I hear a lot of talk about being bold in my Christian walk. Men are bold. We are told to go "boldly" and proclaim the Gospel. Women love it when Christian men are "bold" (but only if they are attracted to him, otherwise you're gonna be placed in 'creepsville' for good) and if we are not bold somehow we're just failing Christ, the church, women, the children, society and anything else that can be blamed on men who are not bold. It's our fault.
The men that are shaking their heads in contempt for Christian men like me who are not "bold" (lol) like them; sadly are really the most pathetic of men. The joke is on them; and they don't even realize it. Even if they do come to some realization about their own actions....they would never admit it. Too much money is at stake now.
Who are these men you ask? Men who heap contempt on fellow Christian brothers? Men who belittle, shame, and deflate while expecting them to somehow become a man? Men who are showboating for press coverage, a book deal(s) and fame? Men who are about themselves, and not the Savior of us all. Men who get thunderous applause when they take the podium and Jesus then gets a nod in the "scripture" passage?
The celebrity pastor folks. He's real, he's out there, and he's a big reason why men "out there" in the world don't come to church. It's another reason why men who are in church NOW are "boldly" building a wall to guard their own hearts for Christ alone; whatever the cost, shame, humiliation, and anger directed at them by these celebrity pastors and the congregations that blindly follow them.
When I was a skater back in high school (mid / late 1980's...forgive me, I thought I was cool, I wasn't). I always heard punks talking about "taking a stand" and "taking a stand, even if you have to stand alone" and when I had to "make" a stand; all these fellow punks (cowards) would flee........there was a lot of "tough talk" by them. There was a lot of posturing about how "cool" and "alternative" (remember that word?) they were. When it came down to living a punk ethos; most were the biggest babies on the block; but could posture good in front of girls. Most would give their parents the middle finger; while taking money from them in flash-beat of their icy hearts. A world devoid of any morality, of any honor. They were real punks. Step on, destroy, degrade, spit on anyone or anything that took courage or taking a stand; yet whined and belittled others for not "understanding them"
Like I said, I was stupid and young...fortunately college and graduate school cured that mentality in me. I still skate but have not identified with anything really "punk" since my early college days. Punk died sometime in the 1980's, when heroin entered the scene. Good riddance. Punk just gives people the "excuse" to act really boorish, smoke marijuana and get away with it. You can't build a scene or a way of life on that.
I bring up my "punk" years and experiences for this posting because many of these celebrity pastors have many tendencies I saw with punks back in high school. For real. Seriously.
For all the "bold" sermons I have seen some of these celebrity pastors give on Youtube; I have yet to see one of these pastors actually help the men in their respected flocks. I see a lot of "calling out" and belittling men in the worship setting making all the women laugh (the 'big monkey' posturing in front of the women; punks were great at putting down other guys in front of women). I see a lot of "tough talk" but little action (so very punk). I see a lot of image over substance (very punk as well). I see and hear a lot of "talk" about the problems in the world, but then laying the blame on someone else...usually the men of that respected congregation for not being "man" enough (punks were great for talking about oppression and tolerance; but always....ALWAYS blamed someone else for their woes).
These same celebrity pastors seem to have a basic grasp in their taste of worship music that is to be performed in their churches. A 'contemporary' praise band. Guitars. Three chords (very codified-punk actually) and lyrics that don't even make a person think. I am sorry, singing to rock music "You are worthy, and I will worship you" repeated eleven times does not stir a heart or even bring the barest of conviction. In punk rock, lyrics are basic and have no deeper connection except for the fashion show on stage. Who "looks" hot in the band. The lights, the smoke machines...all butter and no potato.
These celebrity pastors will have it no other way. Anything that takes attention off them cannot be allowed. The music has to be basic so their message will be remembered. Old hymns of the F. Crosby tradition, Wesley tradition are scrapped because they are "old and stupid, and don't speak to people today" (another very punk mentality...anything old is dumb 'cause it's not 'right now'). Hymns that might stir conviction, or move and warm the heart cannot be allowed. Besides, young people don't want to hear all that old garbage..........these churches are "reaching out" to a younger generation that isn't all stodgy, old and conservative (another very punk thing to say)
Celebrity pastors like....no, scratch that.....they LOVE to talk about sex (punks love talking about sex too). They seem to be "experts" on the topic and subject (all the punks I knew were "experts" on sex too). We have a lot of talk about sex, but zero instruction on how to handle a sex drive. We have a ton of "bold" statements to men in these churches about their deranged behavior (see Pastor Mark Driscoll's "How Dare You" rant / screamfest on Youtube); yet forgetting the men who have lived a pure life and instead calling them "p*ssies"
So very punk......put someone else down; while building yourself up. So punk. So fake. So full of themselves it's no wonder they all don't just explode from all their smug self-righteousness...........
The men that are shaking their heads in contempt for Christian men like me who are not "bold" (lol) like them; sadly are really the most pathetic of men. The joke is on them; and they don't even realize it. Even if they do come to some realization about their own actions....they would never admit it. Too much money is at stake now.
Who are these men you ask? Men who heap contempt on fellow Christian brothers? Men who belittle, shame, and deflate while expecting them to somehow become a man? Men who are showboating for press coverage, a book deal(s) and fame? Men who are about themselves, and not the Savior of us all. Men who get thunderous applause when they take the podium and Jesus then gets a nod in the "scripture" passage?
The celebrity pastor folks. He's real, he's out there, and he's a big reason why men "out there" in the world don't come to church. It's another reason why men who are in church NOW are "boldly" building a wall to guard their own hearts for Christ alone; whatever the cost, shame, humiliation, and anger directed at them by these celebrity pastors and the congregations that blindly follow them.
When I was a skater back in high school (mid / late 1980's...forgive me, I thought I was cool, I wasn't). I always heard punks talking about "taking a stand" and "taking a stand, even if you have to stand alone" and when I had to "make" a stand; all these fellow punks (cowards) would flee........there was a lot of "tough talk" by them. There was a lot of posturing about how "cool" and "alternative" (remember that word?) they were. When it came down to living a punk ethos; most were the biggest babies on the block; but could posture good in front of girls. Most would give their parents the middle finger; while taking money from them in flash-beat of their icy hearts. A world devoid of any morality, of any honor. They were real punks. Step on, destroy, degrade, spit on anyone or anything that took courage or taking a stand; yet whined and belittled others for not "understanding them"
Like I said, I was stupid and young...fortunately college and graduate school cured that mentality in me. I still skate but have not identified with anything really "punk" since my early college days. Punk died sometime in the 1980's, when heroin entered the scene. Good riddance. Punk just gives people the "excuse" to act really boorish, smoke marijuana and get away with it. You can't build a scene or a way of life on that.
I bring up my "punk" years and experiences for this posting because many of these celebrity pastors have many tendencies I saw with punks back in high school. For real. Seriously.
For all the "bold" sermons I have seen some of these celebrity pastors give on Youtube; I have yet to see one of these pastors actually help the men in their respected flocks. I see a lot of "calling out" and belittling men in the worship setting making all the women laugh (the 'big monkey' posturing in front of the women; punks were great at putting down other guys in front of women). I see a lot of "tough talk" but little action (so very punk). I see a lot of image over substance (very punk as well). I see and hear a lot of "talk" about the problems in the world, but then laying the blame on someone else...usually the men of that respected congregation for not being "man" enough (punks were great for talking about oppression and tolerance; but always....ALWAYS blamed someone else for their woes).
These same celebrity pastors seem to have a basic grasp in their taste of worship music that is to be performed in their churches. A 'contemporary' praise band. Guitars. Three chords (very codified-punk actually) and lyrics that don't even make a person think. I am sorry, singing to rock music "You are worthy, and I will worship you" repeated eleven times does not stir a heart or even bring the barest of conviction. In punk rock, lyrics are basic and have no deeper connection except for the fashion show on stage. Who "looks" hot in the band. The lights, the smoke machines...all butter and no potato.
These celebrity pastors will have it no other way. Anything that takes attention off them cannot be allowed. The music has to be basic so their message will be remembered. Old hymns of the F. Crosby tradition, Wesley tradition are scrapped because they are "old and stupid, and don't speak to people today" (another very punk mentality...anything old is dumb 'cause it's not 'right now'). Hymns that might stir conviction, or move and warm the heart cannot be allowed. Besides, young people don't want to hear all that old garbage..........these churches are "reaching out" to a younger generation that isn't all stodgy, old and conservative (another very punk thing to say)
Celebrity pastors like....no, scratch that.....they LOVE to talk about sex (punks love talking about sex too). They seem to be "experts" on the topic and subject (all the punks I knew were "experts" on sex too). We have a lot of talk about sex, but zero instruction on how to handle a sex drive. We have a ton of "bold" statements to men in these churches about their deranged behavior (see Pastor Mark Driscoll's "How Dare You" rant / screamfest on Youtube); yet forgetting the men who have lived a pure life and instead calling them "p*ssies"
So very punk......put someone else down; while building yourself up. So punk. So fake. So full of themselves it's no wonder they all don't just explode from all their smug self-righteousness...........