Christian Separatism

[Harpuia]

Boy has this been getting on my nerves lately...

I'm talking about Christians who want to "separate" themselves from the mainstream media.

You see it everywhere. Christian bookstores. Christian music. Christian TV Networks. Christian movies. Christian wrestling federations...

My question is why don't they actually TRY influencing the mainstream instead of going their own separate route. I've seen many Christian bands hit the MAINSTREAM top 40 charts. Mary Mary's Shackles and Creed's Higher are two really good examples. I remember a time on Vegas' most popular radio station (98.5 KLUC) that "Shackles" was one of the most requested songs. Even when people started complaining about it being a religious song, DJs here didn't care, they kept playing it until they stopped getting requests.

But apparently, it seems that if the God label is slapped on anything, many Christians will eat it up like a glazed donut. They'll feel "dirty" and "guilty" if it's secular but ok if you slap the God label on it, and it doesn't make sense to me. I thought the point of Christianity was to "reach out" to those non-believers. How do you do that when you make your own genre of work, making yourself look elitist?

Another example, "The Left Behind" series could've been turned into a nearly as successful movie series as Harry Potter, if they didn't keep advertising it on TBN like crazy. Remember "Passion of the Christ"? When that thing went mainstream, everybody and their brother came to see that movie. When I saw that movie, I noticed most the people who came to see were atheists. No joke.

There are many ways that the Christian world can implement themselves into mainstream. So why does the Christian world continue to make themselves look like a clique where only certain people are allowed to go, when they're really just the same thing with a few Bible verses thrown at ya?

 

[christalee4]

Interesting. I think it's because there is so much separatism within Christianity itself. Christians are as diverse as they come. The TBN Christians are different from those listen to Creed, just as the Christians who advocate moving en masse to South Carolina to form their own state are different from Christians who support environmentalism and other "liberal causes". A really strong example of this was the political divide during the elections, when many conservative churches literally came out and said that parishioners who didn't vote for Bush were not good Christians, nor welcomed back into the fold.

I wonder how those who persist in labelling their affiliation, interest, or business as "Christian" feel about other Christians who don't make a point of wearing their nametag, but who walk the walk, not just talk the talk. I sometimes wonder if the former considers the latter not be "real" Christians.

 

[TheMainException]

I think you are totally right. Church, and such should be where the "christian only" idea comes into play. Sure, there should be atheists in church too...but I don't see many there, cause that's not the place to hang out for nonchristians...it's a place of discipleship...and we are to in the world.......not of it....but certainly in it.

 

[Yusuf Evans]

I think you are totally right. Church, and such should be where the "christian only" idea comes into play. Sure, there should be atheists in church too...but I don't see many there, cause that's not the place to hang out for nonchristians...it's a place of discipleship...and we are to in the world.......not of it....but certainly in it.

I disagree. The church is the "emergency room" for sinners(to quote a line from my evangelism course.) All should be welcome within the church. However, I do see a line between secular and Christian labels. I'm a big fan of POD and Switchfoot, both of which are Chrisitan bands. Creed, I'm not so sure I'd call them Christian. It's just another marketing ploy IMHO.

 

[applepowerpc]

If we compare the track record of the Christian separatists who landed in colonial America vs. the Puritans at Massachusetts Bay colony, I like the separatists much better.

 

[Blackguard_]

If we compare the track record of the Christian separatists who landed in colonial America vs. the Puritans at Massachusetts Bay colony, I like the separatists much better.

But the Puritans at Massachusetts Bay were Christian seperatists who landed in America.

 

[Arnold_Philips]

$

You see a fad and then you wait a couple months for the Jesus knock-off. I wouldn't really call it separatism, though that does play a part. It's just like marketing to the gay demographic. If you market to the Christians, they will respond and reward you.

 

[Silent Enigma]

Boy has this been getting on my nerves lately...

You've been kind of grumpy lately haven't you.

 

[Harpuia]

You've been kind of grumpy lately haven't you.

Lack of girlfriend. *grunts*

 

[christalee4]

All should be welcome within the church.

Yes, the emphasis on "should be". But they are not. I can attest to this personally.

It's more honest and refreshing to hear the reality of the fact that many Christians are shunned by those who are more "religiously-correct". Guilt by association certainly doesn't ascribe to the creed that we are all supposed to be welcomed under the single body of Christendom.

 

[Trogdor the Burninator]

Boy has this been getting on my nerves lately... I'm talking about Christians who want to "separate" themselves from the mainstream media.

You see it everywhere. Christian bookstores. Christian music. Christian TV Networks. Christian movies. Christian wrestling federations...

Probably for the same reason there are Chinese bookstores, Chinese movie stores etc – the Christian item doesn’t sell in large enough quantities for a regular bookstore to stock it, so it’s better to open a Christian bookstore and concentrate resources into one place.

My question is why don't they actually TRY influencing the mainstream instead of going their own separate route.

I think they do, but it’s a catch 22. People call them elitist when they try and target a Christian market, then call them sell-outs or complain about them pushing religion on others when they try to go mainstream.

But apparently, it seems that if the God label is slapped on anything, many Christians will eat it up like a glazed donut.

Sad but true for some people. Personally, the only “Christian” specific stuff I own is some CDs by artists too old for the youth on this forum, a heap of Bible Study guides and concordances, and a couple of Christian fiction novels.

Another example, "The Left Behind" series could've been turned into a nearly as successful movie series as Harry Potter, if they didn't keep advertising it on TBN like crazy. Remember "Passion of the Christ"? When that thing went mainstream, everybody and their brother came to see that movie. When I saw that movie, I noticed most the people who came to see were atheists. No joke.

Perhaps, but I’m guessing they couldn’t attract the big budgets required to get it released into mainstream cinemas, whereas Passion had some big names behind it.

There are many ways that the Christian world can implement themselves into mainstream. So why does the Christian world continue to make themselves look like a clique where only certain people are allowed to go, when they're really just the same thing with a few Bible verses thrown at ya?

I think many people are trying to reach out, but to answer that question fully would take many more pages. Just remember not to lump everyone of us in with the foolish few.

 

[Yusuf Evans]

Perhaps, but I’m guessing they couldn’t attract the big budgets required to get it released into mainstream cinemas, whereas Passion had some big names behind it.

Actually, no real production company wanted to touch the project because of the religious nature of the movie. What did Mel do? Forked out 10 mill of his own money to make the movie via his production company. The result: Almost a half billion worldwide in sales and revenue of the film and still counting. Plus, scores of people became Christians or grew a conscious because of that movie. How's that for success.

 

[Harpuia]

Another good example I forgot to add:

SkyAngel. That cable station gets on my nerves. If none of you have seen them, google it up. 28 Channels, only 1 news channel (Fox News, no doubt), something called SafeTV, more Christian channels than you know what to do with, and so on. And it's like, for $20 a month! Again, it just shows the separatism.

And Christians ask why the world rejects them. It's not easy for mainstream TV to welcome you with open arms if you don't force yourself in politely.

 

[MethodMan]

Another good example I forgot to add:

SkyAngel. That cable station gets on my nerves. If none of you have seen them, google it up. 28 Channels, only 1 news channel (Fox News, no doubt), something called SafeTV, more Christian channels than you know what to do with, and so on. And it's like, for $20 a month! Again, it just shows the separatism.

And Christians ask why the world rejects them. It's not easy for mainstream TV to welcome you with open arms if you don't force yourself in politely.

Ratings in a fallen country would expalin why Christian themed TV is rejected by the country as a whole. It has nothing to do with tolerance on the Christian's part.

Why do Christians want their own tv? We are sick of the crap that major nitworks are doling out that just happens to bring in enough ratining that advertizing revenue trickles. Look at the genre of reality tv. How real is that reality?

 

[Autumnleaf]

Ratings in a fallen country would expalin why Christian themed TV is rejected by the country as a whole. It has nothing to do with tolerance on the Christian's part.

Why do Christians want their own tv? We are sick of the crap that major nitworks are doling out that just happens to bring in enough ratining that advertizing revenue trickles. Look at the genre of reality tv. How real is that reality?

Exactly! The popular media overwhelmingly portrays all manner of sin as socially benign which it isn't, both pragmatically and from a Christian perspective. So what we have is that tiny niche market which Mel Gibson made a king's ransom off of with his last movie.

 

[reverend B]

we are to be salt and light to the world, not to each other. the only way to do that is to interact with the world, not recede from it. we have been warned that we will be laughed at, shunned, rejected and persecuted. if we are, then we must be doing something right! LOL! there is no question that the networks are panderers (not pandas) and they make their living by appealing to the lowest common denominators of man. because of that, they help us to define the mission field. all the talk at the water cooler about the bachelor and the sad women who pursue this unknown commodity for.....what? those who find this the choice topic of conversation may need to know you. almost every reality show is based on greed, and it is the hottest phenomenon in tv. what if a Christian won "survivor" and donated all the money to Habitat for Humanity or some other appropriate Christian charity? what kind of conversations would sprout up around the water cooler then? more importantly, who would be having the discussion? not just Christians, watching on their own special network, but everyone! separatism is a way of running from the Great Commission and is a form of selfishness. to me, doing our best to be Christ-like in the midst of the public arena, as the apostles did, is the highest form of living the Great Commission. it is evangelism by example, and it is the most powerful witness i know. separatism is a form of elitism, which if we make even a casual reading of the Sermon on the Mount, we discover is not the intent of Christ's ministry.

 

[arnegrim]

Funny...

Why is this same complaint not made about 'black' seperatism?

Oh... that's right... they're respecting and supporting their heritage...

 

[reverend B]

first, your premise is inaccurate as that "complaint" is frequently made about black separatism, both by people of the race and people outside it. those african-americans who suggest they be given their own state or that the u.s. pay to re-patriate them to their african homeland receive precious little support, don't you agree?
secondly, the mandate for Christians to be in, yet not of, the world is from scripture. it is part of our marching orders. the black community is free to make their own marching orders.
why would you want to make this a racial conversation rather than a substantive dialogue about the op? what is your agenda for this thread, or in general? your comment has no relevance to this topic.

 

[MJ421]

I think we have a case of Christian seperatism at this site.

 

[arnegrim]

first, your premise is inaccurate as that "complaint" is frequently made about black separatism, both by people of the race and people outside it. those african-americans who suggest they be given their own state or that the u.s. pay to re-patriate them to their african homeland receive precious little support, don't you agree?
secondly, the mandate for Christians to be in, yet not of, the world is from scripture. it is part of our marching orders. the black community is free to make their own marching orders.
why would you want to make this a racial conversation rather than a substantive dialogue about the op? what is your agenda for this thread, or in general? your comment has no relevance to this topic.

There are no more 'complaints' over blacks wanting to be 'seperate' then there are of 'Christians'...

The point of my post? I find it ironic that there are groups out there who look to be 'seperate' and garner little public outcry... yet Christians who do (and many aspects of society are demanding they do) are somehow worse.