place of real Truth. Conform to an image has taken the place of conform to Christ.

The Gospel has been obscured. As Ed says, “obscurantism is when someone confuses the gospel with some idea or expression external to the gospel.”

I have to admit I sorta feel the same way when someone stands up and preaches on Gun Control or Voting Republican/Democrat or Military readiness. Last I looked those were not part of the Gospel. I’m not saying the church should not be socially aware, but to waste people’s valuable time talking about things that don’t amount to a hill of beans is ludicrous. “Preaching” on what the right style of music in God’s your eyes is not the Gospel.

The Gospel never has been and never will be external. It will always be the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and how that works into our lives. Honestly, that is one of the reasons I chose to do The Great Adventure this year-to spend the entire year in the Gospels.

I may have honked some of you off. If so, then please feel free to comment. Kindly, of course. But I would like to know what you think?