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Tabloid Theology
Tabloid Theology
By:
~ C Michael Patton ~
We are generously permissive and adaptive to strange stories, folk-lore, and bizarre shared experiences without being critical. Why? Because when it comes to our beliefs, we are ready to practice a methodology that would never pass muster in any other area of life. This is called tabloid theology.
Let me relate this to journalism first.
Tabloid journalism. You know what this is. It is sensationalistic journalism and it is a billion dollar business. It preys on our naiveté to believe something unbelievable. It exists because we like to let down our critical guard and indulge our minds by believing that which normally would be rejected. From alien abductions to pregnant men, the tabloids have it all.
Tabloid theology is the same. It is sensationalistic theology. More than this, it reflects the uncritical attitude of much of our religious culture today. It is the result of a culture that creates a dichotomy between the mind and faith. It is fueled by people’s uncritical methodology. A tabloid theologian is one who constructs his or her theology based upon naiveté. In the Bible, this is called a “simpleton.”
Some examples of tabloid theology:
1. The pancake with Jesus’ image proves that Jesus is real.
2. Statues of Mary crying.
3. Stories of miraculous healings need to be believed without question.
4. The shroud of Turin.
5. The Bible Code.
6. The story of the microphone which picked up the screams of hell during an oil drilling.
7. “If you receive this email, pass it on to five people and you will receive a blessing. If you don’t there will be a curse.” (Don’t say you have not done this!)
8. “If you send a financial gift to this ministry, you will receive a cloth from brother ________ that will heal you.”
Many television preaching personalities rely upon the existence of tabloid theologians for their messages will be received without question. Criticism will kill tabloid theology—instantly. Therefore, criticism is seen to be sinful and dishonoring among some. “Doubter! Skeptic! Do you not believe that God will heal?” Many are guilted into becoming uncritical thinkers believing that this is what God would desire of the truly spiritual.
This dichotomy of faith and intellect is not only destructive, I believe it is a sinful dishonoring of God by neglecting the stewardship of our mind. God calls on us to love Him with our entire being, the mind included. When a person believes anything and everything, this evidences a neglect and forfeiture of the mind and jeopardizes the foundation of their belief.
I am a critical Christian. I am critical of all truth claims, especially those that are about God. Why? Because I must be. God has called me to be. He has called us all to do the same. Our beliefs are too important to surrender based upon the smile of the seller or the good intentions of an email. Our beliefs form the foundation of who we are. If our theology is built upon trust in uncritical hearsay or unexamined sensationalistic claims, we are playing spiritual Russian roulette. As Jonathan Edwards said, “The heart will not accept what the mind rejects.” Eventually our faith will fall apart.
If you are one who accepts anything and everything that confirms your beliefs, I encourage you to become more critical. I encourage you to evaluate truth claims as a skeptic. I know this sounds odd when speaking about God, the Bible, or Christianity, but you must do so. Make sure that any truth claims have an impressive resume before they are believed. When people call you unspiritual for being critical of their stories of divine intervention, take heart. God’s truth will always have an impressive resume.
Proverbs 8:5: You who are naive, discern wisdom! And you fools, understand discernment!
I believe that religious systems other than Christianity have no choice but to base their religion in tabloid theology. Christianity is the only one that does not. Christianity invites – indeed, demands – criticism, skepticism, discernment, and questions. True Christianity will pass the test.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT TABLOID THEOLOGY?
DOES IT HAVE ANY POSETIVE USES OR IS IT ONLY DESTRUCTIVE?
Views: 2679
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on
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Hey Janie,
What you shared with us about the gentlemen who would send money to get a prayer cloth and how your mom got to the point of not giving any preacher the chance, because of the false teachers and preachers out there, is so rampant among our world, that it needs to be address continually.
The Apostles wrote most, if not all the epistles with the intentions to refute false teaching and teach sound doctrine.
Look at what Jude said in his own epistle:
Jude 1:
3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. 4For certain men whose condemnation was written about[b] long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
Jude wanted to write about the salvation we share, he found it necessary to instead contend for the faith.
It is a sad reality that God's name is blaspheme because of fables and what we are calling here tabloid theology, which Paul and others referred to as "old wives’ fables."
Millions of folks are turned off to listen to the Gospel because of those fables and tabloid theologies. This is also why the un-saved intellectual man thinks of Christianity as a belief system for gullible people. Some of the brightest minds in the History of the world have always been among the people of God.
LT shared this with us "One used to be taught to think critically at home and at school. Home life for many today has changed in this fast paced society. The school system rarely teaches critical thinking and in its place is teaching people what to think."
That is an unfortunate truth today, but the power to change that, at least in our family circle, is up to us.
1 Timothy 1:4
Nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.
1 Timothy 4:7
But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.
2 Peter 1:16
For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
(Inside Joke) Thank you for reminding me I am not an idiot hahahaha even though the slinky comment I had left on your page would probably have proven me different hahaha. See why I had to get rid of the evidence hahahaha
I am asking God for wisdom to respond to your blog:http://www.allaboutgod.net/profiles/blogs/i-want-to-remember-how-to....
Thank you so much for being transparent and do know that I appreciate you and do love you in Christ, ohhh and you are not an idiot either, you actually get your point across very well hahaha sometimes too well hahaha
Your friend and bro- You are in my prayers sis - Dv - Blessings sister :)
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Permalink Reply by Carla on
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Dear David,
Thank you for this post.
Tabloid Theology eh! OH! so that's what it's called!!! .. :)
I knew it was a problem a few years ago when I became a believer, but I did not know that it had it's own name.
We need to be trusting God as our only source for truth... We are to question everything and to be discerning, it is by the Holy Spirit that we can do this. Praise God that He has given us His Spirit. The more we study, the wisdom we have...it is from God.
I encourage all believers to not be offended when a brother or sister in Christ points something out that is questionable... Do not question their motives for questioning you..rather, pray and study about the thing at hand...I believe that God will make it plain to you... (i sure used the word 'question' alot :)..)
Great Post David!
Blessings, Carla
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Dear Tom, Please prayerfully consider these verses..
1Cr 13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
1Cr 13:2 If I have {the gift of} prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
1Cr 13:3 And if I give all my possessions to feed {the poor,} and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
1Cr 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind {and} is not jealous; love does not brag {and} is not arrogant,
1Cr 13:5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong {suffered,}
1Cr 13:6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
1Cr 13:7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1Cr 13:8 Love never fails; but if {there are gifts of} prophecy, they will be done away; if {there are} tongues, they will cease; if {there is} knowledge, it will be done away.
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Tom,
Having zeal for the most important doctrines or righteousness is not a bad thing, but our zeal should be covered in/with knowledge.
Psalm 69:9
Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up,And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.
Romans 10:2
For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
In Christ - dv
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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on
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Any item that would qualify as "tabloid Theology" would be negative in my opinion. The item may have an appeal to some and we might think that it is good to catch their attention. Some would argue that this might get them thinking about godly things, but if the thing is not godly to begin with, what are they actually being drawn to to give thought about?
The key is critical thinking and today many people simply do not know how to think critically. We live in a society of parrots (my opinion). Too many people repeat what they have heard instead of knowing why they believe it. One used to be taught to think critically at home and at school. Home life for many today has changed in this fast paced society. The school system rarely teaches critical thinking and in its place is teaching people what to think.
Therefore, since I believe that too many people are unprepared to evaluate these things I believe it leads people down the wrong rabbit trail and causes confusion.
Lord Bless,
LT
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Tom,
You seem to have missed an important point here...
You are saying that you are going to be blunt and that some may be offended.. However, what is it that you are being blunt about exactly?
I believe that David posted this as a warning to brothers and sisters here..and to open a dialogue so that people can voice their opinions and view points on this topic. He is not saying this is good..He is saying that we need to be discerning and question these things because they are always in our midst!
Insulting David as you have is not an effective way to handle this. Posting your opinion 'why' you don't agree with it, and how all believers must be informed would be more effective. David has never once said he agrees with this 'Tabloid Theology'...I believe that it was presented to us here so that we may open in a fruitful loving dialogue. Don't you agree that would be more effective?
One more thing, Greg is not into 'threatening' and he has never been.
Blessings, Carla
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Tom,
What your consider a waste of time is interesting. David starts a forum about things that are drawing attention of believers and can be dangerous to them, especially the young. You start a forum on how God is judging Haiti when you cannot know that. Which is really a waste of time or is neither?
I would not presume to speak for Greg, but recognize how it works here. What you call a threat is actually being given to you as an opportunity. If you are stating that you will not change then you would be sealing your own fate here on AAG.
I would comment on one other thing. You say that we each have our own interpretation or understanding regarding the Bible and then address anyone who disagrees with you harshly. Some how your view and actions do not line up.
LT
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Tom,
Instead of answering questions or responding to comments you choose to insult. Insult builds up no one and therefore you are failing to help anyone. The Bible teaches extensively about encouraging one another. You continually seek to demean others and this goes against God's Word.
You assume people are wishy washy because they disagree with you. You assume we think certain things about God. Your assumptions about many of us are wrong, but you are free to be wrong again.
You have totally missed the point of this post and at this point doubt you will ever get it.
I do have a major concern regarding you and believe that the fixing of this will go a long way to correcting your negative attitude towards people. You appear to be living a "works based religion" supposing that you will "earn" your salvation. The Bible you refer to regularly teaches salvation by grace apart from works (Eph. 2:8-10) and that it cannot be earned by works. You need to relook at what you believe and seek to align with God's Word regarding this most important truth.
LT
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