golden calves
Interesting article in the Melbourne Age today, that examines the state of American Christianity. In particular it looks at what the Christian lobby groups in America advocate for and how far they are from the message of Jesus.
In reading the article, I think we can and should apply the same criticism against Churches in most developed world and not just America. I guess America is the big target considering its overtly support of Christianity.
I too like the author would suggest that it is not Jesus of Nazareth that is represented and advocated for but something that comes from not actually reading the gospels (check the statistics in the article about how much is known of the biblical story).
The article challenges American Christians but it also has a message for us in other countries!
“The best-selling of all Christian books in recent years, Rick Warren’s The Purpose-Driven Life, illustrates the possibilities. It has all the hallmarks of self absorption but it also makes a powerful case that we’re made for a mission. What that mission is never becomes clear but the thirst for it is real. And there’s no great need for Warren to state that purpose anyhow. For Christians, the message of the Gospels is clear enough. If you have any doubts, read the Sermon on the Mount.
Admittedly, this is hope against hope; more likely the money changers and power brokers will remain ascendant in our spiritual life. Since the days of Constantine, emperors and rich men have sought to co-opt the teachings of Jesus. As in so many areas of our increasingly market-tested lives, the TV men, politicians and the Christian interest groups have found a way to make each of us complicit in that travesty, too. They have invited us to subvert the church of Jesus even as we celebrate it. With their help we have made golden calves of ourselves, become a nation of terrified, self-obsessed idols. It works, and it may well keep working for a long time to come. When Americans hunger for selfless love and are fed only love of self, they will remain hungry, and too often hungry people just come back for more of the same.”
Read the full article here
April 15th, 2006 at 11:54 pm
Interesting.
“Are Americans hypocrites? Of course they are. But most people, including me, are hypocrites. The more troubling explanation for this disconnection between belief and action is that most Americans, which means most believers, have replaced the Christianity of the Bible, with its call for sharing and personal sacrifice, with a competing creed, possibly several competing creeds.
The one that frightens me most comes from the sprawling megachurches. Its deviation is subtle - most of what gets preached in these palaces isn’t loony at all but disturbingly conventional, with pastors focusing relentlessly on individual needs. Their goal is to service consumers - not communities but individuals, those who feel the need for some spirituality in their (or their children’s) lives. The result is a comfortable, suburban faith.
A reporter from The New York Times, who recently visited one booming megachurch outside Phoenix, found a typical scene: a drive-through latte stand, Krispy Kreme doughnuts at every service, and sermons about how to discipline your children, how to reach your professional goals, how to invest your money, how to reduce your debt. On Sundays children played with church-distributed Xboxes and many congregants signed up for a twice-weekly aerobics class called Firm Believers’.
“And the dominant theologies of the moment do just that. They undercut Jesus, muffle his hard words, deaden his call, and in the end silence him. The consumer gospel of the suburban megachurches is a perfect match for conservative economic creeds about personal responsibility instead of collective action. Privatise social security? Keep health care for people who can afford it? File those under God helps those who help themselves”.
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Lord help the Megachurch. Lord help us all.
April 16th, 2006 at 12:10 am
I can’t help but think that possibly the Jesus of the MegaChurch is the same Messiah that the Jews were expecting when he actually came during his lifetime…
Powerful, warrior-like, dignified, influential, to restore “Isreal” to a place of respect and prosperity…
What did Jesus mean when he spoke to the Religious Teachers of his time and said “You travel over land and sea just to find one convert - only to make hime twice as fit for hell as yourselves”. ?
April 16th, 2006 at 12:22 am
yeah it was a great article. I showed it to some friend in America, they didn’t seem to want to deal with the issues presented.
the rev
April 16th, 2006 at 5:38 pm
Geat article! Much food for a nation following in our big brothers foosteps.. Any ideas on where we are at as a nation in this area?
April 16th, 2006 at 8:20 pm
I can’t help but think that possibly the Jesus of the MegaChurch is the same Messiah that the Jews were expecting when he actually came during his lifetime…
Lionfish that is so TRUE!
Christ tells us clearly throughout the Gospels that his Kingdom now is a spiritual one and is not physical -
“Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world” John 18.36
Why o why do these Mega-church ministers insist upon setting up a physical kingdom now?
It really defys belief
Here an article that exposes the lavish lifestyles of these frauds -
http://www.inplainsite.org/html/tele-evangelist_lifestyles.html
Some quotes from this page are:
Televangelists Jan and Paul Crouch of the Costa Mesa-based Trinity Broadcasting Network have purchased a Newport Beach house for close to $5 million, Orange County Realtors say. The home was described as “a palatial estate with ocean and city views.”
The Crouches had been living in a smaller house in the same neighborhood. The house they bought has six bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a billiard room, a climate-controlled wine cellar, a sweeping staircase and a crystal chandelier.
The three-story, nearly 9,500-square-foot house, which has an elevator, also has a six-car garage, a tennis court and a pool with a fountain. The house is on slightly more than an acre. Jan Crouch had been wanting a bigger yard for her dogs, sources said. (Los Angeles Times, Nov 4th. 2001).
One of the Crouch estates is TBN’s ranch in Colleyville, TX, just minutes away from the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. The 80-plus acre ranch is located between the city limits of Colleyville and Southlake – two of the wealthiest cities in Texas. The ranch, which contains eight houses and horse stables, is estimated to be worth about $10 million.
“Hellooooo Woorld!” yells Paul, who has seen much of it in the past 25 years. He gets around nowadays in a Canadair Challenger 600 executive jet worth about $13 million
Heres more -
Joyce Meyer
Ministry Headquarters
The ministry’s headquarters is a three-story jewel of red brick and emerald-color glass that, from the outside, has the look and feel of a luxury resort hotel. Built two years ago for $20 million, the building and grounds are postcard perfect, from manicured flower beds and walkways to a five-story lighted cross.
etc etc… Golden Calves indeed!
WIGGY
September 20th, 2006 at 3:19 am
Strap yourselves in for ‘Jesus Camp’.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UWIb4FwHPg
September 21st, 2006 at 9:30 am
Wow!
What a creepy prospect!
Lance, are you able to find out if this documentary will have an Australian release?