A reader sends in this scathing blog post from a church member who decides to seperate from the church.

The church is the popular kids in high school picking on the artists for being different. This is NOT what Jesus intended, and I cannot be a part of that anymore.

So yeah, I’m kind of bitter, but to be clear, it’s at the institutions of the church, not the people who make up the community. I love and cherish the people we’ve met through our journey through the church, and I’ve made some real lifelong friends that I know will never abandon me despite my mad rantings. The people are really what make up the church not the ideas or structures that oppress. There are some amazing people trying to make a difference in the world through the church, and I am honored to know and have served alongside them.  Many of my friends are some of the best parts of the church.

Totally agree. On an individual level the people who make up the church are great. But sadly, on a corporate level, they kind of suck.

Interesting theory.  

I've been checking out the website Christian News Headlines as of late to read some of the bigger stories going on in the Christian world.  They recently started a new series on their blog looking at an overview of religious financial fraud. This is their first article in the series.  According to the article, the International Bulletin of Missionary Research reported that Christian religious leaders will commit an estimated $34 billion in financial fraud in 2011.  Researchers from the Center for the Study of Global Christianity estimate that Christian religious leaders will commit $90 million in financial crimes daily and the fraud is growing at a rate of 5.97% each year.  The three most common funding sources are:

1. The Offering Plate – In 2002 NBC Dateline aired an exposé on Benny Hinn. Mike Estrella, a former Benny Hinn Ministries employee responsible for counting the money given at Hinn’s crusades, said that he observed Gene Polino, Hinn’s CEO, embezzle thousands of dollars from the crusade collection buckets.
2. The Ministry Checking Account and Credit Card – Jason Reynolds, the finance director of National City Christian Church, used the church credit card to acquire a Lexus SUV and Land Rover. He also embezzled over $200,000 by writing himself checks.
3. Investments – In 1999 the Baptist Foundation of Arizona filed for bankruptcy after accumulating $530 million in liabilities. Dishonest administrators engaged in a cover-up to hide bad investments. William Crotts and his associates set up more than 90 dummy corporations to hide financial losses and used a ponzi scheme to cover old investments. New Church Ventures was the largest dummy corporation formed by the BFA and held $173 million in debts. New Church Ventures had zero employees and provided no funds for building new churches even though that was its stated objective.

I am glad to see that more and more outlets are starting to investigate and report on this stuff.  I know the people who give are just as problematic as the people who steal, but it's no secret that Christians are gullible people.  If you present something with a claim that "God will bless you more by doing it," and attach a few Bible verses with testimony about how it changed someone’s life, countless sheep stand up ready to participate.  The liars who preach this stuff have to be more accountable then the followers who get sucked in.  Let’s hope 2011 is a year of change in the Christian world.  As these stories of fraud reach more and more people hopefully there will be a huge shift in the amount of money that is actually given to the corrupt organizations.  And once the rivers of money stop flowing, maybe, just maybe these crooks will be forced out of their evil ways.

There is a new book out that looks at how marriage is progressing in America. And guess what, it's going pretty well. Salon interviewed the author and here is some of what she had to say:

What you think about the state of the American marriage is wrong: Half of marriages don’t end in divorce; married people don’t have less sex than their single counterparts and — surprise! — fighting can actually be beneficial to your relationship.

The book also analyzes divorce statistics.

Couples married in the 1970s have a 30-year divorce rate of about 47 percent. A person who got married in the 1970s had a completely different upbringing and experience in life from someone who got married in the 1990s. It's been very clear that divorce rates peaked in the 1970s and has been going down ever since.

All you young married people who fear you're going to end up like your parents. Stop worrying. Apparently, the 70's were just a lousy time for everyone.  (Disco, President Carter, Oil Embargo, Bell Bottoms) It's a surprise anyone survived that miserable decade.

And the last point in the article, which I love:

This whole idea of personal fulfillment in marriage is relatively new, and it has certainly gummed up the works. Marriage is a lot more high maintenance when you've married your "soul mate."

Ha! I don't really have a point here. I just think this an interesting look at how marriage has developed over the last 30 years. It appears that people married in the 80's and 90's have a more realistic expectation of marriage and are staying together longer than those folks married in the 70's. I have no idea why that is, but I find it fascinating.

I'm absolutely fascinated by the most recent Catholic Church sex abuse case.  It's less about the abuse, and more about how dangerous religion can be. I understand that religion and Faith can give hope when you're in despair and strength when you're weak. But it can also disguise itself as a priest and try to put its hands down your pants. (Not Cool)

Here is testimony from a woman who describes the time she was molested:  

I went into absolute shock and denial and couldn't move. But once I realized what he was doing, I snapped to reality and ran from his office.  His attempts at groping at my breasts ended there.  I shudder to think how far he would have gone if I hadn't done that.  I was one of the lucky ones.

No, I didn't tell anyone. Not my parents, not my friends, other family members nor the school authorities.  I instinctively knew that he must have done or tried to do the same thing with other girls. True, I was 16 y/o.  But I was an impressionable, naive, innocent virginal child of those times and that age.  I trusted this priest with my whole heart. Him abusing that trust is abominable.

This priest is a horrible horrible human being.  But to me this also proves the dangers of putting your trust in man rather than God.  If that priest was just a clerk at the grocery store, chances are this young girl would have told someone.

Or another way of saying it, when someone purports to be speaking for God. He isn't. He's just trying to put his hands down your pants.

Since a lot of this blog highlights the dangerous pastors, preachers, and authors of today, I thought I would point out a few of the good ones I have learned from over the years.  These guys teach a message that does not involve money, celebrity, or false doctrine.

• John Piper: Most people know of him.  Really powerful speaker and teacher with a lot of Gospel centered teachings.  Website: http://www.desiringgod.org/
• Francis Chan: A guy who preaches really strong about serving and sacrifice for the greater good.  It's reported that he gives away about 90 percent of his income and no longer takes a salary form the church he pastors.  Website: http://francischansblog.blogspot.com/
• Jared Wilson: Guy on the east coast with a heart to preach the Gospel and reach people.  Website: http://gospeldrivenchurch.blogspot.com/
• Eric Knox: A former City Bible youth pastor who had a massive life change in the course of his ministry and founded two Gospel-centered churches (one in Portland and one in Los Angeles).  One of the best preachers/teachers you will ever hear.  Website: http://www.sojournvillage.com/
• Donald Miller: Great author and speaker with an approach to religion and faith that speaks to everyone.  I highly recommend reading his books.  Website: http://donmilleris.com/
• Brennan Manning: Another great author who wrote one of my favorite books of all time "The Ragamuffin Gospel."  Website: http://www.brennanmanning.com/

I know there are plenty more out there, but these are the few that I have come across who seem to have a really great message on Gospel-centered living.  If anyone knows of any other solid pastors, teachers, authors or leaders or thinks one of the people I mentioned are not so great, please do share.

Interesting blog I found. Some readers of City Business Church can probably relate.

recoveringfundamentalists.com

I found this blog post and thought it was an interesting piece.  I especially liked reading the comments.  I'm curious to see if we can get the same kind of discussion going on here.  KenGurley writes:

Lately, I've been thinking about a report I read a year or so ago.  The report was based on a national survey sponsored by Christianity Today International and Zondervan Publishers and found in the Leadership magazine.  The report said that there were five kinds of Christians in America.

Rather than grouping these folks by their individual denominations, the survey groups them by their overall beliefs.  The five types of Christians are:

Active Christians.  These believe that salvation comes through Jesus Christ and are committed churchgoers.  They read their Bibles and share their faith.

Professing Christians.  Beliefs are similar to Active Christians, but their actions differ.  They are less involved in church and less committed to Bible reading and sharing faith.

Liturgical Christians.  Primarily Catholic and Lutheran, these people are regular churchgoers, have a high level of spiritual and community activity and recognize the authority of the church.

Private Christians.  The largest and youngest segment surveyed believe in God and in doing good things.  The majority own a Bible but do not read it.  Only about one-third attend church at all.

Cultural Christians.  Little outward religious behavior or attitudes.  They are aware of God, but have little involvement with him.  They believe that there are many ways to God and that Jesus Christ is not the only way.

One item of interest was that 9 in 10 Active and Professing Christians believe that accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord is essential to salvation.  Liturgical, Private and Cultural Christians hold to "believing in God" as the main characteristic of being a Christian.  For a large percentage of people who called themselves Christian, Christ is not the centerpiece of their faith.

Based on the above categories, I guess you can call me an Active Christian.  I believe Jesus is still "The Way."  What about you?

I would say I am more of the professing Christian type, with traits of an active Christian.  I believe Jesus is the only way and I have a deep faith and commitment to serving Him.  However, I don't read my Bible or share my faith as much as I should and I have not been involved with a church (as it's commonly known) for about 4 years.  I used to be the active Christian type but found myself burnt out and empty after a number of years of living by the "rules" of Christianity.

So I'm curious, how do readers of CBC categorize themselves?