Comments on: The Hidden Messages of American Christianity http://ceruleansanctum.com/2005/11/hidden-messages-of-american-2.html Looking for the 1st century Church in 21st century America Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:15:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Mike http://ceruleansanctum.com/2005/11/hidden-messages-of-american-2.html#comment-1305 Mike Thu, 15 Dec 2005 16:27:00 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=163#comment-1305 <B><I>I seem to recall that if God ever backed a form of government it was tribal anarchy...</I></B> Well, then, I think it is safe to say that your "recaller" is broken. I seem to recall that if God ever backed a form of government it was tribal anarchy…

Well, then, I think it is safe to say that your “recaller” is broken.

]]> By: Anonymous http://ceruleansanctum.com/2005/11/hidden-messages-of-american-2.html#comment-1304 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov 2005 07:30:00 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=163#comment-1304 How about, "You can't be Christian if you're a [insert favorite political party here]" "You can't be Christian if you're [insert liberal or conservative here]" "If you're rich it's because you're spiritual" "If you're going through trials it's because you've sinned" "If you're in pain, it's because God doesn't love you as much" "God is a Republican" "God is a Democrat" "We need to have 501c(3) status to operate as a church" "The end times are not coming; Revelation is a lie" "We don't need to be relevant to the culture" "We don't need to speak truth to power" "We don't need to do what Jesus said to do, we just need to believe" How many do you want? How about,

“You can’t be Christian if you’re a [insert favorite political party here]”

“You can’t be Christian if you’re [insert liberal or conservative here]”

“If you’re rich it’s because you’re spiritual”

“If you’re going through trials it’s because you’ve sinned”

“If you’re in pain, it’s because God doesn’t love you as much”

“God is a Republican”

“God is a Democrat”

“We need to have 501c(3) status to operate as a church”

“The end times are not coming; Revelation is a lie”

“We don’t need to be relevant to the culture”

“We don’t need to speak truth to power”

“We don’t need to do what Jesus said to do, we just need to believe”

How many do you want?

]]> By: Anonymous http://ceruleansanctum.com/2005/11/hidden-messages-of-american-2.html#comment-1303 Anonymous Tue, 29 Nov 2005 03:23:00 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=163#comment-1303 How about God believes in laissez-faire capitolism and republican (with a little r) democracy? I seem to recall that if God ever backed a form of government it was tribal anarchy... How about God believes in laissez-faire capitolism and republican (with a little r) democracy? I seem to recall that if God ever backed a form of government it was tribal anarchy…

]]> By: Ronni http://ceruleansanctum.com/2005/11/hidden-messages-of-american-2.html#comment-1302 Ronni Mon, 28 Nov 2005 22:43:00 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=163#comment-1302 I too share the discontent and concern about the "faith" movement... teaching that God will give us all middle class lifestyles of comfort and if we don't live that way, then we must be out of God's will. That along with the fence riding of certain "national" ministries is really bugging me. *sigh* So let us hear it Dan! :D I too share the discontent and concern about the “faith” movement… teaching that God will give us all middle class lifestyles of comfort and if we don’t live that way, then we must be out of God’s will. That along with the fence riding of certain “national” ministries is really bugging me. *sigh*

So let us hear it Dan! :D

]]> By: Gaddabout http://ceruleansanctum.com/2005/11/hidden-messages-of-american-2.html#comment-1301 Gaddabout Mon, 28 Nov 2005 21:50:00 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/?p=163#comment-1301 Hey, I think I can name one that has nothing to do with the usual suspects of torchered theology. <B>Comfort Christianity</B> --- a viral theology that God has a plan for you, and that plan just happens to coincide with your town's or city's economic development agenda. It is a theology that states God does not want you to live an uncomfortable life --- much more deceptive and infinitely more pervasive in the American Church than health/wealth dogma that's right out there and easy to spot. It is a theology without a doctrine of suffering, and is suburban nearly to the point of exclusion. Unlike health/wealth teachers, who at least urge their followers to go to God, Comfort Christianity urges Christians to wait on God's promise of the suburban dream. Comfort Christianity is openly hostile to a radical Gospel message. Hey, I think I can name one that has nothing to do with the usual suspects of torchered theology.

Comfort Christianity — a viral theology that God has a plan for you, and that plan just happens to coincide with your town’s or city’s economic development agenda. It is a theology that states God does not want you to live an uncomfortable life — much more deceptive and infinitely more pervasive in the American Church than health/wealth dogma that’s right out there and easy to spot. It is a theology without a doctrine of suffering, and is suburban nearly to the point of exclusion.

Unlike health/wealth teachers, who at least urge their followers to go to God, Comfort Christianity urges Christians to wait on God’s promise of the suburban dream.

Comfort Christianity is openly hostile to a radical Gospel message.

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