Charismatic Matthew

Frustrating.

I'm taking longer than I thought I would to get used to the new church. I realized that this is a common pattern for me. When I attend a new church, it takes me quite a while to integrate, to let go and be myself. In service, my mind is always on my previous church, comparing things, worrying about things, etc. I'm just not completely comfortable.

Getting used to college was easy. Getting used to dorm-life was easy. Getting used to new people, a little hard, but still, just took some days to get accustomed to. Church, however, is still difficult. Perhaps because I still haven't gone to church enough. After all, I spend everyday with new people, dorm-life, and college. Church is once a week (not counting Friday Bible Study and Wednesday Fellowship) and I have only been with them two weeks or so. But I can feel that it will take me a while. I just hope it won't take too long. It's frustrating when I can't be myself around such kind and open people.
+(Pastor Ed Kang's messages are quite powerful. He's funny and engaging and his messages really echo in my head. Especially this statement: "If you're not excited about the Gospel, you do not understand it.")

But what is especially frustrating is my poli sci professor. Today, he talked about charismatic authority, authority which derives its power from charismatic leaders. Examples: Mao Zedong, Lenin, Adolf Hitler. Then, he stated the example of Jesus Christ.

Which I can understand, really. He is a charismatic leader; His Words brought by followers who then spread it, bringing a sort of revolution to Europe and eventually the world.

However, the way he pointed it out, the tone he used was laced with sarcasm, disbelief, and almost a bit of pompous arrogance. I just wished he used a little more tact, more respect, at least TRIED to acknowledge the fact that maybe, just maybe, among the 500 or so students in the lecture hall, there were a few Christians who might be offended. He also took Bible verses out of context, making it seem that Jesus sought to break down family ties and values, as many charismatic leaders in history have done. (which really is not the case. True, the Bible does say:
"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her motherinlaw, a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.' Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." But He was refering to the fact that when you believe in Jesus, sometimes, you will find yourself in conflict with your family, with the people closest to you will not support your choice to follow God. He's not saying you have to go turn in your parents to the Nazi police for being Jewish (to site a specific example); He's saying that Christianity is something you do not take lightly. Your faith has to be strong to weather any type of storm or trial; it has to be stronger than any family tie.) It's frustrating to a point where I'm getting angry and upset, even tearing up at the thought. I try so hard everyday to be the best person I can be as a Christian so people do not judge us by bias. You wouldn't call every Muslim a terrorist, every Jew a penny-pincher, every Mormon a polygamist. So why has society deemed it okay to label every Christian as a homophobe, an ignorant and blind fool, and a hypocrite?

It's frustrating because so many people don't realize they have this double-standard. I had thought my professor, as an intellectual, would have more decency and respect for others' beliefs.


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