Anyone know of a guy named Harry Reeder? He is a pastor at Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, AL. I came across an article he wrote entitled, "Cultural Narcissism and a Titanic Lesson". It takes him a while to get to the point, but coming from me, that is sort of a compliment.
So, the shorter Harry goes like this. The story of the MOVIE Titanic differs greatly from the story of the actual SHIP Titanic. The movie, Harry says, was a technological and cinematic success but was, however, a "factual failure". The movie portrayed the event as an example of "class warfare". You had Leo, the poor guy, hooking up with Kate, the rich girl. Or maybe she was just the girl who was dating the rich guy. Doesn't matter. Point was, the rich folks were staying up top where they were safely ferried away by the lifeboats and the poor folks down below were left to drown.
Harry calleth, "Foul"! What actually happened on Titanic was "Men of Power and prestige sacrificed their lives for women and children of the lower class." In the days that followed as people wondered, 'why?' "The answer, almost universally acknowledged - even by the agnostic and secularist - was the undeniable influence of Christianity."
Ah, but wait. He's just getting started...
"The contemporary culture flounders in a sea of narcissism, yet the contemporary CHURCH (emphasis added) is likewise floundering in the exaltation of self and the supremacy of personal idolatry."
Is that too nebulous? Keep reading...
"Many churches (and therefore, their members) long ago abandoned the gospel call 'not [to] be conformed to this world but [to] be transformed by the renewal of your mind'. The church no longer shapes the world because it is being shaped by the world...The evidences of self-absorption within the church are undeniable and on the verge of going viral."
Our very own Devil's Advocate got a chance to sit down with Harry and asked him to elaborate.
Devil's advocate: OK, Harry. You're sounding a little like a bitter old man. Sounds like anything with a contemporary flavor is automatically branded unorthodox. Give us some specifics here. What exactly are you so worked up about?
Harry: Today's church, instead of speaking the true gospel message in terms the culture understands, has been seduced and intimidated into modifying the gospel message acording to what the culture approves.
DA: Hm. that's actually, that's pretty good.
Harry: Thus, we insist on the supremacy of personal music genre preferences in worship.
DA: Whoa! So this all boils down to the fact that you don't like Rock n Roll?
Harry: Our children exist to achieve academic and athletic honors in order to promote our parental pride
DA: Well, why else would you have them?
Harry: Marriage partners, instead of being the subjects of our sacricial love...
DA: OK, ok, ok. Chill, man. We get it. Let's have one more Harry-ism before you go.
Harry: The first question of our new catechism is now, "What is the chief end of God?" The answer: "To love me and make me happy."
DA: And, I think we're done here.
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