Comments on: Riffs: 12:29:06: The Christian-Industrial Complex

By: RBoates

RBoates — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 13:44:39 +0000

I happened to catch the Osteen segment on “60 Minutes” last eve. The guy can’t be all bad, puttin a 10-piece band on stage complete w/horns. The boy’s even got his own “Wayne Newton”! RB

By: dabuzz

dabuzz — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 07:51:48 +0000

I agree with this post for mature Christians, but what if one of these products is used to lead a non-believer to the Lord? In it’s bite sized chunks and easy to read or listen to format, won’t it be worth it if one person that doesn’t believe in God finds Him?

To your point, I agree that we need to find a way to push those that have heard the Good News to challenge themselves. But remember, it is our purpose (are you going to berate me for using that term?) to find those that have not found Him.

We live in a media saturated world. If we can use these tools, is it not worth it? As long as they don’t go to the Compaq Center to worhip, I mean.

By: dufrdan

dufrdan — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 00:25:20 +0000

To all who follow this thread . . .

I would like to recommend an essay by James Fowler (a good Campbellite ) on “Christian Giving” (http://www.christinyou.net/pages/xngiving.html)

Fowler pokes holes in many of traditional teachings, not unlike Michael is wont to do.

Dan

By: adamcaldwell

adamcaldwell — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 15:38:00 +0000

Congratulations!! You’ve been ’spitboxed’. Check out your post at:

http://www.spitboxmedia.com

God Bless!

By: dufrdan

dufrdan — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 22:28:49 +0000

Michael,
I couldn’t agree more! BUT, let’s take it one step closer to where most of us really live — how much true evangelism by missionaries and true benevolence to community needs is impossible because of our insistance on making mortgage payments for our “temples/houses of worship” and the salaries paid to “professional” pastors and uncounted “staff.”
Thanks, again,
Dan

By: danB

danB — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 23:21:20 +0000

Check out The Center for Theological Inquiry at http://www.ctinquiry.org. Something like there Pastor-Theologian program is a major step in the right direction.

By: rmiller

rmiller — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 22:44:52 +0000

I’m new to your blog -I like what you have to say. This was really thot -provoking!

By: Tom Sparks

Tom Sparks — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 20:20:03 +0000

The void of The Word of the Lord, from the King of His Kingdom, will always be filled with some foolish thing.

All one has to do is look over historical Christianity to see the inventive imaginations of man foisted on Jesus’ Church, as a replacement for the real thing.

The only antidote I know for this foolishness is not an even more learned intellectualism, but a deeper revelatory walk with God, but then that demands a firmer commitment to the personal cross we’re called to carry, and who wants more of that???

Following the way of the flesh is far more fun, provides a broad range of the expressions of the opinions of man, and freedom to do as I want and rubber stamp Jesus’ name on it. This is the Christianity I’ve grown up on.

Living outside the camp is a whole new landscape…

By: sammorxman

sammorxman — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 17:47:40 +0000

Wow, Talk about hammerin the pulpit!
Tiy are right on!
I always cringed when I went to a concert (Christian entertainment .. ahem .. guilty as charged)
Bunny trail
Anyway I would always cringe at the tables of “witness wear” and doodads.
Reminds me of the old joke where Jesus is at a flea market. He picks up a hat emblazoned with WWJD. He asks the person behind the counter what it meant. When told, Jesus replied ” well I know He would not pay 20 bucks for this hat” and tossed it back on the table.
Too often we as Christians get caught up in banner chasing.
But …. I begin to repeat your article.
Again… right on, brother
God help us American christians to become more accountable.
—Sam

By: John Santic

John Santic — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 22:46:42 +0000

Thanks for that article, the issue of consumerism and Christianity has for some time now concerned eccelsial thinkers as the cultural values and assumptions about the Gospel in the west are often un-questioned when many of these churches define and create their ecclesiologies. Often church is nothing but a mirror of culture rather than a counter - prophetic voice for the Kingdom. The North American dream is sadly the value set that shapes many believers in the West…

thanks again for your thoughts, I like your blog.