The problem with American Christianity.
Posted Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Last week I posted an update on Twitter and facebook that read “Confession: at the end of the day I am often more interested in entertainment than in spiritual development. A sad fact that must change.”
A good friend pointed out that this is the problem with American Christianity and after mulling it over for a little while, I’m inclined to agree. Which brings me to several questions and observations.
- How have we taken our relationship with our Creator so lightly that we have the audacity to choose to watch TV when we haven’t even said hello to Him all day?
- Why do we feel entitled to rest at the end of the day by spending hours being totally unproductive? Does productivity during the day mean that the evening must be unproductive? That is ridiculous, no one “deserves” anything, we are not entitled.
- Why do I have such an insatiable desire to be entertained all the time, to the point that I actually avoid silence? You might do this too. When is the last time you rode in the car without the radio on purpose?
- Is my desire for constant entertainment a reflection of how truly self centered I am at heart? Or is it a shield that keeps me from thinking too deeply and having to deal with some of the sin issues in my life?
- America’s addiction to entertainment is clearly unhealthy and will continue to lead us down a path that is very far from God.
- Christians should not forsake “secular” entertainment just too substitute it with “Christian” entertainment. The problem is not the message of the entertainment, but the medium itself and what it does to our thinking.
- Churches that focus their meetings on entertaining their people are doing their people a great disservice. Following Jesus has nothing to do with being entertained and everything to do with forsaking distractions to follow Him.
Thoughts?
November 3rd, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Not sure why, but when you said, “Why do I have such an insatiable desire to be entertained all the time…” I immediately thought about a King and his Jester. I wonder if its rooted in our sinful desire to be the King?
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Wow, that’s insightful man. Thanks for sharing, I think I would have to agree.
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Adam, I agree with what you are saying. For me personally, I have reached a point where I prefer silence over the noise. I’m not saying I never turn on the TV or the radio but I find that quiet takes me to a place where I find communion with God. I haven’t always felt this way. There was a time in the past that I got up and turned on the TV whether I was watching it or not, turned on the radio whether I was really listening or not. For me, it was part of realizing that I was spiritually unhealthy. That started me on a journey of an intentional spiritual house cleaning. It got messy, hard, painful, draining and time consuming but it was necessary for me to do. I’m not suggesting to live in a bubble but sometimes our entertainment is like junk food, it can make us sick, lazy and unhealthy. Just be careful what and how much you consume and keep it healthy to your spirit. There are some things on TV and radio that can teach us things and help us grow and change. God reveals to us and convicts us when we are taking in too much noise and “junk” so we just need to learn to listen and know when to be still and quiet and learn to use our time wisely.
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Also, I don’t consider it an American Christianity problem, it’s a problem for everyone but we all buy into the mindlessness to lull us to sleep. We just need to wake up!
November 3rd, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Very Well put Pat, thanks. I totally agree.