A big fat LIE
Just saw a story on the Today Show about the rise of the “Chrisitan Consumer Industry” and the way that the “Christian” entertainment and music industries are billion dollar industries.
How does this feed a lie? Let me count the ways:
1) It continues to try to convince us that we are Consumers. In other words, it implies that our faith can be strengthened, not by the Holy Spirit, or even through prayer, worship or Bible study, or through service to others. It tries to tell people that buying this stuff or going to these concerts/movies are going to strengthen their faith. You might as well be buying a “special” bag of beads, feathers and bones!
2) It doesn’t really ask us to change anything substantial about our American “lifestyle.” You can still go to concerts, go to movies and buy crap to fill up your house. This manufactured hunger and emptiness that is a primary symptom of “affluenza” is not cured by consuming “Christian” products. It is only drugged with a different label.
3) It is all focused on the “personal relationship with Jesus” aspect of faith and not at all on my responsibilities as a baptized child of God. In other words, there’s no “other” in the message. It’s me, me, me. I want, I want, I get, I get. Me and my boyfriend Jesus can buy as much as I want and if the kid down the street doesn’t have any, it’s because his faith isn’t strong (or that he doesn’t have any!). It couldn’t be because his father can’t earn a living wage because of any societial injustices and even if it did, it has nothing to do with me.
All that being said, I think that at least some of these artists are Christian and do genuinely want to spread the gospel.
I even think that it is possible that some of them are following a genuine call.
And I know that it is possible that as twisted as these attempts are, the Holy Spirit is able to use these things to bring people to faith. (please please please please note: NONE of these people are “winning souls for Jesus.” God is doing the work.)
However, the overall stench from this self-satisfied, self-congratulatory and self-righteous group of people make me want to distance myself from them as far as possible.
but how?
— — —
A year ago (or longer) on This Journey…
-
uh 2007
Wednesday fun 2007
dragging the sled 2006
simple day; simply enjoyable 2005
— — —
A year ago (or longer) on This Journey…
-
uh 2007
Wednesday fun 2007
dragging the sled 2006
simple day; simply enjoyable 2005
— — —
A year ago (or longer) on This Journey…
-
uh 2007
Wednesday fun 2007
dragging the sled 2006
simple day; simply enjoyable 2005
