A Little Leaven

My Lame Relationship?!

Christless Christianity Strikes Again.

My Lame Relationship Promo from Reality Church on Vimeo.

This is from "a church" whose belief statement is so sparse and vague it could be written on a cocktail napkin and it completely misses the point of Christian Doctrine.

Our Values:

You! You’re accepted for who you are…period.

God! Our desire is to know him better and love him with all that we are.

Being Real! No perfect people allowed. We enjoy people just being themselves.

Community! God’s not about rules and rituals, just relationships…so are we.

Our Community! Our goal is to serve the people of this city in ways that improve their quality of life.

The Bible! The most fantastic book ever written…it’s got to be divine.

Our Beliefs:

God is better, greater, and closer than we can imagine.

Nothing in creation “just happened.” God made it all.

The Bible is God’s perfect guidebook for everything spiritual and life’s ultimate survival kit.

Jesus is God revealing himself to us.

The only way to reestablish a relationship with God is through Christ by the forgiveness he offers.

Evil happens because people abuse God’s gift of free will.

Heaven and hell are real places. Death is a beginning, not the end.

Jesus is coming again.

Braveheart Bible Study?

Are you looking for a "Bible study" that will appeal to men? Well we've got a "Bible study" for you!! The Braveheart "Bible study" is chalk full of testosterone and includes full blown discussions on the major themes of the movie. Thankfully the staff at Christianity Today also found some Bible passages that sort-of fit the themes of the movie so that participants will feel like they've done something godly and the women folk can't complain about this being a completely pagan pursuit.

Me-Centered "Christianity"

Turning Christianity Into A Cheesy Infomercial Self-Help Psychology

Obsessed with Sex

Church or Sex-Therapy Session?

Running on Empty?

If you're starving for the Word of God and feel like you are spiritually running on empty then don't go to South Hills Church in Corona, CA. Pastor Life-Coach Chris Sonksen isn't interested in actually preaching from the Bible and teaching God's Word.  He's much more comfortable teaching pop-psychology and self-help.  Many of the members of his church Self-Help Center will wind up in hell because they were never told the actual truth of the Christian Gospel, but at least they will feel good about themselves in this life.

Satan loves making his victims feel comfortable as he distracts their attention away from Christ while he drags them to the fires of hell.  Afterall, ignorance of the coming wrath of God against sinners is bliss (for a while).

Help - A Pop-Psychology "Sermon" Series Based on Songs by the Beatles

Keystone Church in Keller, Texas just finished a sermon series based upon the songs of the Beatles. Unfortunately, the sermon series was chock full of Pop-Psych with proof-texted verses ripped from context.

The issues addressed by these 'sermons' include...Control Issues, Worry, Negativity, and Insecurity.

We think that Pastor Life-Coach Brandon Thomas should be charged with practicing Psychology without a license.

HT: Defcon

Mastering Emotional Monsters???

Forget about the separation of Church and State. The time has come for God's people to fight for the separation of Church and Pop-Psychology.

Church is NOT a group therapy session and any pastor who turns God's house into a pop-psychology session is in rebellion to Christ.

Christian pastors are commanded to feed Christ's sheep with the word of God. If you would like to know what the Bible says about the responsibilities and duties of pastors then listen to this edition of Fighting for the Faith.

Tropic Thunder...the Sermon?

Who knew that the movie Tropic Thunder was not only loaded with comedy but was chock full of spiritual lessons?

This is taken from a Washington Post article entitled "Must-See Sermons".

Fistfights, crashing helicopters and gun-wielding guerrillas flashed across the screen. The auditorium filled with the sounds of the jungle as Senior Pastor Rob Seagears clomped onto the stage in camouflage and combat boots, toting a rifle, canteen and machete.

"Good morning, Mountaintop!" he growled to the congregation before launching into his Sunday sermon based on the R-rated, curse-filled Hollywood hit "Tropic Thunder."

God's word just isn't enough anymore. We need to supplement it with the spiritual lessons from Hollywood's latest blockbuster movies.

Preaching From Dr. Seuss' Books?

Preach from the Bible and no one will come to church. Preach from Dr. Seuss' books and that is considered relevant, culturally attuned and is guaranteed to draw a crowd.

The Oaks Fellowship, the church that brought you the Fear Factor Sermon, Dancing with the Stars and the Biggest Loser now brings you Theologgins for Noggins - Deep Spiritual Lessons from the Books of Dr. Seuss.

You Got Great Potential??

Here we go again. David Foster of the Gathering in
Franklin, TN is a specialist in scratching itching ears (2 Tim 4:3-4). Foster's latest sermon series was chock full of scripture twisting and man-centered mythologies. We here at the Museum of Idolatry think he missed his calling. Foster really needs to leave the pulpit and pursue a career as an infomercial motivational speaker. At least if he did that people won't mistake his pep-talks to be Biblical teaching or a Christian sermon.

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Further Resource

My review of this sermons on the Fighting for the Faith radio program.

Science of Happiness??

Purpose-Driven Pastor, Frank Santora of Faith Church in New Milford, CT just finished a sermon series on the 'Science of Happiness'. Of particular interest were his sermons on 'Forgiving Yourself' and 'Believing in Yourself'.

Scripture does not call us to believe in ourselves it calls us to deny ourselves and believe IN Jesus Christ.

Matt. 16:24   Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

John 3:16   “For God so loved the world,that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God

Scripture does not call us to 'forgive ourselves' either. That is a concept made popular by pop-psychology and is not Biblical. Instead, the scriptures call us receive forgiveness of our sins by and through Jesus Christ.

Acts 10:43 To [Jesus] all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Acts 13:38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man [Jesus] forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,

"Pastor" Santora's messages were not Christian messages and they are more examples of the man-centered feel good preaching that is occuring in the name of being 'seeker-sensitive' and 'purpose-driven'.

Further Resources & Reading...

1. My review of these sermons on the Fighting for the Faith radio program.

2. Christless Christianity & The American Captivity of the Church - Part 1

3. Christless Christianity & The American Captivity of the Church - Part 2

4. Christless Christianity, by Michael Horton

5. Preaching Christ from All the Scriptures, by Dennis Johnson

6. Why I'm Not a Purpose-Driven Pastor

Biggest Loser Sermon Series

Mariners self-help & pop-psychology center Church is the type of self-help & pop-psychology center church that can help you overcome, fear, shame, worry & anxiety and doubt. As an added bonus if you show up this week you can learn how to better manage your finances.

What we'd like to know is how come NOT ONE of the apostles ever preached sermons on these self-help & pop-psychology topics? Could it be that they were too busy preaching 'Christ and Him Crucified"?

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1Cor. 2:1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.