Lately, I've been halfway through both Radical and The Christian Atheist and let me tell ya, it's expanded my thoughts about the state of faith in some believers and churches.I can't help but feel that in this century, it's time for our fellow brethren to step it up. When I say this, I'm making reference of proclaiming and living what you proclaim. I'm talking about being willing to go as far as Jesus teaches us to go in our callings in life.
As I read The Christian Atheist, I couldn't help but notice that the C.A. attitude is an attitude I've observed in the Church, as do people who aren't Christians. I'm talking about people saying they believe in a Savior yet they live their lives as though they never heard of one. Saying they love God yet never loving their neighbor. Claiming God's strength yet they go on as though He does nothing. Talking about loving your brother yet cannot forgive them in any measure nor seeking God's help in learning to forgive when it seems least possible. Claiming about an answering God yet living a prayer-less life. I'm not saying I'm an angel with wings but dear God people, it's time we sit down and really analyze and recognize that some of us don't trust God or really live out our belief in His existence the way we front to everyone we do.
While reading Radical, can't help but notice how strong the core message is. That message is that Jesus and the American Dream do not stand together. The American Dream is all about the self, fulfilling through your own strength and effort, creating the life you want and being soaked in a sea of humanism. Notice how it's very self-based and all about being rich and super prosperous. The Bible emphasizes on God fulfilling your needs. While there is no wrong in having material possessions per se but it becomes idolatry and downright indulgence when we focus so much on being luxurious and having more than what is necessary, which stands pretty close to pride, lust, greed and gluttony. Paul said he counted all gain as loss. God, throughout the Old and New Testament, would talk about tending to the fatherless, the widow, the poor and needy. It's a bit nutty to know that a church thinks it needs a $23M temple to worship (at best, looks more like a concert hall or amphitheater designed for concerts) yet too dang cheap and only donate $5,000 to charity. If you can get a multi-million dollar temple, you can afford at least several hundred thousand or at least a few million to really help the poor.
If there's something I love about the grunge movement, it's this -- they didn't need special props, high tech lighting or theater or circus-like bells and whistles to their show and presentation. Just a few simple lights, a standard stage for the band to fit in and lots of space for a crowd to gang up and enjoy the band and each other.
If we get down to it, most church buildings don't need to be so "professional" or the excesses. All the Church has ever needed was God moving in the midst. The disciples didn't need to get all technical, flashy or extravagant. All they had (and needed) was God. We ought to use the abundance of resources to further do what we ought to instead of using our resources to glorify ourselves.
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