If you watch this scene from “There Will Be Blood”, you’ll be tempted to think it’s an absurd parody of repentance. Modern churches don’t treat sinners like this! Modern churches are full of kindness, grace, and love. Christians don’t humiliate sinners. Christians don’t believe sin exists anymore. Obtaining “the blood” doesn’t even require a confession. You can be saved by quietly praying Jesus into your heart. Quick. Easy. Painless.
The above scene is a gross misrepresentation of salvation – but it is a perfect depiction of Christian grace after salvation. When you’re a member of a Christian church, this is how you’re treated when you offend your brethren. God forgives. Men don’t. Be prepared for this brutal truth.
Do not misunderstand, you need Jesus. Without Christ, you’re doomed. But Jesus Himself said discipleship has a cost. Part of the cost is being forced to beg forgiveness from the other recipients of God’s grace. They will require much more than an apology whispered in your heart. A Christian’s grace is much harder to obtain than God’s. Don’t let them shove you out of the light! You were called to follow Christ, not His other wretched followers.
Self-righteousness is what happens when you forget your status as a sinner. It naturally results when Christianity is quick, simple, easy, and pain free. A Christianity that doesn’t introduce you to humility will certainly cultivate your pride. You’ll find satisfaction in smacking around those who are less mature in the faith than you. It delights you to see them grovel.
Church is like family. Relationships aren’t always rosy. When you make yourself part of the body, buckle-up! There will be blood.
15 Responses
John, the tone of this post really offended me. Next time use more kindness grace in love.
Apologies for the lack of punctuation.
I’ll remind you that in the end Daniel dies an alcoholic and Eli renounces his faith and declares God to be superstition. Smacking faces for Jesus always produces rotten fruit.
It’s also a good way to lose your milkshake.
When churches don’t teach the character of God, it’s easy for people to confuse Him with Santa. The Church needs to stop pandering & dumbing down to attract “attendees” and begin teaching to produce “disciples.” When we learn Who God is, His holy character, it becomes clear who we aren’t, and why we need a Savior. The truth isn’t pretty but it can set us free if we choose it. Prideful Christians are an oxymoron.
We don’t just pander and dumb down to attract attendees, unfortunately.
We ALSO pander and dumb-down when lifelong church goers are offended. We talk ENDLESSLY about “tone” and other packaging, because we’re more concerned with what’s on the outside than the inside.
The truth isn’t pretty.
That’s a good word.
YES! The Bible and the Holy Spirit aren’t sufficient; we need marketing and, and, and, … And on point, lifelong “church goers”, not necessarily long time, mature, Christians/disciples.
A new Believer might have to attend for decades before they hear that salvation is just the beginning. (That was my experience at the very beginning of the church growth movement. Now it might never happen.) But they’ll know where the coffee was sourced; where to buy the band’s CD’s, and when the next Small Group meets so they can “do life together” and talk about how a particular passage of Scripture makes them feel. Church has become exhausting, time consuming, and leaves little room for out being salt and light to a lost world. But it’s a fun place to hang and meet people! Wow, just realized church is now like being back in high school, but without anyone to say you’re missing the point of the lesson.
The only thing I disagree with is “it’s a fun place to hang out.” 😂
In retrospect, you’re right about that. 😉😜😂🤣
Well, at least the Bowl Cut Preacher never used sarcasm to “mock” anyone, so… 🤷🏼♀️ He can’t be that bad.
He’s not bad at all. Didn’t you sense his love filled sincerity?
I’m guessing the guy getting slapped was the one who was mocking people’s deeply held beliefs. He abandoned his son AND he also said once, “The preacher in that church is unhinged.”
Bad, sinner. Bad.
Daniel Plainview gets a bit unhinged at the end of movie. Even after he’s received the blood! It happens to all of us.
You’re such a peacemaker. 🙂
You know better than that.