When Labels Get In The Way

 

The Path Towards Brain-Dead Christianity

Often times, I like to tackle issues that are affecting the modern state of Christianity. There is often an opportunity to shed new light or offer a different perspective. other times, I have to beat a dead horse. A few times actually. OK, I might have to beat that dead horse multiple times before driving that point home. I feel sorry for that horse. This is often we often fall into bad habits. Often those engaging in the bad habits have been so conditioned into it that they do it without realizing it. 

As such, a brand of Christianity formed that is defined by image rather than spirituality. This brand is often defined by empty catch phrases, empty memes on Facebook, and outward appearances. Sure, these action might be occurring inadvertently or subconsciously without the person in question realizing it. Inadvertently or not, that dead horse gets beaten some more.

Within Christianity, dead horse beatings (OK, I’ll stop now) occurs when many followers become very complacent with there beliefs. When I mean complacent, I mean very, very, complacent. Self-righteousness take over. Spirituality exits the back door while a person’s Christian walk becomes consumed by appearance and image, and not by faith.

Catch Phrases

As noted in previous sermons and articles, I’m not a fan of catch phrases. Since I’ve already mentioned this before in greater detail, I’m not going to focus too much on this topic. I will link to the expanded version in the bottom of this article. To get a nutshell explanation of why they are a bad thing, they tend to hinder the Christian walk as such phrases are used as an substitute for scripture. Catch phases tend to takes deep spiritual ideas and trivialize them for mass consumption, as if it was made for a bumper sticker. They tend to be very empty and cheap, and there’s really nothing of weight or merit.

By golly though, many Christians will live and die by catch phrases. Many will abuse to there wits-end with no restraint. The ears of those poor souls within earshot of such words fill up with blood as they are subjected to the most abused phrases within Christianity.

As annoying as this issue is, there is a more serious angle to it. When many Christians become complacent in there belief, scripture often takes a back seat towards catch phrases. The whole movement becomes defined not by the teachings of Jesus, but by brain-dead slogans that are forgotten right after they’re uttered. They even tend to be destructive to a person’s spiritual walk as those who are new to Christianity get nothing of substance from those who live by such slogans. The new Christian will feel insulted as they see their use as very lazy, un-creative, and immature. Indeed it is. Christian catch-phrases are precious symbols for lazy Christians who have nothing important to say.

Social Media

Often times, this complacency spills over into the realm of social media as well. This topic has been lightly touched on in previous sermons. However, I’m going to greatly expand on this topic. Facebook has become an toxic wasteland for those who embrace Christianity that’s defined by empty labels. Facebook is essentially the 21st-century equivalent of Solitaire.

Many Christians who view spirituality as if its a game will instantly flock to the platform to see how many religious memes that they can share, as if spirituality is some empty contest. They’ve embarked on that quest to share the gospel on Facebook. However, very big problems develop.

Being that recreational time-killer that it is, the idea of Christians proclaiming that they are embarking to spread the gospel through Facebook sounds dubious at best. When one creates a Facebook profile, the user will typically friend people that they already know. 

As such, there is that security risk and a chance that your profile can get hijacked or compromised by one of these dummy accounts. As such, most of those on the friends list are people who you already know, and vice-versa. The vast majority of your friends are already (generally) aware of your beliefs, and vice-versa. When one joins groups, they are typically going to be with groups of like-minded people with shared interest. Facebook has become the ultimate time-killer. As such, the idea of reaching out to the unknown is used as an excuse for many to post brain-dead religious memes and pass their actions off as quote “spiritual outreach”.

Gospel spreading isn’t as simple and trivial as posting an image of Jesus with the words “I Love Jesus. Type Amen If You Agree”. That is not spreading the gospel, just showing personal preference. Also, God’s words and Jesus’s teachings can spread on its own merit, even in the realm of social media. As a result, any meme is automatically invalidated when one inserts the two most horrible abused phrases in the English language : “Share If You Agree” and “Type AMEN If You Agree”. The former is a motto of that unwanted attention seeker and the latter turns spirituality into a empty gimmick and spectacle. Yet, many been conditioned into thinking that sharing lazy, trivial post is the same as spreading the gospel.

Now spiritual outreach could theoretically be possible within the social media realm. The platform is useful for quote “shouting” information. A church can send a notice out for a activity that everybody in the community is invited to. In fact, it’s a useful tool for those who want the community about a particular activity or spiritual outreach program.

Christians pursuing spiritual have far more important things to do than post empty drivel on social media and passing it off as spirituality. One’s spiritual walk becomes tainted when sharing these memes. Often they can do far more harm to a person’s character. The memes that I’m referencing is the one with an image of an angel and devil with the words “Type Amen If You Love God, And Keep Scrolling If You Like The Devil”. I love God, but I don’t have to prove my spirituality to anyone, especially some self-righteous chump on Facebook. Your spirituality is not going to be determined by some random religious meme that’s been posted on Facebook. The poster is engaging in spiritual exploitation to guilt people into liking the meme. Jesus never had to guilt people in his ministry.

A lot of these memes take the Lord’s name in vain. Not in the traditional sense which is common associated with taking the Lord’s name in vain. With a lot of these memes, the poster is implying that God directed the creator to make the meme in question. Since I can make the very safe assumption that God have far more important things to do with his time than to direct a random content creator with creating trivial memes, stating that God directed you in making the meme when he (probably) didn’t is taking his name in vain.

Since the platform is so informal, I seriously doubt that anyone ever experienced Salvation or spiritual enlightenment through some random meme. Despite this, it is possible to spread God’s word online in an untainted state. However, what I find disturbing is that many have abused scripture in the realm of social media. Often times, creators just won’t leave the verses alone. They will add there own social and political commentary to it and pass it off as quote “God’s Word”.


Image

The status of Christianity on Facebook is only a symptom of a much larger issue. One runs across a brand of Christianity not defined by spirituality, but by image. There actions are defined by there perceived actions. These Christians will ask the following questions.

  • I tithe, so does that make me a Christian?
  • I have one of those WWJD wrist straps, so does that make me a Christian.
  • I post Christian memes on Facebook, so does that make me a Christian?
  • I watch TBN, so does that make me a Christian?
  • I gave money to a Televangelist, so does that make me a Christian?
  • I wear one of those “Team Jesus” T-Shirt. Does that make me a Christian?
  • I vote in the stereotypical, expected manner , so that makes me a Christian?(I’m saving this one for a future article)

Ignorance is a very destructive attribute. The pious person who lives by image in there spiritual ivory tower needs to be brought back down to humanity. Simply tithing doesn’t make one a Christian. That money already belong to him anyway, so your not giving him back anything that didn’t belong to him.

Simply donning one of those WWJD wrist strap doesn’t make one a Christian either. Any idiot can wear one of those bands. The same applies to that anyone who thinks that Christianity can be defined as simply as wearing one of those “Team Jesus” t-shirts. Ask all the jokers wearing those Che Gueuva t-shirts and yet known nothing about what he stood for. You can find an equal number of people who have no idea of who Jesus is (or have only a simple face-value observation), and yet wear such shirts as if they know him like the back of there hands.

As stated before, sharing random religious memes on Facebook isn’t the same as sharing the gospel. Anyone who is a regular on my blog knows how I feel about Televangelist (it's not positive). As such, anyone who thinks that they can buy that piece of heavenly re-estate by throwing their money at some joker who is much more likely to use that green to finance his own private jet rather than starting a soup kitchen or free clinic does not make one a Christian.

The only thing secular TV is concerned with is making money. Other than that, the media outlets could care less about what you believe as long as your throwing money at them. However, TBN can actually be much more destructive than anything on secular TV. Those in the studios just don't want your money.  They want control and be the thought police. One has to be very careful about what they watch on TBN as the highest bidders will exploit and manipulating their viewers. They will dictate what music to listen too, what movies to watch and not watch, and who to vote and not vote for. They will spread lies and deceit to scare people in line. Their are not doing these things in the name of spirituality, but for there own interest. For the Televangelist, it's about social control, not spirituality. These exploitative Christians basically have a monopoly on Christian thought in this country. The biggest threat to Christianity isn't secularism or Radical Islam, but other Christians. The Christians who seek power, privilege, and control, and not spirituality.

Conclusion

The first thing one should do is do they know Jesus. Do they know why he died on the cross. What was his role for humanity. Luckily, those answers are the easiest. He died on the cross because he wanted to save us. He wanted to save us from sin and wanted what is the best for us. He died because he wants that relationship with us. Jesus started a spiritual ministry so he could spread Salvation and reach out to the poor and suffering. His Salvation is for everybody, regardless of there gender, race, or ethnicity. He died on the cross and rose again after 3 days. He did all of these things because he’s God’s son. One doesn’t have to wear a wristband to be reminded of that. One doesn’t have to resort to pointless, silly gimmicks to remind themselves of that either.

Four Reasons Why You Should Never Share That Post That Says "Share This If You Love Jesus"
https://journeymadison.com/four-reasons-why-you-should-never-share-that-post-that-says-share-this-if-you-love-jesus/?fbclid=IwAR0pMoGwn0DtfIl19xReWsLvzz5s1k7rU48F81aHJSXGPmZwFjq0cQK6c7Q

5 Reasons “Share If You Agree” Posts Drive Me Crazy :https://heatherannemaclean.wordpress.com/2013/10/16/228/?fbclid=IwAR0Th2l1fiieO7k2TBDtuOfGugPaqAQJK10-PnI-mb87j1kbRKaiX1xMf3M

Wikipedia - Pat Robertson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Robertson

Wikipedia - John Hagee https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hagee

Wikipedia - Jerry Falwell Sr. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Falwell_Sr. 

Wikipedia - TBN (Controversies) : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_Broadcasting_Network#Controversies

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