I like to call all these biiiiig and gawdy type churches with 5,000 members "Hollywood Jesus churches", because they believe that you have to have all these big flashy lights and giant cathedrals and put on a broadway show to teach the word of God to people. In my hometown there are at least 3-4 of these million dollar cathedrals with huge followings that make me roll my eyes everytime I pass by one, and so does anyone else have these where you live and how do you feel about it?
I think it shows how desperate organized religion is to keep butts in the pews and also a sign that most churches are about their own material betterment. Posted via Mobile Device
There are a couple of humongous local churches around here that have televised sermons, etc. I don't think any are nationally televised, though. My feelings on Hollywood Jesus Churches fluctuate between incredulous bemusement and occasional anger.
The anger stems from my paternal grandmother's experience with this type of church. When she was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, she started watching a couple of the national shows religiously. She was in denial and spent a good portion of her savings on buying purple prayer cloths, etc., hoping they would heal her. These supposed men of God told her right on the TV that they could and there were testimonies of others who had been magically cured of ailments, so she thought it must be true.
She never did reach a point of acceptance that I know of. I remember her making someone leave the hospital to go to her house to fetch her purple prayer cloth and bring it back to her. She didn't leave the hospital that time.
So many of these types of churches seem to deliberately prey upon the elderly, the sick, and the gullible. That turns my stomach.
Oh, forgot to add... We've had this huge rush of new churches forming here in the last several years. Most of them have modern names that have nothing to do with religion, like "Next Level" and "Elevation". I've actually been to some of these with my son because he wanted to try them. They hand first-time visitors gas cards, Starbucks gift cards, or other things as "visitor gifts". They all have church bands with electric guitars. The sermons are bought instead of created by the pastor, and they come with full-color, glossy card-stock ads that must cost a fortune for the church. The churches are so much alike, and their congregations are growing exponentially around here. Frankly, they creep me out a little. I felt like I was surrounded by Stepford Christians when we visited.
I somehow have several friends that attend a church similar to this. Might not be 5,000 people - but I used to kid them about how their neon sign out front was just like the one outside the manger!
By contrast, the Church I go to has very little flash, and about 100 people on a good day.
Bottom line - its what you make of it. The friends I have in the Hollywood Jesus church are good people who seem to take their religion seriously. Just as seriously as the people at my little old fashioned Church.
And I'm sure both places have people who are just there to get out, dress up and and gossip once a week!
To paraphrase a great quote I heard once, you show your true Religion by how you behave outside of Church...
There are a couple of humongous local churches around here that have televised sermons, etc. I don't think any are nationally televised, though. My feelings on Hollywood Jesus Churches fluctuate between incredulous bemusement and occasional anger.
The anger stems from my paternal grandmother's experience with this type of church. When she was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, she started watching a couple of the national shows religiously. She was in denial and spent a good portion of her savings on buying purple prayer cloths, etc., hoping they would heal her. These supposed men of God told her right on the TV that they could and there were testimonies of others who had been magically cured of ailments, so she thought it must be true.
She never did reach a point of acceptance that I know of. I remember her making someone leave the hospital to go to her house to fetch her purple prayer cloth and bring it back to her. She didn't leave the hospital that time.
So many of these types of churches seem to deliberately prey upon the elderly, the sick, and the gullible. That turns my stomach.
I'm reminded of a mini-rant U2's Bono made during the live recording of "Bullet the Blue Sky" from Rattle and Hum:
"I can't tell the difference between ABC News, Hill Street Blues and a preacher on the Old Time Gospel Hour stealing money from the sick and the old. Well, the god I believe in isn't short of cash, mister." Posted via Mobile Device
I'm reminded of a mini-rant U2's Bono made during the live recording of "Bullet the Blue Sky" from Rattle and Hum:
"I can't tell the difference between ABC News, Hill Street Blues and a preacher on the Old Time Gospel Hour stealing money from the sick and the old. Well, the god I believe in isn't short of cash, mister." Posted via Mobile Device
George Carlin (athiest!) had a "bit" where he was asking why God is so bad with money - he's always running out and needing more!!!
At my little Church, we're just trying to keep the roof from leaking!!!
George Carlin (athiest!) had a "bit" where he was asking why God is so bad with money - he's always running out and needing more!!!
At my little Church, we're just trying to keep the roof from leaking!!!
Further evidence to me that, if a supreme being exists, he/she/it doesn't give a large contented rodent's rear about organized religion. If he/she/it did, every church would be a permanent temperate zone, always about 75 degrees and sunny. More important would be your personal spiritual relationship with said deity, which doesn't require an official group gathering place. Posted via Mobile Device
it's their money, they can choose to do what they wish with it
why do you care?
It's the CONGREGATION'S money they are using, and in a lot of these churches it goes towards the pastor's $800 suits and $200 shoes or maybe a newer Cadillac because the other one he/she had was.......two years old already. In the mean time most of the congregation is living on a tight budget trying to make ends meet!
One of the churches I belonged to a long time ago was always collecting for the "new fire sprinklers and smoke detector fund", and after 3 years they had collected about $17,000 towards it but it never got put in becauuuuse - they decided they were gonna then move their ministry location to Memphis, TN about 500 miles away(and totally abandoned that building).
After 12 years of Catholic school, Im quite jaded when it comes to organized religion and those who feel the need to appear so pious. Religion and God/Jesus I think are great things. I just believe they are anything like the crap most every church spews. Be it Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist whatever.
I really hate it that this is the way so many view it. My pastor lives in a very small, cookie cutter home. He lives a very simple life. He doesn't make a lot and most of the money given in tithe goes to missions. We have an imperfect congregation and none of us would claim perfection. We know we're flawed. That's the point... I regret the fact that churches have all been lumped as cults or some way to take your money. Just makes me sad. Not all churches are what you see on TV with the rich televangelists who'd love nothing more than to get richer and are full of it. They're fakes. Fakey people are everywhere. Most people know genuine when they see it. Benny Hinn isn't it... Genuine churches just care about you.
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"Hollywood Jesus churches".... 
