Social Commentary In The Church Setting

February 12, 2023

The reason why many have left church is because those who came to church to hear about God have instead been slammed with either politics or social commentary nonstop. Many have left because they became quick and tired of being crapped on because they didn't identify or conform to the political commentary espoused by those on the pulpit. For many preachers the world over, the pulpit became a tool to present their personal views on social and political commentary as quote "Biblical Teaching".

Our spirituality is determined by our relationship with Jesus. One's stance on issues like Global Warming or Evolution is not going to determine your spirituality at all. Yet when such issues are referenced, even in passing, then they become arbitrary attributes to determine one's spirituality. Even on a topic like abortion, if one feels that it's wrong, but is also a private personal matter, they are all-of-a-sudden going to Hell. While I feel that abortion should be referenced, it has to be done in a way that is respectful to women, and not driven by overcharged emotions. Yet, when it comes to topics like Global Warming or Evolution, because they don't determine one's spirituality, there is absolutely no reason why they need to be brought up within the church setting. So why bring it up? The only reason one would do this is to establish one's own opinion. Yet, if that is the case though, the church setting is not the place to do it.

Clickbait Run Wild

Far too often, commentary comes from click-bait mills that are in the business of producing divisive, emotionally overcharged content for the sake of clicks to generate ad revenue. It's in their best interest to be as outlandish as possible. Unfortunately, for those who consume social media like a drug while believing any website that has the word "Christian" in it, this has very dire consequences. Conspiracy theories and clickbait become the gospel truth. Imaginary demons and cartoon villains become very real. Sensationalist claims about Disney Tunnels, Davos, and the UN become infallible beliefs. What is the metric to determine if such claims hold true among those who embrace them? Simply because one thinks it true and nothing else, evidence be damned. Never mind whatever claims that are passed off as the gospel truth were often politically motivated. The only metric one needs to embrace whatever claim presented as the gospel truth is that it simply conforms to one's perceived worldview, bias, or prejudice.

The thing though is that I'm not even against the use of social commentary into a sermon or church setting. In fact, I’ve done it myself as well. However, one has to be very careful when incorporating social commentary within the church setting. Whatever commentary that is incorporated into the church setting has to be well researched as not to inadvertently deceive those in the congregation. That commentary has to serve a very specific role and be relevant to the sermon or lesson. The pulpit isn't a tool for one just to push their personal commentary on social and political views as "Biblical Teaching". Spiritual malpractice ensures when that occurs. When doing research, one had to do real research to see if whatever claims made are factual and relevant to the sermon or lesson. When I mean real research, I'm not talking about just grabbing the first random piece of clickbait found on FB or talk radio (which itself regurgitates the false claims presented on social media) and presenting it as the gospel truth. This also means not blindly believing a random source just because they had the words "Christian", "Freedom", or "Liberty" in their title. While there are sources that have those words in their title, it's irresponsible to just blindly believe that source blindly just because they use some magic words that one visiting the site finds appealing.

Those operating the sites will make the wildest of claims and know that their audience won't question a single word or bat an eye to the claims that they make. Those operating the sites exploit the fears and anxieties of many for the sake of profit while feeding sensationalist claims and conspiracy theories in the process. Imaginary demons and cartoon villains are conjured up into real-world threats among those who consume this tripe as gospel truth, thus feeding into the outrage and paranoia. Satan takes form in the attributes of ignorance, arrogance, and apathy, We all become our own worst enemy when we become slaves to those attributes. Those attributes create a state-of-mind where we become blind to our own emotional outburst.

As such, even if one chooses to believe that media conspiracies are anything of that nature, when such personal opinions are presented as quote "Biblical Teaching", then the congregation becomes misinformed and misled. Their fears and anxieties about whatever opinions or views that they have become exploited for the sake of spectacle. Even though I don't think that this is intentional for the vast majority that presents God's word, this is still a very real-world consequence.

Accountability

Thus for those who come to hear about God and Jesus, but instead hear about the latest boogeyman or moral panic of the week, spiritual emptiness reins supreme. Those in the congregation aren’t getting anything out of the sermon. As mentioned, while social commentary (when well researched and relevant to the spiritual topic) can work wonders, they should only be used to reinforce the sermon, not be the main attraction. Also, the feelings of alienation and rejection are very much real. Yet, those who want their feelings to be acknowledged are instead sidelined by convenient scapegoats that act as cop-outs for us to point our fingers at. Things like comic books, rock music, rap, video games, media, movies, etc.

It's very rare for me to reference Satan in a sermon. The reason for this is that through my Christian walk, I've regularly encountered people who never ever took accountability for there actions. As such, they never understood, and thus, learned from their mistakes. When many Christians constantly look for scapegoats, they're basically implying that they have no control over their actions in their lives. They are at the fate of everything that plays out in their lives. Such, they remained blameless because they always had that scapegoat to fall back on for when things went south. Therefore, accountability and responsibility for personal shortcomings are never taken when one has a scapegoat to pass the blame too.

Those in the congregation feel empty when they feel that their suffering isn't real. When we look for imaginary scapegoats to point our finger at, then we fail to see what the real issues that people go through, and thus, remain blind and ignorant of their suffering. The latest political slang and conspiracy grift words are used in place instead of addressing the real issues affecting the church, like abandoning spirituality for social and political control.

For those who embrace a religious revival because you want that spiritual relationship with Jesus, blessed be you. Having a spiritual relationship with Jesus is the most important thing that one can have. He is your personal friend who is there for you. We often fall very short, especially me. Such, the pursuit of Jesus's love and compassion makes it a journey well worth the experience.

However, if one embraces a religious revival because they seek to exercise social or political control, then they make a complete mockery of Christianity. Christianity is not a social or political movement, so for it to be used as one makes a complete farce to the teachings of Jesus. If one feels that they embrace a revival because they have to quote "take back the country", especially when such feelings are motivated by conspiracy theories and sensationalist click-bait, that religious revival WILL fail. Those that pursue a rival based on false ideas of control have horrible misplaced priorities based on personal ambitions that are a contribution to the teachings of Jesus. These people never had the spiritual well-being of people in mind. These are the true serpents that are out to destroy Christianity, not the imaginary demons or cartoon villains as portrayed by those who embrace the click-bait and conspiracy theories. We become our own worst enemy.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, it’s easier to seek out imaginary demons to blame than to admit failures or shortcomings. It takes a real Christian though to admit failure in their spiritual walk. I think that many preachers have started to gather that they might have made a massive mistake in their spiritual approach. They lost sight of the mission. They realized that when they pursued their misguided ambitions, they became their own worst enemy. They lost focus of what’s really important in the ministry. Ministers who use the pulpit as a vehicle to drive their views on social and political commentary lose focus on the ministry. They are not preaching about God or Jesus.

I understand that spiritual outreach is important. Teaching God's word in a sermon is vital for one's spiritual health. In fact, I'm not even against the use of social commentary in a sermon. However, social commentary should be there to reinforce the sermon, not be the main attraction. Also, when one incorporates social commentary, one has to do (valid) research because the one presenting it has a responsibility to be truthful to their congregation. The one presenting God's word has both a moral as well as an ethical responsibility to whatever is said in that sermon. Without ethics, morals and virtues are just empty banter.

While there is an essential need for God's word to be preached to those in need, when such a foundation is reinforced with sensationalist claims (at best) or conspiracy banter, then the congregation is building their faith and spiritual relationship on false ideas. Lastly, something doesn't automatically become true just because one "thinks" that it is.

Unbelievable (Patheos)

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/slacktivist/2019/03/19/unbelievable/

3 Reasons Evangelical Christians Fall for Conspiracy Theories (Patheos)

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/jaysondbradley/2020/05/3-reasons-evangelical-christians-fall-for-conspiracy-theories/

Disney utilidor system (Wikipedia)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney_utilidor_system

Conspiracy theories about Disney abound after Florida law controversy (PolitiFact)

https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2022/apr/28/viral-image/conspiracies-about-disney-abound-after-florida-law/

As elites arrive in Davos, conspiracy theories thrive online (AP News)

https://apnews.com/article/technology-pennsylvania-world-economic-forum-business-0193732c04074e595852c160d7ca1c86

Did Muslim Terrorists Bomb a Church in the Philippines “Yesterday,” Killing 30 Christians? (Snopes)

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/muslim-terrorists-bomb-philippines/