“I’m not necessarily saying mega-churches, non-denominational churches or churches led by charismatic leaders (many of whom amass considerable wealth and power from their pulpits) are intrinsically bad things.”
They are, though.
No amount of soup kitchens in your local community or shoe boxes full of school supplies shipped to poor countries justifies a pastor owning a mansion.
Excellent piece, good insights and well-expressed and written. I would hope that you would continue in this vein with a column explaining why certain religious groups and followers of Jesus Christ are so taken with Donald Trump, a man who hardly exemplifies, lives, or embodies the Christian spirit or Christian virtues.
Do you think Living Color would license that song to the Trump Campaign for rallies?
If you don’t want to be scammed by faux Christian evangelists, just follow a few simple rules.
1. If the organization pays its leader hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, they don’t need your money.
2. If their leader drives around in a car that costs twice as much as you make in a year, they don’t need your money.
3. If their leader has a private jet, they don’t need your money.
4. If their leader has a million-dollar home, they don’t need your money.
As the old saying goes, “Show me a rich preacher and I will show you a conman.”
But the Franklin Grahams, Benny Hins, Joel Osteens, etc etc. of the world are just the tip of a very ugly iceberg. They exist because the evangelical churches have lost their way. They no longer follow the teachings of Christ. They seek a path to cheap easy salvation, where you can even be a cruel heartless monster, as long as you say you believe in Christ. You can turn away strangers, spit on the poor, watch the starving starve, and turn your back on those in need of food and shelter, while you accumulate as much worldly treasure as you can get your hands on, as long as now and then you darken a church door and say I am born again. I accept Christ as my savior. Then wash, rinse, repeat.
You can fool others and even fool yourself into thinking you are a really good person and a pious man or woman, but you can’t fool God.
JDoe you are exactly right. New spring, Grace, elevation , thrive, the sanctuary, love story are all exactly like this place, a cult, Redemtion was a sham set up to con people out of their money.
“Playing with bodies? Okay … as long as consenting adults are involved. Playing with minds? I mean … who hasn’t? But playing with souls? Toying with another human being’s eternal destiny? Yeah, that’s different. A lot different.”
First, there is no scientific or doctrinal difference between the mind and the soul.
And, frankly, Western so-called Christianity lost its way and its moorings when it not only condoned, but also glorified what Jesus Christ unequivocally called adultery.
And Saint James’ epistle explained that if you break one Commandment you break them all.
I was impressed, FITS, that you even knew Bible verses to paraphrase. But why did you skip “he who looks at woman to lust for her in his heart has committed adultery” when you photograph skin for clicks?
You are responsible for eight young minds. Make sure they do not one day come to think of you as you think of JP Miller.
God bless nonetheless.
Good take. How convenient that society calls out(or use to) the transgender movement, homosexuality and all other sexual perversion all the while turning a blind eye to adultery, fornication, lust, greed, drunkenness, pursuit of wealth and everything else that is normal in society now.
“Playing with bodies? Okay … as long as consenting adults are involved. Playing with minds? I mean … who hasn’t? But playing with souls? Toying with another human being’s eternal destiny? Yeah, that’s different. A lot different.”
First, there is no scientific or doctrinal difference between the mind and the soul.
And, frankly, Western so-called Christianity lost its way and its moorings when it not only condoned, but also glorified what Jesus Christ unequivocally called adultery.
And Saint James’ epistle explained that if you break one Commandment you break them all.
I was impressed, FITS, that you even knew Bible verses to paraphrase. But why did you skip “he who looks at woman to lust for her in his heart has committed adultery” when you photograph skin for clicks?
You are responsible for eight young minds. Make sure they do not one day come to think of you as you think of JP Miller.
God bless nonetheless.
12 comments
“I’m not necessarily saying mega-churches, non-denominational churches or churches led by charismatic leaders (many of whom amass considerable wealth and power from their pulpits) are intrinsically bad things.”
They are, though.
No amount of soup kitchens in your local community or shoe boxes full of school supplies shipped to poor countries justifies a pastor owning a mansion.
Prosperity gospel is an affront to God.
Brilliant take, Will.
Preach!
Excellent piece, good insights and well-expressed and written. I would hope that you would continue in this vein with a column explaining why certain religious groups and followers of Jesus Christ are so taken with Donald Trump, a man who hardly exemplifies, lives, or embodies the Christian spirit or Christian virtues.
Exactly!
Newspring and Redemption are both sweating as their congregants read this and feel the familiar.
Do you think Living Color would license that song to the Trump Campaign for rallies?
If you don’t want to be scammed by faux Christian evangelists, just follow a few simple rules.
1. If the organization pays its leader hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, they don’t need your money.
2. If their leader drives around in a car that costs twice as much as you make in a year, they don’t need your money.
3. If their leader has a private jet, they don’t need your money.
4. If their leader has a million-dollar home, they don’t need your money.
As the old saying goes, “Show me a rich preacher and I will show you a conman.”
But the Franklin Grahams, Benny Hins, Joel Osteens, etc etc. of the world are just the tip of a very ugly iceberg. They exist because the evangelical churches have lost their way. They no longer follow the teachings of Christ. They seek a path to cheap easy salvation, where you can even be a cruel heartless monster, as long as you say you believe in Christ. You can turn away strangers, spit on the poor, watch the starving starve, and turn your back on those in need of food and shelter, while you accumulate as much worldly treasure as you can get your hands on, as long as now and then you darken a church door and say I am born again. I accept Christ as my savior. Then wash, rinse, repeat.
You can fool others and even fool yourself into thinking you are a really good person and a pious man or woman, but you can’t fool God.
JDoe you are exactly right. New spring, Grace, elevation , thrive, the sanctuary, love story are all exactly like this place, a cult, Redemtion was a sham set up to con people out of their money.
“Playing with bodies? Okay … as long as consenting adults are involved. Playing with minds? I mean … who hasn’t? But playing with souls? Toying with another human being’s eternal destiny? Yeah, that’s different. A lot different.”
First, there is no scientific or doctrinal difference between the mind and the soul.
And, frankly, Western so-called Christianity lost its way and its moorings when it not only condoned, but also glorified what Jesus Christ unequivocally called adultery.
And Saint James’ epistle explained that if you break one Commandment you break them all.
I was impressed, FITS, that you even knew Bible verses to paraphrase. But why did you skip “he who looks at woman to lust for her in his heart has committed adultery” when you photograph skin for clicks?
You are responsible for eight young minds. Make sure they do not one day come to think of you as you think of JP Miller.
God bless nonetheless.
Good take. How convenient that society calls out(or use to) the transgender movement, homosexuality and all other sexual perversion all the while turning a blind eye to adultery, fornication, lust, greed, drunkenness, pursuit of wealth and everything else that is normal in society now.
“Playing with bodies? Okay … as long as consenting adults are involved. Playing with minds? I mean … who hasn’t? But playing with souls? Toying with another human being’s eternal destiny? Yeah, that’s different. A lot different.”
First, there is no scientific or doctrinal difference between the mind and the soul.
And, frankly, Western so-called Christianity lost its way and its moorings when it not only condoned, but also glorified what Jesus Christ unequivocally called adultery.
And Saint James’ epistle explained that if you break one Commandment you break them all.
I was impressed, FITS, that you even knew Bible verses to paraphrase. But why did you skip “he who looks at woman to lust for her in his heart has committed adultery” when you photograph skin for clicks?
You are responsible for eight young minds. Make sure they do not one day come to think of you as you think of JP Miller.
God bless nonetheless.
Very well said