I'm so sad

Yesterday I saw something in the morning AND something separate in the evening that made me upset. Sad upset. Well, angry upset too I guess, but more sad.

In the Oklahoman newspaper, there is a report about a "sleuth" minister who goes to churches like a secret shopper goes to businesses. He visits the church and critiques it. He writes notes and reports and whatever, and the idea is to benefit the church by giving honest outside perspective. WHAT CRAP! The entire thing is based off corporate, consumer driven, marketing tactics. This guy can tell you if your church is doing well based on whether or not people see your church as friendly. Does your nursery have smells coming from it? Is your LANDSCAPING fresh and friendly?


Then, in the evening, I came across a flyer at the Cameron University seeking "Band Members" to "lead worship". The flyer makes it clear that this church, which, by the way, "isn't your grandma's church!!!!" want's people who know how to rock and like - and I'm not kidding here - smoke and lights!
The idea here is that the church need people who can put on a good show, in order to appeal to their target market (people who want to "rock").

We are so disgustingly full of ourselves, I feel ill.

Our "churches" seem to care very little about why we're gathering. WHO our worship is for.

"Come to our church. It's so cool / friendly / clean / landscaped / loud and rockin / ______ and on and on. Oh, and by the way, God, we're fine on our own but if you want to come too, that's cool with us. Just try to fit in though, OK?"



Yuck!