Ever since I left my job at GenesisChurch.TV, I’ve felt really disconnected with the Christian Church. Not really my faith but my enjoyment of “christian things” has gone away. Maybe it is because of the sacrifice I made to take a job and then had the rug ripped from under me but I would like to think it is for another reason…
Sometimes I wonder, when Jesus comes back, would he approve of what the modern church has become?
I see more and more an emphasis on buildings and materials. The money spent on wasteful monuments should be focus towards the people who Jesus has called us to help… not on ourselves.
This cross is ridiculous.
1 million dollars……wasted.
1 million dollars…could have been used through companies like charity:water. They can give someone in Africa 20 years of clean water for a donation of 20 dollars.
What’s more christ-like???
A 200 foot cross
or
Clean water for 50,000 people
The answer is obvious.
Matthew 6.24: No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money
Many Christian Churches are serving the Green god!
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What are your thoughts? Is this the church God imagined from the beginning? How do these thing look to people outside the christian bubble?
Technicolor Life 
Hmm, me too. On the since leaving and on if He would approve. I don’t think He would. Thanks for such a thought provoking post. I can only hope that with your endless talent you will one day live out your dream life…you certainly deserve to.
I don’t think it’s what he wants right now as a majority, but he knew what would happen. It’s up to us to change it. My family looks at it and thinks it’s a hoax, to the point where I don’t get to voice my opinion much anymore because they assume my stance is conservative when it’s not. I completely agree with you about the buildings. I understand ministries are important, for instance, but should people spend $20,000 on a high school basketball ministry for rich kids or go FEED and clothe the poor? He didn’t come for the well… you know?
I have actually been attending an Anglican Church with Josh and Mara from soccer lately. I think it takes being in a non-traditional church to really start to appreciate the traditions that constantly remind us of God’s holiness and the purpose of the body. I have always kind of been on the outskirts of Christian Culture, but I think it has given me a perspective that allows me to meet different people at a place where many Christians could not. My advice to you brother, be sure to remain connected because fellowship is essential, but keep your eyes outward. thats where change needs to happen.
I’m with you. This very thing has been a heavy burden of conviction in The Stock House. Jay and I often toil over this very thing…the planet is filled with needs and disgusting misuses of funds…unfortunately, Christianity is no different. Ridiculous amounts of money is spent on needless and wasteful things in an effort to make church more lurring and entertaining, to compete with movie theatres and modern forms of entertainment when it should be a completely seperate entity.
I think a dying world is starving for God’s love and mercy to flow through us, practically,…not smoke and light machines…
I love my church, and by church I mean the people I worship God with. I love music and I love the opportunity to lead people in it. I love that my son has a fun, safe and relevant place to learn about the God that loves him.
I know that all of these things cost money to operate. Equipment is needed in order for the music to be heard. Paper is needed in order for my child to colour a picture of a cross he will someday (hopefully) understand and accept…but there is SO much excess wasted on pointless ‘stuff’ that could be better spent on life saving materials. Clean water, sufficient vaccines, food, clothing…I personally believe that faith without deeds is dead.
This philosophy influences how we as a family spend our tithe and how we treat those that the world deems as unfit. We don’t get it right all the time, but we try.
Practical faith is knowing Christ and Making Him Known. Programs have their purpose, but they aren’t the foundation of the great comission.
Miss you Kyle. Wish we were having this conversation in person.
Kyle,
I defenitely agree with you. The modern church has lost focus on the true meaning of “service” as Christ modeled for us and expects from us. Selfish modernism, entertainment, social prosperity, large numbers, the “it” church, etc., does not equal “Christ-like service”. We can use the things of this modern world, but not misuse it and to give it the preeminence over Christ (1Corinthians 7:31-32).