Church: Go or No Go

First of all, thanks for the e-mails of both support and criticism. All are certainly appreciated. Support affirms. Criticism challenges. Both bring growth. This is an initiative that cuts against the grain to a great extent so I certainly expect nothing less. Keep it coming and I will, as always, try to respond to as many questions as is possible. The more common inquiries I will blog about...

One of the questions that get routinely is: Are you opposed to organized religion?
The answer: No, not at all. I think churches have a wonderful role to play in our world. However, I am very troubled by what I see from much of organized religion today.

Churches seem more preoccupied with self-preservation and competing in the religious marketplace than living Jesus' message of love and compassion. This creates an uncanny resemblance with the Temple System that Jesus so adamantly opposed. To him, such a system was spiritually dysfunctional. It had created a group of haughty, self-righteous hypocrites more so than a people poised to lead as the Salt and Light.

I see the same thing today as churches spend thousands, even millions on new facilities in order to compete with the Church of the Jone's across the street. What could be done with that money if Jesus' message was wholeheartedly lived? Health care and health insurance programs could be established to aid those with little or none. Food to the hungry. Mentoring and job programs that could help families reach self-sufficiency. Programs that could keep kids active in healthier pursuits and off the streets. The list could go on and on.

My bottom line is simple: churches should begin to see a renewed mission that helps people connect with God while helping the community it serves. That mission does not involve bringing in more and more "believers" to guarantee self-preservation while being able to spend $X on a nicer this or that. After all, if people are in it to be surrounded by the best and most luxurious that man has to offer, they've probably missed the point altogether.