Discussion Board

One aspect of the evil that has infiltrated the American church is a quiet simmer. It parades around as if doing good, but rots away under the surface, infecting everything it comes into contact with. Spreading without bounds because anything that opposes it is dismissed, scandalized, and ultimately branded as Un-American and hostile.
No longer do we reach out the brother or sister who has legitimate concerns about how much the 'Christian' organization appears like the secular. The person is excommunicated from the church given the reason: they have strayed from the path of ‘true righteousness’. Here we delve into multiple first-hand accounts that span the entire breadth of today's 'Christian Organization' coming from conversations and excommunications with pastors, elders, members, and former and current employees. In all these accounts, we address the follow questions: What does the Chruch look like? What should the church look like? And, Why the enormous gap between the two?

In response to F.A. Kosteck's forum topic, "why does the American Church look like the world," there is much I could say about this.

In a recent post on the Evangel Books Facebook page, F.A. Kosteck asked the question: what if the churches in Greenville, SC took a break from putting on a show one Sunday, and instead went out into the streets and ministered directly in compassion to those in need right now? It is shocking to note, that in spite of the presence of numerous churches in the Greenville area, there is still a prominent, unresolved homeless population.

What did Jesus do? Did He make sure to put on an extravagant, expensive show each Sabbath in the synagogue to acquire more followers (and more money) to fund His Kingdom? No. He simply taught from the Scriptures, then He went out to where the lame and the sick were - and He healed them.

The Pharisees asked Jesus, what is the greatest commandment? "Jesus replied, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:34-40.

Jesus did not say: build monuments with tall steeples and extravagant decor to glorify yourselves and surround yourselves with luxury. He said simply to love God and love people.

Jesus did not say: whoever has obtained the largest number of members in their church or organization and has the fanciest buildings and the most outstanding worship team will enter into heaven...But He said: "Verily I say unto you, 'Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me.'" Matthew 25:40-45.

So why does the American Church look just like the world? In a word: idolatry.

1 John 3:16,17 says: "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him how does the love of God abide in him?"

You can't have it both ways. If the churches in America today were truly applying the Scriptures and 'laying down their lives for the brethren,' they would not also at the same time hoard and possess great wealth. The two thought processes cannot coexist.

"Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and everyone that loveth is of God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." 1 John 4:7,8.

Yes, the American church in a large way has fashioned their own god based on what they find to be the most desirable aspects of God. This god has become their idol and the share of the entertainment dollar that they can sacrifice to it is how they measure their comfort and impact.

It reminds me of two scriptures, the first one: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21" which churches clearly show today that their treasure lies in their ability to attract large crowds, put on spectacular light and sound shows, and have large, manicured campus' that are protected by the local police force (we could say so much more about this point but that is for another time).

Part of fashioning this idol is pride. By fashioning this idol that depends on how much of the entertainment dollar they can capture, it allows them to say, "Look what I did, look what magnificence I can produce. I am responsible for my own destiny and can control my pathway and others." Which this goes back to the idea of comfort because being able to say the above makes them feel secure. It gives them the warm fuzzies on the inside.

This brings us to our second scripture: So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” Genesis 3:6-7