The Presbyterian Stockholm Syndrome
 
Stockholm syndrome |ˌstɑkˈhoʊ(l)m| |ˌstɑkoʊm ˌsɪnˈdroʊm| noun Feelings of trust or affection felt in certain cases of kidnapping or hostage-taking by a victim toward a captor. ORIGIN 1970s: with reference to a bank robbery in Stockholm, Sweden. Quoting our Stated Clerk and several leaders of the Covenant Network: “I don’t want to be a part of a church that doesn’t include all of you evangelicals” That is so sweet! But forgive me if I’m a bit. . . suspicious. Could it be that what pretends to be a love of diversity is perhaps a power ploy? Are the Centrists, Moderates, and the stay/fight/win Evangelicals in danger of bonding with their captor? Are evangelicals just too cozy to face the direction the PCUSA is headed? The kidnapper sets a big dish of ice cream before the child and speaks as kindly as possible. Shall we just eat the ice cream and believe the best? Any healthy abductee will not be fooled and will try to escape if an opportunity to do so is presented, but under the captor’s spell, the victim can even feel a kind of relative security, and even false reassurances are preferable to the anxieties and fears the reality merits. It’s time all PCUSA congregations ask themselves questions entailed by the above statement: 1. “Are we truly free or are we captive?” 2. “Do we want to stay in a denomination that demands a death-grip on our property?” 3. “Do we want to stay in a denomination that clearly prefers rationalization to repentance?” There is something the captor does not want you to know: You do have a choice. Whether you stay or go, be bloody sure not to eat the ice cream.
Anderspeak
Friday, February 9, 2007