I’m really hoping some of you republicans out there will come down out of the clouds long enough to see the connection between the church-growth movement I wrote about in my Willow Creek series and the new “faith-based organizations” I commented on last week. They are essentially two sides of the same coin. It seems that some of you church-going conservatives have finally been guilt-tripped into believing that old liberal lie that says you can deal with the devil if you’re doing God’s work. By way of the consensus process many of you have been facilitated into compromising your convictions to promote unity and prosperity not realizing you’ve BEEN HAD by the world’s greatest manipulators… global/socialists. Christian journalists and conservative commentators alike have all taken the bait hook, line and sinker believing that “faith-based organizations” are a just and holy cause. Of course, they would have soundly rejected the idea if Bill Clinton, Al Gore or Ted Kennedy had been it’s promoters. But because someone with a GOP button and a Christian testimony said it was a great idea many of you are rallying around him like he was a golden calf.
The mistake that George W. Bush and all his “compassionate conservatives” have made is that they are now doing exactly what Democrats have done for decades, offering political solutions to spiritual problems. That’s what happens when you exchange the power of God for the power of Govt. There is a terrible price to pay for idolatry. And when George W. Bush loses the next election because a manipulated stock market and a debt-heavy economy collapses under his watch, (due to the practices and policies of the previous administration) all those churches that surrendered into government partnerships will be left under the stern control and legal authority of his socialist replacement.
If you had a young son that was a committed Christian who suddenly decided one day to join a street gang in order to promote tolerance, diversity and unity in his community would you not object? Of course you would! If your daughter called you up on the phone one day to say she was moving in with a crack head up the street so she could be a loving witness to him for Christ would you not try to stop her? ABSOLUTELY! What if your wife told you she was going to start holding seances and telling fortunes in your home to raise money for the church’s building program? Wouldn’t that upset you? You KNOW it would! God looks at His children and “The Bride of Christ” in EXACTLY the same way. Government does what’s good for government, NOT THE CHURCH!
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (II Corinthians 6:14-18)
However, if the church is going to simply chuck the bible and start receiving it’s money and marching orders from the federal government then I suggest we go all out and use our multi-million dollar “worship centers” to get some REAL MONEY rolling in! After all, most of them just sit empty during the week anyway so why not, in the interest of profits and pragmatism, make use of our God-given assets and government connections to obtain liquor, dance and gambling licenses for all our churches? We’ve got notes to meet and bills to pay folks! But, if we could be guaranteed government loans, grants, subsidies, exemptions and benefits by housing such things as casinos, adult movie theaters, gay bars, massage parlors and strip clubs what’s the problem…as long as we’re doing it for the Lord? And what about those countless hallways full of Sunday school rooms that sit empty and unused all week? With a few donated beds from the beloved and some heartfelt cooperation from our singles departments we could establish some really nice government-approved brothels for all the lonely hearts and sexually disadvantaged here in the hood. Talk about meeting their “felt-needs”!!! …AND we’d keep our bankers happy to boot! If we’ve learned anything about the church-growth movement and faith-based organizations it’s that Jesus really doesn’t care WHAT we do as long as we do it for Him, RIGHT?
Isn’t it exciting to know that we’ve finally come to our senses and joined in the mega-merger madness of the “Third Way”? What shall we call our new Church/State/Business venture? How about: The First Facilitated Family of Federal Faith and Finance? I say we offer stock and go public on the big board! You thought those DOTCOMS were hot! Let me tell you something Pal. This could be big…REALLY BIG!!!