Preachers who Hate

[JustaServant]

Church Militant's thread over on Apologetics on an anti-Catholic evangelist named Mike Gendron got me to think about the subject of preachers whose entire ministries are based on 'what they hate' or what they are 'against'. It doesn't have to be anti-Catholic. They can be anti-other denominations they disagree with, anti-Calvinist, anti-Arminian, anti-other Bible versions (KJV-only Fundamentalist Jack Hyles once took great pleasure in burning an NIV Bible on his platform). They are anti-pants on women, anti-rock n'roll, anti Charismatic. And on and on and on.....
I want Protestants as well as Catholics to chime in.
What do you think makes these people tick?

[silverdenali]

Guessing attention...

[GaryTaylor]

Ego

[Wackotrad]

I can't begin to fathom what makes these people tick, but I think that kind of negativity is endemic to passionate people. It's also not limited to religion: In this lengthy election season, we see politicians bashing their opponents more than telling us why they're the greatest, and certain social causes tend to tell us why others are wrong more than why they're right.

And I think to be anti something is just plain easier.....and often splashier, unfortunately!

[IggyAntiochus]

Originally Posted by JustaServant

Church Militant's thread over on Apologetics on an anti-Catholic evangelist named Mike Gendron got me to think about the subject of preachers whose entire ministries are based on 'what they hate' or what they are 'against'. It doesn't have to be anti-Catholic. They can be anti-other denominations they disagree with, anti-Calvinist, anti-Arminian, anti-other Bible versions (KJV-only Fundamentalist Jack Hyles once took great pleasure in burning an NIV Bible on his platform). They are anti-pants on women, anti-rock n'roll, anti Charismatic. And on and on and on.....
I want Protestants as well as Catholics to chime in.
What do you think makes these people tick?

I think there's a couple answers to that question. For one, there may have been something that occurred in their background where the thing they preach against traumatized or disturbed them so much that they feel compelled to devote their lives to destroying that which troubled them. This is especially true of pastors who were once Roman Catholic, and felt that the RC "system" did something to them or offended them so much that they want to vent their anger publicly and teach others to do the same, all in an effort to weaken the Roman communion. It's also equally true of those who were once Protestant and converted to Roman Catholicism and make it their goal to attack various Protestant traditions (especially the one they converted from).

If they don't have something in their background like this, it may be a particular social taboo or theological system that is opposed to how they were personally raised. Baptists with alcohol or music, or Arminians with Calvinists, etc.

Ultimately, anyone who bases their ministerial work as primarily being against something means they are only secondarily for something (in this case Christ and His gospel).

[agnes therese]

It seems that some people just don't feel their lives have any meaning if they don't have something to attack. Kind of sad, really.

[JustaServant]

Originally Posted by IggyAntiochus

Ultimately, anyone who bases their ministerial work as primarily being against something means they are only secondarily for something (in this case Christ and His gospel).

This is a very important point Iggy. In CMs thread over on the Apologetics that I cited, this message of hate was an EASTER message. There is no Christ-centeredness.
If God is love, than Christians should cultivate that love...even if it is among that with which we disagree.

[JRKH]

These kinds of ersatz preachers remind me of this passage:

And what is the will of the Father??

That we Love one another....

Love will define who is on the right and who is on the left at the judgement....

[IggyAntiochus]

Originally Posted by JustaServant

This is a very important point Iggy. In CMs thread over on the Apologetics that I cited, this message of hate was an EASTER message. There is no Christ-centeredness.
If God is love, than Christians should cultivate that love...even if it is among that with which we disagree.

[Church Militant]

Originally Posted by JustaServant

This is a very important point Iggy. In CMs thread over on the Apologetics that I cited, this message of hate was an EASTER message. There is no Christ-centeredness.
If God is love, than Christians should cultivate that love...even if it is among that with which we disagree.

Hi servant!

Just found your thread, so sorry that I'm late.

It's pretty hard to know what really goes on within so many of these "oppositional preachers" (for lack of a better term), but one thing that all news media know is that controversy always sells.

The straight Gospel of salvation in Christ and encouraging/equipping people to live out their faith and share it is something that every good man of God loves doing. It may not pay very well, or pack the building, but most know that's what they are called to do, knowing that the Bible says that "he that gaineth souls, is wise" (Proverbs 11:30 DRB).

I've been in n-C services where the pastor was into the "compare & contrast" sermons that almost always targeted other Christian faiths and it tended to make me contentious about our differences and I wasn't the only one.

Now, I often wonder why we didn't spend more time on salvation, and how to live a better Christian life. I'm very grateful for the homiletics in my own parish where I am challenged to live out the Catholic faith moment by moment, day by day.

Some of these anti-Catholic guys, like Mike Gendron, seem to make being a-C their "schtick" even though they call their ministry "Proclaiming the Gospel". You go through his site and you don't see Gospel messages...you see constant bad mouthing of Catholics and anyone else who even dialogs with the Church. You see misrepresentations of Church teachings and doctrines and production materials aimed at badgering Catholics about the faith, often with misinformation and out of context quotes that will put any unsuspecting Catholic at a loss to respond.

It's very sad, certainly, but there's no reason for anyone to take it or be put off or distressed and confused by it. Taking the time to examine the rhetoric and polemics and show them for what they are will almost always counter it. (Like Gendron's constant rash generalizations, just for instance) IMO all of that simply shows a serious lack of real content, and in some cases, gross dishonesty.

Fortunately, (and Glory Be To God for them!) most n-Cs are not like that, and I especially love the n-C folks who come here to CAF and ask and discuss things out of a sincere curiosity and respectful Christian charity. May the Holy Spirit guide them and lead them on their journey of faith.

Originally Posted by JustaServant

Many of us "formers" could very easily fall into the same trap if we allowed it. It's not easy admitting you believed a lie. And that can very easily turn into anger.

This is more true than most people realize. I know that I sometimes really have to bear down on myself to keep from responding in kind, but I know that stooping to the other guy's level violates 1st Peter 3:8-17 and feeds the conflict to no good end.
Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum,

[onemangang]

I went to a Calvary Chapel that's whole teaching could be summed up in these two words "No Catholicism"

The Pastor was a bitter former Catholic that built straw-man after straw-man to lead his flock away from the "evils of religion, and the system set up to separate you from Christ!"

I was impressionable and had a general concern for my Catholic family, because Catholic equaled lost in this pastors teaching, for the most part! I figured if I was going to witness Christ to my Catholic family, I better learn what Catholics believe, and why! Suffice to say, I returned home to Rome. The problem I have now is that, I am disgusted with Calvary Chapel for the most part! I know I should have no ill will, but when you hear what are essentially lies after lies, you grow cold!

Really, it is a problem of ego! I thought, how could I have been so stupid? How could I have been so easily mislead? The problem I had was I, Ego!

Most of the ex-catholic hate preachers I find, reject the teachings of the Church at all cost, because they base their doctrine on a feeling. "I didn't feel the Love of Christ while I was a Catholic, but I did, when a non-denominational evangelical shared the gospel with me (his/her version of it anyways) I felt the love of Christ wash over me, therefore non-denominational evangelical is true!" They seem to start with that premise and build upon it. It is a tradition, passed on by those that often experienced the same before them, a meme!

Almost the entire congregation I was apart of, was made up of ex-catholics, mostly Mexican, El-Salvadorian, and Fillipinos. They all chant the same phrase in unison "I never had a real relationship with Christ while I was Catholic, but when somebody shared the Gospel with me...........

Most people I find were just looking for some camaraderie, a place to talk, be yourself and share. Unfortunately, after Mass most people split and go home! I find that what the hateful preachers really hate, is the fact that nobody seemed to care about them, nobody took the time to say, "hey, how are you? My name is Andrew, are you new to this parish?" They blame the Church for actions (or lack there of) of the laity.

Maybe if we fellowshipped a bit more after Mass, we could keep the memes from infecting our seeking brothers and sisters!

Peace and Love in Christ

[JustaServant]

Originally Posted by onemangang

I went to a Calvary Chapel that's whole teaching could be summed up in these two words "No Catholicism"

The Pastor was a bitter former Catholic that built straw-man after straw-man to lead his flock away from the "evils of religion, and the system set up to separate you from Christ!"

I was impressionable and had a general concern for my Catholic family, because Catholic equaled lost in this pastors teaching, for the most part! I figured if I was going to witness Christ to my Catholic family, I better learn what Catholics believe, and why! Suffice to say, I returned home to Rome. The problem I have now is that, I am disgusted with Calvary Chapel for the most part! I know I should have no ill will, but when you hear what are essentially lies after lies, you grow cold!

Really, it is a problem of ego! I thought, how could I have been so stupid? How could I have been so easily mislead? The problem I had was I, Ego!

Most of the ex-catholic hate preachers I find, reject the teachings of the Church at all cost, because they base their doctrine on a feeling. "I didn't feel the Love of Christ while I was a Catholic, but I did, when a non-denominational evangelical shared the gospel with me (his/her version of it anyways) I felt the love of Christ wash over me, therefore non-denominational evangelical is true!" They seem to start with that premise and build upon it. It is a tradition, passed on by those that often experienced the same before them, a meme!

Almost the entire congregation I was apart of, was made up of ex-catholics, mostly Mexican, El-Salvadorian, and Fillipinos. They all chant the same phrase in unison "I never had a real relationship with Christ while I was Catholic, but when somebody shared the Gospel with me...........

Most people I find were just looking for some camaraderie, a place to talk, be yourself and share. Unfortunately, after Mass most people split and go home! I find that what the hateful preachers really hate, is the fact that nobody seemed to care about them, nobody took the time to say, "hey, how are you? My name is Andrew, are you new to this parish?" They blame the Church for actions (or lack there of) of the laity.

Maybe if we fellowshipped a bit more after Mass, we could keep the memes from infecting our seeking brothers and sisters!

Peace and Love in Christ

I could easily blame the Church as well. The post Vatican 2 crippling of Catholic education in the US, liberal priests, nuns, the sex scandals, and on and on and on.
Ultimately however, the blame rests with me, not the Church. I left the Church. I became anti-Catholic, I equated Catholic with non-Christian. I saw the small Catholic world I grew up in as the reality. I wasn't mature enough to realize the Church is much bigger than me or my (bad) experiences.
It is an ego problem. They can only build themselves up by tearing something else down.
Pride goes before a fall.

[AbideWithMe]

Originally Posted by IggyAntiochus

I think there's a couple answers to that question. For one, there may have been something that occurred in their background where the thing they preach against traumatized or disturbed them so much that they feel compelled to devote their lives to destroying that which troubled them. This is especially true of pastors who were once Roman Catholic, and felt that the RC "system" did something to them or offended them so much that they want to vent their anger publicly and teach others to do the same, all in an effort to weaken the Roman communion. It's also equally true of those who were once Protestant and converted to Roman Catholicism and make it their goal to attack various Protestant traditions (especially the one they converted from).

If they don't have something in their background like this, it may be a particular social taboo or theological system that is opposed to how they were personally raised. Baptists with alcohol or music, or Arminians with Calvinists, etc.

Ultimately, anyone who bases their ministerial work as primarily being against something means they are only secondarily for something (in this case Christ and His gospel).

I think these are all good points.

It's hard to equal an ex-Catholic for bitterness towards Catholicism, and vice-versa in regards to ex-Protestants who feel they need to warn Catholics about the dangers of Protestantism. I think, in some cases, it may be a God-given passionate pastoral spirit infected by woundedness that hasn't yet been healed....in other words, a good thing gone awry from unhealed pain.

[englishredrose]

what makes them tick as opposed to what makes any of us tick is no different from each other. God loves us all and we all experience a wide set of emotions and hold ideas etc that are perfectly normal to each and one of us, preachers, pastors and priests are no different to the rest of us. They and we are all perfectly normal human beings whom God loves. "Lord I am not worthy to receive you but only say the word and I shall be healed" God loves us all.

[Trebor135]

Originally Posted by IggyAntiochus

I think there's a couple answers to that question. For one, there may have been something that occurred in their background where the thing they preach against traumatized or disturbed them so much that they feel compelled to devote their lives to destroying that which troubled them. This is especially true of pastors who were once Roman Catholic, and felt that the RC "system" did something to them or offended them so much that they want to vent their anger publicly and teach others to do the same, all in an effort to weaken the Roman communion. It's also equally true of those who were once Protestant and converted to Roman Catholicism and make it their goal to attack various Protestant traditions (especially the one they converted from).

Agreed 100%.