embarrassing christianity
came in this morning and as usual began checking my e-mail. apparently, i've managed to get my e-mail address on a christian junk e-mail list as i'm now receiving a few unsolicited advertisements for "christian stuff" each day.
today i received an e-mail from the "christian emergency network" advertising their christian emergency survival kits. The e-mail says: "Noah prepared for the flood. Joseph prepared for famine. Esther prepared for terror. Moses prepared for the angel of death." therefore, we should prepare for a disaster by purchasing one of their christian survival kits. I guess what makes it christian is that they've thrown in a few pieces of christian literature.
you know, i guess these guys are probably sincere, but would i be bad if i purchased a "secular" survival kit from REI???
i've been a christian for almost 24 years now. i believe that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, that He came to take our punishment for our sins, that He rose from the dead, and that we can have forgiveness and peace with God by accepting the this free gift of forgiveness and beginning a relationship with Him. but it's embarrassing to me that we've created this christian subculture that just makes us look weird. not to mention any names, but don't you cringe sometimes when you're flipping through the channels and come to TBN (trinity broadcast network)? i mean, who are these people?? i never see ANYONE with hair like that...even in church! isn't it great to know that, thanks to the worldwide distribution via satellite, this is the first impression we give to the world of christianity??
sorry to rant, but before i get off the subject, be sure to run out and purchase your Jesus Christ action figure and fill your pockets full of Testamints...you know, the mints with the bible verses on them?
"hey, i really don't have time to share my life with you or help you out in any way, but here's a mint. make sure you look up the verse imprinted on it before you eat it. God bless."
"hey johnny, my Jesus can beat up your g.i. joe..."
on the more positive side, my friend paul dzubinski, a church planter in spain, read my blog and it inspired him to create his own. you can check out his first post: "time to smell the urine." hey adam, your influence is moving around the world!
today i received an e-mail from the "christian emergency network" advertising their christian emergency survival kits. The e-mail says: "Noah prepared for the flood. Joseph prepared for famine. Esther prepared for terror. Moses prepared for the angel of death." therefore, we should prepare for a disaster by purchasing one of their christian survival kits. I guess what makes it christian is that they've thrown in a few pieces of christian literature.
you know, i guess these guys are probably sincere, but would i be bad if i purchased a "secular" survival kit from REI???
i've been a christian for almost 24 years now. i believe that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, that He came to take our punishment for our sins, that He rose from the dead, and that we can have forgiveness and peace with God by accepting the this free gift of forgiveness and beginning a relationship with Him. but it's embarrassing to me that we've created this christian subculture that just makes us look weird. not to mention any names, but don't you cringe sometimes when you're flipping through the channels and come to TBN (trinity broadcast network)? i mean, who are these people?? i never see ANYONE with hair like that...even in church! isn't it great to know that, thanks to the worldwide distribution via satellite, this is the first impression we give to the world of christianity??
sorry to rant, but before i get off the subject, be sure to run out and purchase your Jesus Christ action figure and fill your pockets full of Testamints...you know, the mints with the bible verses on them?
"hey, i really don't have time to share my life with you or help you out in any way, but here's a mint. make sure you look up the verse imprinted on it before you eat it. God bless."
"hey johnny, my Jesus can beat up your g.i. joe..."
on the more positive side, my friend paul dzubinski, a church planter in spain, read my blog and it inspired him to create his own. you can check out his first post: "time to smell the urine." hey adam, your influence is moving around the world!
posted by timbeard at 8:55 AM
2 Comments:
Dude... SPAIN?! Sweet...
I really hope "the angel of death" doesn't visit. That just sounds painful, and, besides, I don't see how a backpack would ward him off. I've seen the Jesus Action Figure before... I REALLY do want one. No joke. I really do. I think it's cool.
Great post, Tim. Way back in the 70's, I subscribed to the Last Days Newletter from Keith Green. He called this stuff "Jesus Junk," and bemoaned the fact that Christians are spending millions of dollars on keychains, little angel statues, and bumper stickers while the world around them is dying.
This has only accelerated over the almost 30 years since Keith pointed it out in his very direct and uncompromising style. It's probably worth pointing out again, as he did, that these things only exist because Christians buy them. To me, it's the most powerful evidence available that we who are supposed to be salt and light in the world have instead developed our own world within which we move. Many of us have become societally schizophrenic, operating in American society in minimal, mechanical ways while we sink our roots into a fabricated society that offers us perceived advantages and psychological comforts. Sadly, it actually discourages us from ministering life to the world, and generates considerable resentment, ridicule, and contempt that drive people away from Christ, obscuring His love behind a cold dark cloud.
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