This is the story of a wild horse named Pal. In his youth he was big, strong and fast. He galloped the open range proud and free. Local cowboys called him "untamable," ranchers called him a nuisance, and children were told to stay inside when he was on the loose. He was a horse to be feared. He also was notorious for leading large stampedes with other mustangs through the outskirts of local farms, eating vegetables and trampling crops. Even some domesticated horses joined him to run wild. One day the bravest of cowboys got together and cornered him in stony gorge. They jumped him and wrestled him down tying him up with thick ropes. Day after day they whipped him and beat him till he broke. His once proud spirit was tamed, he became only a shadow of his former self. The victorious Cowboys brought him to the county fairs boasting of their triumph. He was ridiculed and advertised as the "Demon Beast Tamed." Children rode him, mothers took pictures with their babies on top of him, and he became a whipping post for teenage vandals wanting a quick laugh with their neighborhood buddies. Poor old Pal, a threat no more. Overtime Pal was bought by an old farmer, feeding him straw and giving him a stable to sleep in. Occasionally people would come by and laugh at the old horse while telling tales of his fearsome, disreputable past. They would mutter under their breath,"And to think my parents walked in dread of this sorry animal?" On a lonely fall evening, as Pal was being led out to a field to graze, he fell down refusing to get up. The farmer's cheeky son had enough of the broken down horse and began to whip him, "Get up you stupid horse, you are nothing. A failure as a horse, and a forgotten memory of a distant past, get up!" The farmer moved with pity for the old horse snapped at his son, "Stop it! The poor horse is dying, let him be. It takes no courage to beat down a broken old bronco...let the silly beast die in peace." The horse never got up again, a faded memory of the once threatening stallion. Pal died that night..never to be feared again. Patriarchal Authoritarian Legalism (Pal)
Strange story...if it was about a horse it would be. But this is a metaphor about a culture that once ruled the range of the vast evangelical realm of churches. "Patriarchal Authoritarian Legalism (P. A. L.)" The outgrowth of Billy Sunday and revivalism, over the years became the Sunday norm in conservative American churches. Filled with very serious and often intimidating tie wearing pastors, these churches implemented a series of standardized gospel formulas, a book of acceptable hymns and a prescriptive and proof-texted theology that wasn't to be questioned. Equipped with the Scofield 1611 King James Version, pulpit pounding paternalism resounded through fire-brand preaching with confidence and conviction: "Christ centered homes must be led by manly men. Hair cut short, (buzz cuts preferred), no pants for women, be at church when the doors are opened, and we want children to be seen and not heard. Soul winning Sunday is every Sunday, the numbers of converts must be counted, Red-White-and Blue Republican Patriotism is right, avoid theaters, stop dancing, and absolutely, positively, no alcohol!" This was standard fair across the nation. Fundamentalism had a tight grip on most Bible believing, Independent, and Baptist traditions. Those who questioned the authoritarian bent of these churches were often silenced or steam-rolled out of the church. As the children born in these homes began to grow; bitterness against "Pal's" religious strong-arming tactics grew as well. Especially in the hearts of the strong willed, those who demanded reasonable answers before they would comply. The thirst for grace couldn't be quenched, Patriarchal Authoritarian Legalism was losing its grip. Instead of setting the pace, fundamentalism was fast becoming a pariah in mainstream America. Church culture started changing. A new freedom was in the air, music directors adopted drums and guitars, ties were coming off, and even women were given more latitude when it came to areas of leadership. Defectors of the faith unloaded their anger on the leaders and purveyors of P. A. L. Countless books and emergent church communities began ridiculing fundamentalism and blamed it's fall-out on everything from the popularity of the new atheism to the failure of the political right. A younger generation of church leaders who never grew up with "Pal's" influence see it as nothing more than a dinosaur from the past: Something to laugh at, something to mock. In fact, it has became cool to ridicule. It is believed the further you can distant yourself with both your style and dress, the more liberal your politics and perspectives, the more acceptable to the world the younger church culture is hoping to become. Thinking themselves heroic as they are whipping up on fundamentalism, the brave new world pastor doesn't realize they are doing nothing more than beating on a dead horse. P. A. L. was never a substitute for Christ -- nor is mocking it true Christianity either. A church built on a contempt for the past doesn't necessarily mean it's foundations are sure. And in its passion of throwing out the bath water of fundamentalism, some churches have lost the baby of the gospel as well. In your zealotry of beating a dead horse, don't forget to love Jesus, his word and his church. It still is his bride you know?
1 Comment
Mark Rawson
5/31/2015 03:31:26 am
Hallelujah! The old tyrant is dead! Long live the new tyrant! To quote an early disciple of our new found freedom: Meet the new boss, just like the old boss.
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