Warning: This is not Christianity
I am tired of these minsters claiming that the purchase of a private Jet spreads the gospel.
I am tired of these ministers buying things that won't do anything but paint those who are attempting to spread the gospel in a bad light.
I am tired of these ministers claiming that their elaborate purchases are affirmed by the Lord.
I am tired of these ministers using scripture to push their own agenda.
I am just tired of people serving themselves instead of serving people.
What Matters More
Derek Webb.
You may have seen the band that he was in before he went solo. Caedmon's Call. They are a pretty big deal in the Christian World.
Derek Webb ended up going solo and making his own music. He has created songs that have rustled some feathers. He has opened up a can of worms that must be opened. He wrote a song titled "Wedding Dress" that described the Church as a whore.
It wasn't played on Christian Radio Stations, because the word Whore was too explicit, according to those who tend to use much lighter words than Whore to describe the Church.
In that song, he referred to a quote by St. Augustine, one of the greatest influencers in Christianity. He is quoted as saying this:
The Church is a whore - but she is my mother.
Now Derek Webb has just released his new CD online, and he wrote a song entitled "What Matters More." In it, he describes the state of, what I believe to be, many Christians in America. I've already written a post about Love, in response to his song "Love is not against the law," and now I'll give you the lyrics to what may be a very offensive song to many:
You say you always treat people like you like to be
I guess you love being hated for your sexuality
You love when people put words in your mouth
'Bout what you believe, make you sound like a freak'Cause if you really believe what you say you believe
You wouldn't be so damn reckless with the words you speak
Wouldn't silently conceal when the liars speak
Denyin' all the dyin' of the remedyTell me, brother, what matters more to you?
Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?If I can tell what's in your heart by what comes out of your mouth
Then it sure looks to me like being straight is all it's about
It looks like being hated for all the wrong things
Like chasin' the wind while the pendulum swings'Cause we can talk and debate until we're blue in the face
About the language and tradition that he's comin' to save
Meanwhile we sit just like we don't give a shit
About 50,000 people who are dyin' today
Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?
Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?"
Well, to put it plainly, he is calling it like he sees it in this song, and the song hits home for many of us, whether we realize it or not. I am guilty at putting more effort in debating about doctrine than caring for unbelievers. I sometimes sit not caring about anyone around me. I'll be the first to say that I sometimes don't care about people.
I, for one, appreciate his authenticity. I don't think he wrote this to see how much of a controversy he could stir up, but to get Christians to look in the mirror and see who they are.
Here is the Music Video for his song on YouTube.
I welcome his brutally honest lyrics, and maybe that's because honesty is a rare thing these days.
So, what matters more, the fact that he cursed in his song, or that he's right, and people are dying left and right without Jesus, and sometimes we really don't care? Will we just begin to argue about the word that he used to get across the point, and further confirm the fact that we'd rather argue and debate about useless things (like curse words) rather than telling people about Jesus?
Remember, Jesus offended religious people with his words. Oh, and he even called them "Brood of Vipers," a phrase that was as offensive as a curse word.
What I Like About the SBC
This is part of a series that I want to do, both on what I like and what I dislike about the SBC (The Southern Baptist Convention). I am writing these because:
- There was an annual SBC meeting recently, and I feel that is my responsibility as a Southern Baptist to speak my mind about certain things that will arose at the meeting.
- I want people to understand my opinion when it comes to the SBC.
- I feel that, as someone who has been a Southern Baptist for my whole life (saved in a Southern Baptist church), it's important for me to discuss the health of the SBC from my perspective.
What I Like About the SBC
I have spent my first 21 years of my life in different Southern Baptist Church's, including FBC of Cary (NC) and FBC of Jacksonville (FL), Hickory Grove Baptist Church (Charlotte, NC), and Bay Leaf Baptist Church (Raleigh, NC). Over the years, I've noticed things that I like about the SBC and the churches in general.
-I like that, for one, there are devoted families that I have seen firsthand who serve with great love and commitment.
-I like that the SBC has 6 Southern Baptist seminaries that teach good, sound doctrine.
-I like that, as a whole, we give if not the most (don't quote me) but a TON of money financially to aid overseas missions, through certain offerings and organizations.
-I like the fact that we as a Southern Baptist Convention have a long line of devoted, committed Christian's who were faithful, and that we follow in the footsteps of men and women of great faith.
-I like that there is emphasis on memorizing scripture through Awana, or the understanding of christian teamwork through R.A. and Upward Basketball.
-I like that there is a passion among a rising number of churches in the SBC that are willing and committed to seeing the nations come to Christ.
-I like that there is solid leadership in the SBC, men like Albert Mohler, Danny Akin, and Johnny Hunt.
-I like that men who are older and more experienced in the SBC understand the need for young leaders to rise up and take the baton.
-I like that there is an obvious uprise in the younger generation who are deeply concerned with and willing to make an impact in and through the SBC for Jesus.
We still have a long way to go in regards to reaching people with the Gospel, but progress is on the horizon. And that, my friend, is why I'm a Southern Baptist.
What I Dislike About the SBC
This is part of a series that I want to do, both on what I like and what I dislike about the SBC (The Southern Baptist Convention). I am writing these because:
- There was an annual SBC meeting recently, and I feel that is my responsibility as a Southern Baptist to speak my mind about certain things that will arose at the meeting.
- I want people to understand my opinion when it comes to the SBC.
- I feel that, as someone who has been a Southern Baptist for my whole life (saved in a Southern Baptist church), it's important for me to discuss the health of the SBC from my perspective.
What I Dislike About the SBC
-I dislike the fact that a lot of traditional churches in the SBC are too disconnected from the culture to make an effect.
-I dislike the fact that many churches in the SBC treat Church as a place to escape from the world, and not a place where church members are not encouraged to reach out to the lost outside of the church walls.
-I dislike the fact that there are traces of legalism in SBC churches, among pastors, members, and deacons alike.
-I dislike the fact that many churches in the SBC function like country clubs.
-I dislike the fact that some churches in the SBC are more concerned with debating and pushing right-wing politics and legalism on unbelievers and believers rather than reaching non-christians with the gospel.
-I dislike the fact that some people in the churches of the SBC are more worried about meaningless issues rather than more important ones.
-I dislike the fact that there are people in a few churches I've been at who feel that Christianity is simply a list of do's and don'ts, and their are probably more people in other churches in the SBC who are like this.
-I dislike the fact that many churches in the SBC, especially traditional FBC churches, are turned off to new ideas because they are stuck in their simple, naive way of doing things.
-I dislike the fact that this post was easier to write than my post about what I like about the SBC.
I hope I'm not coming off as someone who is just critical for the sake of being critical, but I am saying things that aren't only true with my experiences in the churches of the SBC. Look for my blog post on What I like about the SBC to see why I am a part of the SBC.