The Power Of Association

Does your church or ministry have a MySpace page? Did you know that MySpace has an association with this website: How? Because MySpace is owned by this man: Rupert Murdoch. An Australian self-proclaimed born-again Christian who owns, amongst others, these media and entertainment companies: Murderoch has admitted he tried to use his media outlets to turn public opinion for the Iraq war in this interview below: Bill Moyer has offered a short analysis of Murderoch's predatory nature when it comes to forging his media empire here: Perhaps the only redeeming quality to Murderoch is he allows himself and Fixed News to be lampooned in one of Fox's primetime comedy shows, The Simpsons: Perhaps this wouldn't be the case if The Simpsons wasn't such a profitable commodity. I'm not asking you to change your ways, I'm just asking you to look beyond the first layer of public image and recognise who you associate with, enable and ultimately allow yourself to be bought by. Technorati Tags: murdoch, murderoch, media, iraq, fox news, fixed news, simpsons, bill moyer, myspace, the times, the sun, church, ministry

Biblical Indeceny

Reports that the bible had been rated over 18 adults only due to its content were eventually proved false, however it has provoked some thought and debate. I remember several years ago hearing a pastors wife remark to a youth group that she would not watch an 18 rated movie and would forbid her children from watching one. I remember the time because I had watched many 18+ movies before I reached my 18th birthday, and saw nothing wrong with this. When I consider the bible, if they ever made a true to the letter film version it would probably get an unclassified rating and be banned. After all the Holy Book is full of detailed accounts of murder, rape, incest, war, cannibalism, bestiality, explicit sexual references, animal sacrifice, human sacrifice, horror, genocide, slavery, death and execution. So I usually find it ironic when Christians talk about censorship. I found it ironic when people complained about the amount of blood and violence in The Passion. So why do we try to protect children from the truth? Why do we make up lies like Santa Claus, insulate them with mindless childrens programs and modify true stories by excluding the bad parts? I think the Victorians had it right with Grimm Fairytales and Nursery Ryhmes. They seemed to strike the balance between having fun, playing safe but also revealing the darker side of an exciting and enchanting world: If you play out in the forest, watchout for the big bad wolf. Christians need to rethink censorship and what truths and fairytales they choose to spin to their children, if they really want their children to be able to interact with and be a light to a fallen world. By gently exposing them to the truth and the fallen nature of man, they will not be shocked, surprised or seduced later in life by some of the evils they are bound to encounter.

Church Issues

5 Issues the church is too concerned about CULTURE VULTURE: The Environment. Sure we should be smart and not drop litter, we should do what we can to reduce our individual waste... but this is one of the latest examples of the church jumping on a cultural bandwagon rather than seeking to make a difference in peoples lives. Plus, if more people did their research, they might discover that there's not much we can do about global warming, it may even be part of God's design for the planet. Have you noticed how nature is always moving and shifting through various seasons? It's is only human beings who want to stay in place, prevent change and establish foundations. Not that, that is bad, but we should realise nature does not ask our permission before it changes. BIBLE BASHING: Gay Rights. Of course, as a Christian if I was to have sex with man, I would be committing a sin. However this would also be the case if I had sex with a prostitute. And being a married Christian, if I was to have sex with another woman other than my wife, I would also be committing a sin. Why does the church focus on one sexual sin when protesting moral decline? How many Christians are divorced and remarried? Aah but there's extenuating circumstances... violent spouses etc... we should be sensitive and understanding. Then likewise, we should be sensitive and understanding to homosexuals. It should also be noted that where God is concerned, it is only the church that should be subject to this kind of moral law. But the predominant question is this: Why shouldn't homosexuals be free from prejudice? BIBLE BASHING: Abortion. Another morally unacceptable choice, but again what right do we as Christians have to impose our view on the world. Why simply tell someone something is wrong without explaining why, and offering a better way? Explaining the importance of the sanctity of life to someone who doesn't even believe in accountability to God is going to be futile unless you find humanistic arguments to back-up your case. CULTURE VULTURE: Mass Marketing and Media. It tends to be mostly in charismatic circles but the church seems to be lately obsessed with multimedia and releasing the next worship CD. Worship CD's are cool, they give you something to sing along to in the car if you feel like it. Multimedia is a useful tool, but it should not form the whole basis of your evangelistic strategy! I know a friend who had decided to host a fun, musical and entertaining evening as part of an outreach to the local community. He was considering what would be a good venue that would most likely attract the crowds. I suggested a local popular pub or hall. He eventually went with the church building. Why? Because the equipment was better. But how many unchurched people are going to feel like spending their Saturday night in a church? Sure the building is modern and warm but they don't know that. Most peoples idea of a church is bingo-night with the over 70s not Saturday night live with Jools Holland. Also, why can't an outreach involve alcohol? Most people can be trusted to behave themselves and pubs are already adept at handling the odd drunk. CULTURE VULTURE: Customer Service. As evidenced by the growing mega-churches in not only the US, but Australia. It's not just about worship anymore, it's about entertainment value. Of course there's nothing wrong with offering a tea and coffee time after the service. Offering services to the local community such as a mums & tots, counseling or coffee shop is brilliant. Equally churches that hire and provide buses to the community for poorer people who do not have cars to bring them to church on Sunday is a great. When the bus idea devolves into a golf-cart for people walking from the car park on a Sunday morning (as I have witnessed in one church), it goes from being a service to the community to a service to middle class church goers. A sort of 'customer service' rather than meeting a need. Is there such a thing as going too far? Customer service coupled with mass marketing above are both products of consumerism and western business models (which are more concerned with turnover than lives), which I have touched on before. 5 issues the church should be concerned about INJUSTICE: Predatory and Exploitative Systems. There seems to be an unwritten law in the western hemisphere of the church that anyone who runs a company or business is successful and THEREFORE God has blessed that person and THEREFORE that person is a righteous person who is beyond sin and wrongdoing. Which is why anyone who dares to challenge companies or authorities for moral and legal reasons is treated with contempt. How much more would the church be respected in the world if it used its influence to challenge systems that are anti-human. People do not exist for the law, the law exists for people. INJUSTICE: Anti-immigration. Christians have an implicit moral duty to stand up for the immigrant, legal or illegal. In Britain today immigrants are blamed for much of the problems in society and vilified by the media. In respect to immigration, Christians should not feel obliged to comply with the law if it means immigrants being treated unfairly. CULTURE SHIFT: Technology and Publicity. How will the multi-million dollar Christian music industry fare against the culture shift to in P2P and Creative Commons? Will they be taking legal action against their neighbour, or is it time for a rethink on those 'rights'? Same goes for videos, books and Christian retail. Isn't it time the church went back to basics when spreading the word? Do we really need Celebrians? INEQUALITY: Institutionalised Greed. Many Christians make the mistake of associating capitalism with Christianity. Where that idea came from it's hard to tell, since the gospel has its roots in sharing (P2P anyone?). Capitalism makes individuals rich, but has many ill side-effects for the majority: Accommodation seekers, blue-collar workers and small businesses, for example. Prof. Prabhu Guptara has published a couple of thoughtful articles on the subject of sustainability and institutionalised greed which are worth a read if you have the time. INJUSTICE: Ubuntu. There is much injustice in the world today due to corrupt governments. Governments that desire authoritarian control over their people. As Christians we should pray for our leaders, but we should also hold them to account and make a stand against any policy that seeks to register human beings and make it illegal to exist without being registered. 5 innovative thing that the church should try Open Source and Creative Commons - Actually try sharing the gospel instead of marketing it. Stop spending money on expensive media projects and make a difference to ordinary people. Look for a need that is not being met in the community, rather than jumping on the latest trends. Protest against corporate irresponsibility and greed, rather than Jerry Springer: The Opera Open up a high street shop and simply offer free help... anything, anyone. Technorati Tags: injustice, culture, inequality, bible bashing, church issues, environment, gay rights, abortion, church marketing, mega church, consumerism, predatory systems, morals, immigration, God, Jesus, Christian celebrities, p2p, creative commons, copyright, institutionalised greed, government, church, Christianity, ubuntu DISCUSS THIS POST

Blasphemically Challenged

I've been meaning to blog about this one for a while since it appeared on BoingBoing: "It's simple. You record a short message damning yourself to Hell, you upload it to YouTube, and then the Rational Response Squad will send you a free The God Who Wasn't There DVD. It's that easy... You may damn yourself to Hell however you would like, but somewhere in your video you must say this phrase: "I deny the Holy Spirit." Why? Because, according to Mark 3:29 in the Holy Bible, "Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin." Jesus will forgive you for just about anything, but he won't forgive you for denying the existence of the Holy Spirit. Ever. This is a one-way road you're taking here." - The Blasphemy Challenge It's a shame to have to ruin all their hard work by interceding: "Father forgive them; they don't know what they are doing." - Luke 23:34 I'm not really going to delve much into this topic, suffice to say that I am almost certain that only believers can blaspheme the Holy Spirit, since it is a matter of the heart and not of words or deeds: "Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!” As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified." - Acts 5:3-5 "Judas, the one who betrayed him, realized that Jesus was doomed. Overcome with remorse, he gave back the thirty silver coins to the high priests, saying, "I've sinned. I've betrayed an innocent man." They said, "What do we care? That's your problem!" Judas threw the silver coins into the Temple and left. Then he went out and hung himself." - Matthew 27:3-5 But I think this video posted on the counter-site, Challenge Blasphemy explains it better than I ever could in a hilarious and brilliant way. There is a hint of 'Andy Kaufman' comic genius in passtheaura. Look out for the salt-shaker*, points for guessing as to what this subtle Easter egg is alluding to. *If you're really struggling, go to the direct YouTube posting and read the comments. Technorati Tags: blasphemy, blasphemy challenge, god, christ, christian, apologetics, christian satire, holy spirit, forgiveness

Holy Smoke

Believe in me, send no money I died on the cross, and that ain't funny But my so called friends, they're making me a joke They missed out what I said, like I never spoke They choose what they wanna hear, they don't tell a lie They just leave out the truth as they're watching you die They're saving your souls by taking your money Flies around shit bees around honey Holy smoke holy smoke There's plenty bad preachers for the devil to stoke Feed 'em in feet first this is no joke This is thirsty work making holy smoke, yeah Making holy smoke Jimmy reptile and all his friends Say they gonna be with you at the end Burning records, burning books Holy soldiers, nazi looks Crocodile smiles just wait a while Till the tv queen gets her make-up clean I've lived in filth I've lived in sin and I still smell cleaner than the shit you're in Holy smoke Smells good They ain't religious but they ain't no fools When Noah built his cadillac it was cool Two by two they're still going down And the satellite circus just left town I think they're strange and when they're dead They can have a lincoln for their bed Friend of the president trick of the tail Now they ain't got a prayer 100 years in jail Lyrics: Iron Maiden