Don’t Talk, Don’t Trust, Don’t Feel

This is the motto of dysfunction. It’s also the motto for a little thing we used to call “sin”.

I was reading today about some significant things happening over at 100 Huntley Street. For those reading from outside of the Christian universe or those Christians reading from outside of the Great White North, 100 Huntley Street is our 700 Club. A little more mom and pop and a little less political – sort of like the rest of Canada – than the U.S. show but otherwise some strong similarities.

A few weeks ago the show changed: new intro, new hosts, no mention of the old hosts (who also happened to be the kidlings of the show’s founder). The silence was deafening.

Then a few terse press releases in “secular” media and slowly news leaks about a Ponzi scheme with U.S. and Canadian players – with 100 Huntley connections. You can read the whole story, as it’s developing over at Bene Diction Blogs On.

What I really want to say about all this is that we’ve become a seriously dysfunctional family, the family of God, in the way we live together. This has been coming for a while. We’ve had some lousy teaching on family life and it’s finally catching up with us.

I remember sitting outside a pastor’s office once and over hearing (yes, I could’ve left) a “closed doors” conversation between the pastor and a departing member of the church. “What will you tell people is the reason you’re leaving?” was the pastor’s question. I listened in shock as the pastor directed the “leaver” to the “appropriate” answer that he expected the person leaving to give if asked.

More than a few times I’ve heard a group I’ve hung around with creatively teach that God wants us to cover for each other. It’s put a little differently than that, but it’s exactly what is being taught. The clear message is that truth is nice but “love” is more important and “blessing” or “anointing” comes when we cover for each other and don’t expose each other. A dysfunctional family is told never to talk, don’t tell our family secrets, remember, momma just fell down some steps. We’re not supposed to get angry – despite Paul’s admonition to be angry but don’t give in to sin. Don’t feel – unless you have happy, docile, obedient feelings.

The thing is that the Canadian Christian media is leaving 100 Huntley Street and its obvious changes alone. This is not a Christian virtue. It’s a Christian vice. We shouldn’t attack each other or slander each other or “shoot our wounded”. But honesty and truth are still Christian virtues. And the power of the Cross is in exposing our “stuff”, not in covering it over, so that we can be set free. Paul didn’t ask Luke to cover up the disagreement he had with Barnabas and in Acts it seems to be pretty “spin free”.

This post isn’t about bashing Crossroads (100 Huntley’s “ministry” brand) or anyone caught up or hurt by this scheme. It’s really just a question I’ve been wondering about how and why we traded the power of speaking the truth in love for the weak power of the flesh that can spin and manage our way and “cover” this for each other?

Don’t Talk, Don’t Trust, Don’t Feel are unhealthy and though part of our subculture, not the mark of true followers of Jesus.