Christianity...

Three point sermons.

Life applications.

Pharisees.

Commercial Christianity.

Everywhere I turn.

"If I count 

The hands that

are raised." 

Yet, the reflection

is not of a heart--

changed forever

but rather an

emotional overhaul.

Perhaps we should

remember to play music

when we preach,

reassuring ourselves 

that we are in control.

"Come forward,

kneel down,

declare yourself

so that I can count."

When Paul  and the apostles

spoke, 

he shared from the Bible.

No three pointers 

or invitations

Yet they asked

"Brothers, 

what shall we do?"

Jesus, our savior 

Our God, Our King

declared himself

that there would

be suffering. 

Wealth, health, 

and prosperity...

Congratulations

America, you succeed--

In business, education, 

Picket-fence houses,

Saying no to puppy mills

but yes to pro-choice.

No heart for immigrants,

illegal or not..

Churches ostracize

and complain,

Create a bubble 

of complacency.

Our own genre:

Christian fiction

Self-help

"Do not make 

my Father's house

a house of trade."

Marketing Christianity:

"If it's three main points

it'll really sell."

Frown upon the world 

for their sin and disgrace.

Yet we "Christians"

like our women pretty

with just the right weight.

Our children need to 

fit in, the older 

generation

obsessed with 

looking younger.

Yet "Wisdom

is with the aged...

understanding in the

length of days"

Our values are flopped.

Our ways are crooked.

Deny that God can move

that He can speak--

audibly today.

Hurrah! You just put

God in a box.

Protecting yourself from

the abuses you say;

it does not

apply today.

Yet Joel 

prophesied of old,

"And in the last days 

it shall be...

I will pour out my

Spirit on ALL flesh,

your sons, 

your daughters

shall prophesy..

young men shall see visions..

old men shall dream dreams."

It is in the name of Jesus 

that we are healed.

I understand that it is fine

on mission trips 

when with

people groups unreached, 

to engage in such tactics.

But we would never

dare to declare our

dependency on God

and His grace

as long as we stand

on American ground.

Bent over, 

a perverse generation

devoured by gray areas.

To the world I say, 

"Be who you are; 

you have no one to please."

Turned off by our strategies 

to get them in "church"

Oh good, they say,

a building where

my family can be divided:

nursery, youth,

children's church,

big church, 

pray groups in between

Pizza night, game night.

Fellowship is in high demand,

but we know how to compete.

Entertained to death.

Cutesy stories

and sermonettes

blended together

with Biblical truth,

a murkiness

that no one can clear.

Scripture...

"Breathed out

by God..

profitable for 

teaching..reproof..correction..

training in righteousness"

Why is it not enough?

We are to be 

"competent, 

equipped."

So congratulations

America,

we've made it.

For we are competent,

equipped for sure

Experts at

Three point sermons.

Life Applications.

Even, Being Pharisees.

Verses referenced: Acts 2:37, John 2:16, Job 12:12, Joel 2:28/Acts 2:17, 2 Timothy 3:16-17