The Seeds of Political Violence Are Being Sown in Church (thedispatch.com)
Here's a little bit about me (as a typical Samson guy):
I don't support (time / money) any other national / international parachurch organizations other than Samson Society and Desiring God. I most definitely do not support social media corporations (though I do have a placeholder LinkedIn account - to support my family's business). I do not watch television, and that includes streamed television. You should know that I absolutely loathe television programming. In my opinion, it is the bane of western culture.
The reason for this (regarding the last two items) is: I have - what I believe to be - better uses of my time. And, I'm (by God's grace) intelligent coupled with emotionally healthy.
Now, there are boatloads of individuals out there who're much more intelligent than I am, but they may just be emotionally (mentally) unhealthy. And inversely, there're boatloads of emotionally (mentally) healthy individuals out there who're not - overall - very intelligent.
I cannot stress enough how blessed I feel relative to what God's personally gifted me with (which I've cited above). None of which I take for granted.
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Here's a little bit about typical Samson guys (as it pertains to religion):
Guys who step into Samson meetings - all in all - with a Charismatic / Pentecostal / Assemblies of God Christian mindset aren't your typical attendee. And that's not to say these guys don't / wouldn't recognize the benefit(s) of relational accountability. It's just that their heavy emphasis on what I'll call Holy Spirit spiritualism versus Biblical theology tends to alienate them (because of the aforementioned statistical trend). Too, in general, I have found that the typical Holy Spirit spiritualism guy tends to bank on his religious emotions (as a state of mind) moreso than his more theologically grounded counterpart.
My grandmother (dad's mom) was Charismatic, therefore I grew up witnessing her mindset / emotional religiosity firsthand. This, coupled with her emotional / mental unhealth served to alienate her (plus she was just a mean, self-centered virago). This familial connection declares my bias. So there.
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Here's a proposed scenario, taking into account a typical Samson meeting (per my experience facilitating & attending):
So what if a low intelligence or emotionally (mentally) unhealthy or Holy Spirit spiritualism zealot (or some combination therein) steps into a Samson Society meeting? What's to be done?
They should be welcomed in with open arms. And yes, their individualistic differentiator(s) will be noted by everyone else. And yes, it may very well impact the typical pacing / vibe of said meeting. But, I would argue, instead of resenting the unexpected (via their presence), everyone should push hard through it by cranking up the vulnerability / level of engagement.
Why?
No one's in control of any Samson Society meeting. It's foundationally a horizontal experience. As such, the Society doesn't discriminate.
Also, who's to say your emotional / mental health won't deteriorate someday? Or your intelligence be similarly impacted? I realize religious framework rarely changes overnight / over time, but it has happened. In other words, you may not see yourself today as anything other than a __________. But that too may someday change.
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So, why bring all of this saccharine, open door verbiage (about me, Samson guys & hypothetical Samson meetings) into a post titled with the word "intolerance"?
Honestly, I simply felt the need to unpack those items from a set vantage point before I divulge my take on individuals who Rob chooses to avoid - within the context of a Samson Society community. Individuals who relay their extremist, politically motivated behavior therein or otherwise.
Now, keep in mind that I said behavior. Not just opinion / talking points. B-E-H-A-V-I-O-R.
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If I'm made aware of a Samson guy whose crossed the political extremism line by promoting / participating in violence against our government, in my mind, they've stepped into a role that immediately topples them from our shared communal plane.
Even if they're lacking in the intelligence / mental health department or are committed to the most high-voltage Charismatic sect out there. Even if.
Nothing can excuse political extremism coupled with violence. Why? It's the work of Satan for such a time as this.
Samson Society must not usher in terrorists. Their behavior is a disgrace.
And I realize that the church has and will likely continue to ignore this topic. Just as it ignores so much that it should not.
God bless the Samson Society.
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