Christianity is such a drama!
In some deprived parts of the globe like China, India & Africa, while adequate provision of basic necessities like food, water, clothes and healthcare is all that is needed to make one go wild about Jesus Christ , First-World countries are seeing sophisticated Christians getting disgruntled over issues about mega churches and mega buildings. To give or not to give to church, which church to give to, which one appears more superior, which has a “badder” reputation, which one is less fanatic, which has a nicer building, which pastor hasn’t found himself in hot soup yet ….. better still, let’s not give anything at all !
One church teaches about nothing but “grace”, another one seems to be emphasizing on “prosperity”, yet another has a pastor who has turned into a magician cum stage entertainer of sorts ….. some have turned their services into charity shows by asking congregation for pledge of money, … one church seems obsessed with healings and miracle services, and yet another one seems to have turned a little too supernatural and performing way too many exorcisms with a long waiting list of possessed people in its deliverance ministry, while another one seems to have peoples’ tongues falling off with too much “speaking in tongues” !
And while all this drama is going on, there are smaller churches and denominations like say, the Presbyterians or home-bound churches, that may be quick to point finger and cry – “cult” ! …. Just because they have too little faith to believe that God can actually do what He did throughout the Bible – Isn’t God the SAME yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) ? Instead of praying for the mega churches that are in genuine need of space to accommodate growing congregations, many from small churches or home churches are pretty much grateful and heave a sigh of relief that they do not have to give to any church buildings because their churches are not growing or worst still, shrinking in size ! … So they lean back complacently in their seats and do nothing but criticize and gloat over “waste” of money for church buildings, as if the authorities would allow them to hold church services for mega congregations out there in the open fields, rain or shine, every weekend …. Or as if they could jolly well just congregate through the internet while sipping some wine and eating bread to observe ”holy communion” while they’re at it !
And then there are the “evil green-eyed spies” who have nothing better to do than sit through hours of mega church websites’ sermon videos one after another, hoping that just before they doze off, … if only they could catch one slip of the pastor’s tongue, woohoo … they could become overnight heroes for blowing the whistle on them and turning them over to the local authorities for allegedly passing some disparaging remarks about other religions … Yeah right, there’s a good reward waiting for you fellas in heaven for blowing the whistle, … that is if you ever make it there in the first place !
There also appears to be others that have been struck by a sudden bout of phobia for pastors looking cool and dashing in designer outfits or driving nicer cars or living in better apartments or having sexy, rich and famous celebrity wives. So they must die die try to find excuses to put them down in some way – one way of effectively ruining their reputation is by putting down the guests that they are hosting. All of a sudden, Benny Hinn, TB Joshua or somebody famous becomes some sorta evil preachers that mustn’t be entertained …. mostly based on hear-say or media speculations.
What about those super “dupers” that are proud to be part of a church infested with gay and paedophile priests – yep … while the poor members are giving $5 or $10 out of sheer obligation, the bulk of those funds are probably channeled towards settling mounting sexual abuse lawsuits which the church failed in its attempt to cover up. Perhaps you guys are not chanting your rosaries hard enough – try harder and hail Mary louder – she cannot hear you because she was a human, remember ? — who is since dead – she’s no one omnipotent or omnipresent like God !
This is the bizarre tale of a church that Jesus was supposed to have founded 2000 years ago – but has since magically turned into a “museum” with its less-than-impressive array of statues, figurines, icons, candles, rosaries, extra-biblical historical writings, a whole new set of strange new doctrines and virgin popes in fake gold crowns – a far cry from the crown of thorns on Jesus’ head !
So you see … quite dramatic and pathetic the state of churches are today, in my country and elsewhere – if one wants to catch a glimpse of religious dishevel, look no further than Christendom ! Thank God that at least nothing terroristic has developed. God is still very much in control ….. Woohooo !
Amidst this global epidemic of religious upheaval, the comforting news is that God is not going judge churches, denominations or groups of people as a whole – No way !
He is solely going to judge individuals – on individual merits and how we lived our lives as Christians – regardless of whether one was a Catholic or Protestant, Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Charismatic, Evangelical, Pentecostal, Non-denominational, Solo Christian, Home-Churched Christian, Outdoor Christian, 10-year-old Christian or 1-day-old Christian.
How awesome, phew, what a relief !! No church is perfect and God knows that. God cares less about self-imposed man-made religious names that we tend to label ourselves with – He is only concerned about the heart of man regardless of race, color, language, nationality, gender or age.
Christianity will always remain a Drama in this fallen and chaotic world … but God is still the Director !
