THE CHURCH

What started out as a MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE WHO FOLLOWED JESUS, has evolved into an INSTITUTION that seeks to be served by the people who claim Jesus' name.

For decades, since the desolating sacrilege of the Religious "Right" getting in bed with the Political "Right" (Falwell and Reagan), the church has gone into a period of self-promotion through Church Growth, Prosperity Theology, focus on "purity" and "holiness" and centered only on personal salvation ("Me and Jesus") doctrines designed to keep people praising and tithing without regard for what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for how to live as His followers.  It is also designed to keep people coming and giving out of fear, much like the period before the needed Reformation of the 16th Century.

It is nothing new.  It is nuanced, but the same as it was after the early 1st Century, when people strove to live what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled and it changed the world (Acts). 

Church buildings are grander.
Church bands and choirs more professional.
Preachers are more entertaining.
Church membership has greater prestige.
Church practice and protocols are geared to indoctrinate, rather than share Good News.
The church has a friendly face, smiling leaders and cool, fresh, dope language.
Many churches lure folk in, while at the same time despising who they are, in an attempt to
       eventually get them to conform to their views, all while giving their tithes and offerings.
The church ignores the plight of the poor and most vulnerable, finding it more fashionable to blame
       them for their own plight rather than address the injustices that cause it, because it would be risky
       to confront the powers and principalities it really serves.
Clergy, largely untrained, share false messages of prosperity through giving to the church, supernatural interventions for those who are well enough indoctrinated into their belief systems, the justified (through scripture) hatred of those who are different (faith, sexual orientation, economic class) and a sense of "superiority" of one measures up to their standards of "purity" and "holiness". This is NOT what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled.

The message of the one worshiped, and whose name they claim is about not judging, forgiveness, sacrificial giving of self for other and living Agape Love (unconditional active commitment on behalf of the other) in the world, especially among the most vulnerable (hungry, naked, strangers (resident aliens) and those imprisoned).

But, as I earlier noted, it is nothing new.

"For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths."  II Timothy 4:3

"For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears.  Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things."  Philippians 3:19

"We must  no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming."  Ephesians 4:14

"Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes ($1,000 suits), and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to have the best seats in the synagogues (pulpit thrones) and places of honor at banquets (head tables with china and linens)!  They devour widows' houses (take the last little bit from the vulnerable in their tithes) and for the sake of appearance say long prayers (entertain in worship).  They will receive the greater condemnation."  Jesus  Mark 12:38

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees (legalistic church leaders), hypocrites!  For you tithe mint, dill and cummin (show your opulent wealth), and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law (Agape Love); justice and mercy and faith.  It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others.  You blind guides!  You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!"  Jesus  Matthew 23:23

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  You will know them by their fruits."  Jesus  Matthew 7:15

"You cannot serve God and wealth."  Jesus  Luke 16:13

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."  Jesus  Matthew 6:21

"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord' and do not do what I tell you?"  Jesus  Luke 6:46

Pastor Jamie