“Evangelicals believe they are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9), but then add a man-made waiver that you have to work as hard as you can to meet middle-class behavioral patterns to hang onto it. It seems to be contrary to the Gospel, where among the many teachings of Jesus regarding servanthood, the last become first. It is an upside-down kingdom contradicting what the natural order of the first and the best winning. The Church therefore should be radically opposed to such a success syndrome. It seems this affected Bono.
Another strange quirk about the Church is it has specific qualities that indicate whether you are an ‘acrobat.’Usually, they have to do with swearing, smoking, and drinking.
For some reason, there are biblical teachings that do not – but perhaps should – hold so much importance. Among them: materialistic greed, bigoted prejudice, the oppression of women, or the neglect of social justice. Somehow you can ignore many of the rallying calls of Christ and the prophets, and because you are teetotal and less flowery with your language and attend church twice a week, you are declared spiritually strong….Jesus told a parable about the kingdom of God where the sheep enter the kingdom, and the goats are left outside (Matt. 25:31-46).
Jesus didn’t say the goats smoked, drank, or swore too much. He said they didn’t get involved in changing the circumstances of the marginalized by feeding them when they were hungry, and visiting them in prison. These were the issues of His kingdom.”
~ Steve Stockman, from Walk On: The Spiritual Journey of U2
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