Comments on: American Idolatry: The Good Life

By: dina

dina — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 12:31:28 +0000

I just left two megachurches here in Central FL and I thought I was the confused one not being able to find a church home. This is exactly what was bothering me that makes me question if these megachurches are true churches of Christ. I always thought that the true church is the persecuted church – the ones who are literally dying for their faith. History has repeated itself, isn’t the American Christian church just like the hypocritical Pharisees and Sadduccees in Jesus’ time? Look at the parellels of these 4 groups of people – nothing has changed.

By: fish on

fish on — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 17:17:31 +0000

IM, I am doing a series on Matthew 6:19-34, and I find much of what you say to be very helpful. I am lifting some of your words to incorporate into the series. Thank you.
fishon

By: marthasdistraction

marthasdistraction — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 04:36:56 +0000

Just found this via Cerulean Sanctum. Right on.

Did a little post on it, not sure my trackback to you worked….(never have figured out how those things work).

By: caucazhin

caucazhin — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 18:01:53 +0000

YOU SAID:Catholics have a priest who lives in simplicity and poverty as an example of sacrifice and a reminder of what discipleship should mean. Yet millions of evangelicals want their pastors visibly living as high up the scale of American success as possible, precisely because this baptizes these values and insures that their leaders are, like themselves, swimming in the pool of “the Good Life.”

I agree with what your saying here but only to a point.The Catholic church controls most of the worlds religious manuscripts and art wich is valued at priceless.Why don’t they sell it all and give it to the poor?The pope rides around in a bullet proof LIMO and they have their own city.A far cry from the Apostles life.And here in LA they built a new(monument)cathedral when the catholic workers program in downtown is completely underfunded and understaffed.So don’t beat the drums of truth just on Protestantism because Catholicism is just as guilty if not more.

By: caucazhin

caucazhin — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 17:26:15 +0000

MONK you’ve been reading my mail.This is one of the best things I’ve read.VERY VERY insightful.Heres my Americas Golden Calf again,sorry it didn’t print right on the last post.

http://www.d.umn.edu/~gbabiuk/images/WallStBull.jpg

By: elzo

elzo — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 17:13:04 +0000

I couldn’t put my finger on what was bothering me about our churches, but I think you’ve done it.

By: Pastor Rod

Pastor Rod — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 17:07:42 +0000

Good post, Michael!

By: CaldoniaSun

CaldoniaSun — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 16:55:18 +0000

Once again, IM, I am amazed at your ability score a bull’s eye! I have so much I’d love to say on this topic, but I will keep it to a quick example.

The non-denom church I went to for many years recently built their family life center. They also decided to install a new sound system (not needed) which included not one, but TWO motorized, mounted screens for their PP: one for the congregation and one for the choir so they wouldn’t have to hold music. The sound system alone went into tens of thousands of $$.Everything about the worship ministry in this church was patterned (idolized) after a particular internationally-known ministry.

Maybe this would not bother me so, except that a family that had been attending for a few years fell into hard times and asked for help with their mortgage and was turned down. This was not an isolated case. People were rarely ever helped monetarily in this church. How do I know this? I was on staff for a time.

Sad, but wiser.

By: coderforchrist

coderforchrist — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 14:44:24 +0000

Dang. I just got back from a mission trip/conference in the Dominican Republic. While there, I was challenged by the affluence we enjoy in America. Now I read this, and am reminded again.

There are people in this world who are content with little more that a house over their heads, food on the table, and clothes to wear, and here I am frustrated that Cingular just started offering their 3G data network in my area, and my phone doesn’t support it.

Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.

By: N8

N8 — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 06:29:08 +0000

GOD IS SO COOL! I love it when He confirms what you hear from Him in the mouths (or blogs) of others.

Idolatry is rampant in our society, and Monday was the second time God led me to write about it during my devotional time. That post is here: http://thaniel9.blogspot.com/2006/06/gimme-more-gimel-62606.html

Bless you in your faith and may His name be praised.