Are we selling Christianity as “cool”?
I just finished visiting a very interesting website regarding tithing and how most churches have not only embraced this doctrine, but totally shoved the poor right out of the door. Churches that teach tithing are in danger of falling into the realm of the Spiritual Abuse iceberg.
The post below was cut-n-pasted from the cre8d journal and I had to share it, especially since the “building” that requires my attendance is one of those mega-churches in Houston built in the “right” zip code. No, it’s is not Lakewood, that would be too obvious.
Are we selling Christianity as cool?
How cool do you think everyone thought Jesus was when he hung out with Samaritans? How cool was Jesus when he let his feet be washed at the dinner table by non other than a prostitute, in the presence of religious leaders? How cool was Jesus when he told the rich young ruler to go and sell everything he had and give it to the poor? Yes, what Jesus has done for us is cool, but what He asks of us is by no means cool! To follow Jesus requires sacrifice of everything. While others go and have fun, God may call you to lock yourself away in a cupboard for 3 weeks, to go without food, to lose all of your friends because of your beliefs. Is that cool? Sure, the rewards at the end may be cool but the process sure as heck isn’t sometimes. To sell Christianity as something that is ‘cool’ is one of the worst things that can be done to someone. For when the bad times come, as they most certainly will, their faith will simply disintegrate. Too many people are lost from the Church because they are sold the lie that it’s cool to be a Christian and everything is great when you are one.
Other than that, when Jesus said “Go”, I think He meant “Go”. To build shrines and expect people to come is not fulfilling the great commission. Going to where the people are and meeting them where they are at is what Jesus asked us to do.
As far as Hills is concerned, I’ve been there a few times. Their entire thing is professional. Top quality stuff. But I could get the hype and positive affirmation from any multi level marketing campaign meeting or at a Football game. I don’t ever recall Jesus hyping the crowds up into a Frenzy over how splendid the temple looked and suggesting that a multi-level stable be built. On the contrary, Jesus’ gentle words persuaded His followers to ponder greater feats of loving their neighbor and making sacrifices for the benefit of those in need. He then sent us out to preach His brand of love to the world.
We get so caught up in the ’saving people from Hell’ part of the Good News of the Gospel that the ‘loving your neighbor’ part is forgotten.
In most cases, I can’t see the poor, the homeless and the unloved coming along to expensive palaces to find God. In many cases, I know of such churches turning away such people as not to cause offense to those who sit up the front in their smart suits and write out hefty checks to make sure things run on budget. How sad it is when those Jesus cares so much about are turned away because they “don’t fit in”. After 2000 years, has that much changed? The temple is still an exclusive zone for the religious and those who need to hear remain outside the walls because we sit inside in our comfortable pews waiting for them to enter. And if they do, are we prepared to meet their needs, whatever they are? Whosoever they are??!