Perhaps your “focus” is in the wrong place when your goal is to provide a “new look” at Christians.

This church feels that the way to reach the lost is movie night. Here’s what their website has to say about this essential “ministry:”

Our focus from the beginning of this monthly ministry is visitors. We know that many people find the first visit to a church to be a daunting experience. On movie night a newcomer is greeted by smiling faces at the snack bar. Our folk are hospitable and friendly and not pushy. So bring a neighbor or family member who needs a new look at Christians and those receptive people at the Christian Church of Ashland.

Apparently, by coming to movie night and meeting the smiling church members at the snack bar will provide visitors with a “new look at Christians.”

I have a suggestion. If you want people to have a new look at Christians, how about preaching the whole counsel of God, practice what we preach and bare fruit of the faith we profess to have. Let them see a change in our lives and lifestyles instead of them scratching their head saying, “they talk, act, and look the same as us unbelievers visitors.”

I feel it’s important to show who has influenced the pastor of this church as quoted from the pastor’s biography.

“He would be quick to add that the most significant change in his ministry came as a result of working with David Bruce . . ”

He calls David Bruce his mentor on his blog. For those of you unfamiliar with David Bruce, check out the two websites he runs:

Hollywood Jesus

Church at Louie’s Bar

A man (and especially a pastor) is know by the company he keeps.

** UPDATE ** David Bruce reveals a little more on this post.

Does your pastor live in a 3.6 million dollar home?

Thanks to Independent Conservative for keeping us aware of what men like this are gaining from the “gospel.” I was actually more surprised by the results of the news poll at the end of the video than I was that yet another preacher is using the Gospel to live like a king.

With all the damage that men like this do to the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, is it any wonder why Atheism is growing?

Does the “W” really stand for “Watch?”

Here’s the website selling the official I Worship Watch Joel Osteen lapel pin. It’s just another example of our bloated excess as the Western Church lives in the comfortable lap of luxury.

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I wonder how many Christians who are going without food in their stomachs or Scriptures in their hands in the poorest parts of India are going to order this as a Christmas present. I wonder how many Christians who are fleeing from Mulsims trying to kill them, or who are being tortured in a communist prison cell are itching to get their hands on this.

Can we expect WWJD (What Would Joel Do?) anytime soon?

Narcissim Gone Wild: What’s the deal with these pastors and their desire to look, sound, and act like those on MTV?

Anyone who’s been alive for the last decade knows what a cesspool of sex, drugs, violence and homosexuality the cable channel MTV (Music Television) has become. Why anyone who claims the name of Christ would want to emulate this channel (especially pastors) is beyond me.

I know, I know, the defenders will say “they’re trying to reach the MTV generation.” Well I have news for you. Those of the MTV generation who are seeking the truth know pandering when they see it. Grown men who are supposed to be different and separate from the world acting like they’re teenagers on MTV doesn’t do one bit of good for the Gospel. (James 1:27, 1 John 2:15-16, James 4:4-5).

Oh but Pilgrim, they have so many people dedicate their lives to Christ at their church as a direct result of this type of behavior.” Really? Check on those same people a year from now. If they’re even still going to church, how are they doing in their spiritual life?

But I digress. Check out the videos below of pastors (grown adults) who are trying to appeal to the world by acting like the world so that when the world looks at them the world SEES NO DIFFERENCE!

Ed Young showing off his house in MTV style.

Scott Hodge is “Rockin’ the Orchard.”

Scott Hodge is back with yet another video, this time demeaning the ordinance of baptism.

Hollywood Jesus: “Pop Culture From a Spiritual Point of View?”

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It shouldn’t take anyone with even a shred of discernment more than a split second to know that there’s something wrong with the website Hollywood Jesus (e.g. the name should be the first red flag). Unfortunately, and without a doubt, there are some in Churchianity who have no issues with this website or what it promotes.

Here’s the site’s other claim to fame: “Hindus, Jews, Christians, Wiccans, Muslims, New Agers, Atheists, Agnostics, Gay, Straight. Come in. Enjoy.”

Garth Brooks’ Freinds in Low Places sang in “Church” by “Worship” band.

I know this video has been around for a while, but I decided to post it for those of you who haven’t seen it. The video comes from a service at New Spring Church. Right before they conduct “worship” they sing a Garth Brooks drinking song entitled Friends in Low Places. For those who want to know exactly what the lyrics to this song are, I’ve posted them below the video.

Blame it all on my roots
I showed up in boots
And ruined your black tie affair
The last one to know
The last one to show
I was the last one
You thought you’d see there
And I saw the surprise
And the fear in his eyes
When I took his glass of champagne
And I toasted you
Said, honey, we may be through
But you’ll never hear me complain

‘Cause I’ve got friends in low places

Where the whiskey drowns
And the beer chases my blues away
And I’ll be okay
I’m not big on social graces
Think I’ll slip on down to the oasis
Oh, I’ve got friends in low places

Well, I guess I was wrong
I just don’t belong
But then, I’ve been there before
Everything’s all right
I’ll just say goodnight
And I’ll show myself to the door
Hey, I didn’t mean
To cause a big scene
Just give me an hour and then
Well, I’ll be as high
As that ivory tower
That you’re livin’ in

‘Cause I’ve got friends in low places

Where the whiskey drowns
And the beer chases my blues away
And I’ll be okay
I’m not big on social graces
Think I’ll slip on down to the oasis
Oh, I’ve got friends in low places

The attack on baptism.

The following videos all have one thing in common. Whether it’s the Self Baptism Kit skit or the three videos below, at one point in each of these videos they all mock, ridicule, demean, and trample on the holy sacrament of baptism. And the most shocking thing is that it’s all done in the name of Christianity by those professing to be Christians for those professing to be Christians.

And don’t worry, the pastor’s profanity in the first video is bleeped out.

The wannabe MTV VJ:

Using a male enhancement commercial to be relevant:

How the relevant churches view evangelism and those who evangelize:

Become a Better Ewe!

better-ewe.png I simply couldn’t pass this up. Check out the complete post from the October 20th entry on Steve Camp’s blog Camp On This.

“If you do not seek God because you believe Him to be supremely valuable,
then you are a hypocrite. To seek God for any reason other
than His own glory as Creator, Lord and Savior is to be a hypocrite.
It is the reason that the health and wealth gospel
is not simply a deficient view of the gospel,
but actually “another gospel” and will lead people to hell.”
-Pastor John Swanson,
River Hills Community Church

When Jesus is mocked by those who claim to be His.

Community “Christian Church” in Illinois who produced the Homeboy Jesus video and the Baseball Jesus video, (for what reason I do not know), has once again produced more garbage in the name of Christianity.

 

 

Jesus Goes Shopping:

 

Mocking prayer:

 

How this church and others like it view evangelism:

 

These videos are the fruit of this church and they reveal just how low their view of God really is.

You know, men claiming to be “Christians” have attempted to lower Jesus Christ’s deity down to that of us sinful creatures for centuries. We normally identify them as: apostate, heretic, cultist, etc.

Judgment will begin in the House of God. It will be swift and severe for those who mock the very Savior who shed His precious blood to redeem mankind. If the Apostle Paul were alive today he would surely rebuke the “church” that produced these videos. Of course he would have to because anyone else that tried to would be labeled “closed-minded” and “judgmental.”

Inevitably someone will see nothing wrong with these videos. Charles Spurgeon addressed this type of entertaining the sheep in this quote, but I doubt he could barely imagine the mockery and blasphemy associated with such “entertainment.”

 

We’re not fooling God and we’re not fooling the world.

This is an eye opening video. So many times when I say the things this guys says in the video (to others in the Church), I get labeled all sorts of names. Unfortunately, shallow Christianity fools no one except other shallow Christians. The world sees through our veneer of shallow Christianity and the world rejects Jesus Christ because of it. After all, if we don’t take our faith seriously, why should they?

But don’t just take my word for it:

The unhealthy infatuation with Elvis is not exclusive to lukewarm Professing Christians only.

It seems that the Christian Church is not the only one battling the mixing of things that are holy with the filth of the worldly culture. Apparently the Catholic Church is also suffering from the same problems.

When it comes to the adoration worship of Elvis Presley, the apostate evangelical church now has competition. Christians had their Elvis worship leader, but the Catholics have their Elvis impersonating Priest.

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A reponse to a response to The Problem With Youth Ministry Today.

I received a disagreeing comment on one of my previous posts that I thought would be beneficial to share. If you haven’t seen the videos that this is in regards to, watch them by clicking here first before reading this post. I have quoted “Brian” verbatim and added my own responses, point-by-point in bold.

“I do believe you are being a little too closed minded.”

You mean closed minded like saying Jesus is the ONLY way to the Father? That there’s only one faith? Sure then. I wear that title “closed minded” with honor. And by the way, by disagreeing with my point of view, wouldn’t that make you closed minded too? I’m not hurling an insult, just wondering how it applies to others who disagree with me.

“While I agree, they went a little too far with the second video, I saw nothing wrong with the first video.”

A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

“You say that the guy was acting like a homosexual. Are all male hair stylists homosexual? Are all males with feminine characteristics homosexul [sic]?”

Of course not. I never said that “all male hair stylists were homosexual.” To say otherwise is putting words in my mouth and that is dishonest.

And furthermore, not only did I not say that, rest assured I don’t even think that. That’s like presuming that ALL Professing Christians (PCs) are going to heaven. I wouldn’t dare presume either.

“If you say yes, then you are guilty of prejudism [sic] and clearly are a liar, because I know several male hair stylists that act a little feminie [sic] but are clearly not homosexual.”

The question I would like answered is why this youth pastor in the video felt the need to act gay / effeminate to convey his message (whatever the message was still escapes me)? If anyone should be guilty of prejudice I would offer for your consideration the guy in the video acting gay / effeminate. I wonder how you would feel if he was making fun of blacks, Hispanics, Asians or Jews.

“No where in the video does the guy do or say anything sexual or inappropriate.”

If you are using the world’s standards to define what you view as “inappropriate” then you are right. What he was doing was very mild. However, when weighed in the light of God’s holiness, and using God’s standard to define right and wrong, then you’d quickly see that the man’s actions in the video was unacceptable, especially since he is acting in the office of a pastor.

“It is called satire; maybe you should pick up the Canterbury Tales and learn about it.”

Thanks for the book recommendation. May I recommend one to you? The Holy Bible. I’m not being mean or sarcastic… I’m being serious! Lets use the Biblical standard in these matters, not man’s standard. (Of course there are other great books I could recommend, but space does not permit at this time).

“Maybe if we didn’t have people like you trying to find everything wrong with everyone else, more people would come to Jesus.”

I didn’t have to look hard to “find” this. This church was so proud of their videos that they displayed them for all to see on GodTube.

I suppose the Apostle Paul shouldn’t have wasted his time writing those “judgmental” letters to the Church in Corinth. He should have ignored their error and in the end more people would have “come to Jesus.”

And speaking of “coming to Jesus,” I’m curious Brian, do you believe in such a thing as false conversions?

“As a youth minister, one must reach teens in a different and creative way.”

Ahh. The crux of the problem. You believe that the old way of reaching the sinner, the Gospel, is no longer good enough. Paul’s proclamation that he strove to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified is archaic. God’s plan for the deliverance of the message of salvation for men has fallen short but thank goodness he’s got the new, cool, hip, and relevant pastors of the Western Church to come up with “different” and “creative” ways to reach teens. So out with the preaching and teaching of the whole counsel of God and in with the potty humor and men acting gay / effeminate.

“Although there is a line that one must not cross, you are not the judge of anybody but yourself. The Bible clearly tells me that.”

So although the church crossed the line in the second video, but not the first, you’re ok with their shameful display? You’re more concerned with me for pointing this stuff out than with the absolute lack of reverence and outright blasphemy portrayed in the video by this church?

Earlier in your post you saidI agree, they went a little too far with the second video.” So this begs the question: If you believe they went too far in the second video, then didn’t YOU just pass judgment?

You paint yourself into a corner when you misuse Scripture, taking texts out of context, only reading bits and pieces of the Bible like “Judge not…” without reading the rest of it. Put down your copy of the satirical Canterbury Tales and read the fifth chapter of First Corinthians (paying close attention to verses 9-13). This may begin to steer you and others into an understanding of whether or not Christians can judge.

I don’t do this because I’m bored or have an ax to grind. I do it in the hopes that someone, perhaps even yourself, will come to an understanding that Christianity is not a joke. God is Holy and the things of God should be handled in such a manner that is worthy.

I make an urgent request that you listen to this sermon that was delivered to a youth conference of 5,000 kids. Please listen to that sermon before responding. (You can even watch it here if you so choose.)

Remember Brian, all these “youth pastors” have an terrifying responsibility. The Bible says that all teachers are held to a greater judgment (James 3:1).