Good Comment
Posted on January 7th, 2005 by catalyst into the Uncategorized categoryThis is a comment by Magdelon that I think is a pretty accurate look at CBC and Christian Culture in general. Its not exactly funny, nor do I agree with all or it. But it is an excellent reason why so many people are turned off to CBC and other churches.
I will surmise that everyone who is on this blog has come to the conclusion that something is not right at CBC. Looking at this issue from the aspect that this particular church (CBC), it is a speck in a field of other churches being trained to run the same way.
What we, I think, feel as former CBC’ers is that the future of the church is heading off into a direction in which one must conform to it or be thrown to the streets. The church is positioning its self to be at the forefront of the very process of raising a family, going to school, civic choices, private activities.
The church lost ground after the fifties boom and now that our political leaders and our preachers have us on the fear-channel 24/7 they are not going to let us go. They must entertain us, show us that we are “members”, we are patriots, we stand by our president, we speak a “common tongue”. Its all control and if people like us don’t like the people in control it is our obligation to make our opinions known.
Being a true Christian is hard in a culture that tells you, you are not good enough if you don’t have the nicest car. Its as if the Christian Church has replaced Christ’s teaching with the doctrine of unbounded consumerism and forgivable capitalism.
I believe most people attend CBC because they want to feel connected to anything, something and having the ability to go “up front” on Sunday morning to ask to be “renewed” or “washed clean” is very appealing to the man who just sold the old couple across the pew a box of Amway or the woman who, just the week before, sold a house to a first time buyer couple and knew that it wouldn’t pass code. Our economy forces families to do immoral things in the workplace and as a consequence they need somewhere to go on the weekend to feel a little better about themselves.
Who’s wearing slave labor clothes right now??? Better get to CBC, tithe twice and send extra to missions for China! Catholicism for the new Century.
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January 7th, 2005 at 9:07 pm
The comment is dead-on. Well done.
Thanks, by the way, for continuing the ‘blog. I miss the Pope’s commentary, but this is a subject that everryone who claims they are a Christian, Catholic, Protestant, or otherwise, ought to be thinking about.
January 8th, 2005 at 11:12 am
Magdelon’s comment is right on. Whether out of intention or ignorance, the foundation CBC/MFI and too many other such churches (mega- or mini-) is law/legalism. Therefore, the key characteristics of such churches are: image, control, fear, performance and conformity. These lead to spiritual classism, guilt, superiority & inferiority complexes…and, worst of all, completely missing the love and grace of Jesus Christ.
Basing our righteousness, holiness and freedom on our own behavior is what comes naturally to us as humans. It’s part of our selfish/sin nature. Only the Lord can transform our nature and “re-wire” us so that we KNOW and LIVE the truth, which is that those things are based only on Christ and his finished work on the cross. So, when it comes down to it, I feel sympathy for CBC-ers who live such a miserable Christianity. It’s the arrogance of the leadership that boils my blood.
On a lighter more personal note, I for one am relieved that in the new covenant, my HEART is the part of my body that gets circumcised.
January 8th, 2005 at 3:41 pm
Someone just pointed me to this blog. Gotta say I agree with alot of what’s said here, especially this particular post. Having once been in the inner circle, I never felt more frustrated and unfulfilled despite my apparent “success”. I’ve seen really good Christian young people completely turned off to God because of the religious legalism fostered in the CBC culture. My faith survived because I stepped away from it all and began questioning everything I had been taught. I feel free and “normal” again and am not afraid to share my faith. I hear stories about CBC in the past few years and just cringe. I honestly wonder how long until they selfdestruct. Sorry I have to sign anonymous - I hope you guys keep posting!
January 10th, 2005 at 3:27 am
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October 25th, 2005 at 9:08 pm
You have good content on your blog keep up the good work