The Trouble With Trendy Teaching
Following my post on the “Why I Hate Religion, etc” video, I was asked this straight-forward question,
“As far as trendy goes…whats wrong with trendy?”
Well, nothing necessarily. Trendiness merely indicates our natural behavior to run with a crowd, to become excited for what is novel or popular. In itself, this may not be a bad thing every time. We discover lots of good by observing trends. However, when trendiness is merged with religious teaching what can happen is an unhealthy fixation with unqualified, but entertaining teachers. Modern technology makes it easy hear multitudes of total strangers give their opinions on the bible. Many do so in ways that seem more exciting than a Sunday sermon. Every guy who paints “John 3:16” on his bare chest, sets his lessons to rhyme, or begins talks by “Tebowing”, might get more people to listen simply because he is eye-catching, artistically talented, or plain weird.
In the midst of so many false teachers, Paul wrote to the Philippians, ”Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” [Phil. 3:17] Christians should desire to learn from men who above all have an established reputation for godliness, humility, and disciplined study of the word. We should be as interested to know something of their lives as their doctrine. James says there ought to be few teachers and those who do, according to Paul, must have real skills to rightly interpret the word. [James, 3:1, 2 Tim. 2:15] Pastors are doctors of souls and need an education equal to the calling. Above all, they need to be in accountable church structures that will correct them if they go astray. [1 Tim. 5:17-22] So the danger with trendiness, with all of its good intentions, is that often it distracts us from better resources by feeding our endless hunger to be entertained, rather than equipped with the best (and safest) teaching possible.
Why I Hate Trendy Gimmicks and Love True Religion.
It seems religion has fallen on hard times lately. At least that’s the word on web, following a video that went viral this week, titled, “Why I Hate Religion but Love Jesus.” Funny thing, too, because the word religion, as it has been defined for centuries, simply means beliefs shared by two or more people about deity, origins, morals, and purpose. Not so bad, huh? But verbal baggage has caused many to dislike the word to the point that it is now fashionable to disown it, even hate it.
