Hi daisyrainmartin

Thank you for your comment at Provoketive Magazine (http://provoketive.com). We’re creating a space of rich conversation about life, faith, justice and culture without judgment. Our desire is to provoke the reader’s imagination through conversation and open up spaces of dialogue, learning, and hope.  We want to invite you to come back soon and continue to participate in the conversation. 

Thank you,
Jonathan Brink
Provoketive Magazine

You posted the following comment:
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Thank you for your pause. I don't think there is enough of that. I would love to have the conversation about how Christians and Americans are perceived around the world. Being able to perceive how you are perceived by others is an incredibly critical life skill. And the church seems largely to lack it. I think that comes from centuries of believing that we have tapped into the Source of all Truth and therefore embody all Truth so it follows that everything out of our mouths must be Truth. We operate in a subculture where authority is not questioned and questions are not encouraged. I have been accused of being bitter and harboring unforgiveness in my heart merely for questioning those in power. I am guilty of many things, but those are not two. And this is turning into a great conversation. I love you. What can you offer me in the way of wisdom? I'm frustrated that there are those in the church who are so oblivious. They exist in a paradigm that is so arrogant and out of touch with the world around them that they have rendered themselves ineffective. No... not ineffective. Effectively repugnant. I know those are strong words but, believe me, the feelings some have in regard to the church are precisely that. How has the church responded to the angst against her? She's become somewhat of a victim. She vacillates between lamenting and rejoicing that she's "persecuted". She complains, but she also "counts it all joy", claiming that darkness cannot have any fellowship with light and that is the reason for the scourge from without. I think she's just annoying sometimes. And other times I think she's dancing naked on the kitchen table with a lamp shade on her head. But as Sarah will remind me, she is still the Bride. And I am her.