The Delusion of American Theology

The Delusion of American Theology

Working at a local TV station, I have the opportunity to listen to a lot of sermons and Christian radio shows daily. Its a perk that comes with an office job I guess. Listening to all these preachers like Todd Friel and Ergun Caner I am saddened and deeply distraught by the American Theology of Gods Love.

Yes, God is Love, God invented love, he knows what Love is better then anyone we can comprehend. But is this the only message of the American Church? Did Jesus step down from his heavenly manifestation of holiness to love everybody? When did Jesus get diluted into this peace and love liberal hippie?

Our infatuation with a Loving God has created no need for repentance; the cotton candy feel good message of God loving everybody has created a false blanket of security from the wrath of a holy righteous god.

Max Lucado said that "God is not Holy, He is not Holy Holy, God is Holy, Holy, Holy." He was referring to that amazing passage in Isaiah.

Isaiah 6:3
And they were calling to one another:
"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory."

Its the only place in the entire bible that three identical words are used to describe God. The word holy as powerful and amazing as it is, saying God is just Holy is an offense, He is three times that, and I am sure saying it three times isnt even enough.

So what does all of this talk about holiness have to do with Gods love? Its quite simple, with out God, being 3xHoly, his love means nothing. Its worthless.

So what is Holy? The common dictionary gives several meanings of holy. Sacred, righteous, pure…all things are true, God is perfect, he is so perfect that blemishes dont just bother him, they offend him… He must eliminate them from his presence…Maybe this is what the other definition of holy is referring to…

Holy - inspiring fear, awe, or grave distress.

Why is it that God always said "Fear Not" whenever he came into someones presence? Is it that at the first sight of his hint of holiness we are struck down with fear as we realize how holy He really is, and how worthless we really are?

Here comes the part where I rip Joel Osteen to pieces, of gooey cotton candy.

Yes, Joel Osteen does preach Jesus death, burial and resurrection, but here is where I differ, and why I so greatly despise his ministry. What is the point of Jesus death and resurrection without mentioning Gods holiness and your sin?

Joel Osteen and several other preachers in America dilute the gospel, with their feel good gospel of salvation that is, salvation from struggle, bills and waking up on the wrong side of the bed. With Joel Osteen Jesus died to save you from a debt free life full of financial burden and bad days?

Tell Paul that Jesus can make his life better…

Ask Moses if God made his dessert walking comfortable and convenient…

Ask Stephen if Jesus would make him live a longer life…

This message of feeling good, and bills being paid creates a false sense of salvation that Jesus referred to in the parable of the seeds.

Mark 4:16-17
Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

Joel Osteen is preaching a Rocky sermon, which relies on Gods giving people a good life to fit the consumerist style of this nation. Where are the fruits of Joel Osteens ministry? A church of that magnitude should sweep a revival across America, but its not because Joel like most churches in America does not preach true salvation. His feel good message of peace and prosperity does not inspire others to place them self in harms way for the cause of Christ, instead it encourages them to sit back relax, and wait for Jesus to come back.

America has got to stop preaching a feel good gospel, and get back to the real nitty gritty of why Jesus came down here. He came here to save you, because your sin is an offense to a Holy, Holy, Holy God, and without Christs blood on the cross, you are going to suffer eternal damnation…

America has the biggest churches and the largest percent of "Christians" then any other country in the world, yet sadly America has the least amount of people saved.

Where are the Christians in America that are like Missionaries of old praying that God would send them within a stones throw from hell, Where are the Christians that beg for God to send them to the worst of the Worst… Why are all of the great feats of God happening in other countries but in America, we just pray for our bills to get paid.

I actually paused and laughed as I typed that, come on Nation, Dear God, pay my Bills or Dear God, send me to the closest thing to hell on earth? Please God, I really want that new iPod, or God please get me a new Car… No wonder some theologians believe God has turned his back to America.

Now don't get me wrong I am not saying go into a third world country, in fact I am saying the opposite, we need to be here, we need to be a loud voice here in America. Imagine with the technology and resources available today how huge a revival in America could be, it wouldn't just stay in America, it can spread across continents.

But a revival is never going to come with a heartwarming message about peace and prosperity, in fact if you look at the messages that started the greatest revivals, they were not focused not on God's love, but on his Grace. Not on prosperity, but persecution.

To say that Christ died for you so you can live a healthy happy life, is an insult to his inequities and a blasphemy to his pain. Christ suffered to save us from Hell because God cannot stand our lying, cheating, thieving, swearing, and terribly sinful nature …

Yes people are going to be offended by that message, yes people are going to be turned off, yes people will despise you, but isn't that exactly what the bible say's? If everyone loves everything you say, then you are not preaching about the God of the bible, you are making your own God, a false God that ignores sin, and "looks at the heart."

So I challenge you to look at your techniques for "winning" people to Jesus, what do you say first? Jesus loves you? Well if he does then I am already forgiven right, so I don't have to do anything but be a good person?

We have to convict people of their sins. We have to, Jesus did it to everybody. The Samaritan Woman at the well thanked Jesus for calling her out, yet the Pharisee's killed Him for it.

So of course you are going to be persecuted, and your co-worker won't like you as much, and people will call you that religious freak. So what? SO FREAKIN WHAT? Missionaries are beaten, raped, hung, decapitated and stoned for Jesus and were worried about an uncomfortable car-pool ride? What the heck are we thinking?

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound.

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now I am found.

Was blind but now I see.

---Marcus

www.transplantministries.com

Why I didnt watch The Nativity...

When the Focus of Christmas is temporarily taken off of Santa and presents, our attention is then transformed to this cute little nativity, of the Virgin Mary holding the precious baby Jesus, as cute little sheep and donkey’s. We constantly hear about this amazing night, and this amazing birth, all the while forgetting that with exceptions to the whole virgin birth thing, this birth was quite unextrodinary. .A baby born in the animals slums of the poorest nation in the world at the time. Contemplate that for a moment. Bethlehem was probably one of the dirtiest, poorest cities in the world, through out time. That means poorer then the poorest in modern Africa, Poorer then the poorest in the middle ages, and poorest of the poor in the future of the world. Bethlehem was not on any major map, it was probably overlooked by the roman’s, tossed aside as “The place some Jew’s live.”

So when Mary and Joseph were looking for a place to stay they most likely went down the list of stars. Five star Hotel, Denied, Four Star, Denied, Three Two and Motel Six, all denied. They ended up not staying in a hotel at all, they stayed outdoors, Mary was forced to give birth to the Creator of Life, in a feces infested shed. A hotel for the poorest animals, in the poorest country, the world has ever known. Christ wasn’t even granted a humans birth. The son of God’s first breath wasn’t even granted the smell of fresh air; instead Christ was greeted to the smell of animal urine on hay. His first bed was the feeding troth of those animals.

So you see the birth of Christ means nothing. It is small, miniscule and insignificant, why is this?

The reason Christ’s birth was stripped of any dignity is quite simple. The entrance of Christ to this earth means nothing. The true glory of Christ coming to earth is nothing in comparison with his exit. He didn’t come to earth to get gifts from wise men, he came to die.

With all the hope and cheer going on in the world on Christmas day, all the giving, good will towards men, and happiness and laughter I want to remind everyone reading this that were are all dirty rotten sinners, and some good person had to die because of us, Myself included.

Jesus Christ was whipped beaten and ripped apart, not because Jesus was a Good person, but because we weren’t.

This Christmas as we unwrap our gift’s and give to others. Don’t forget the gift that is waiting for you, the gift of God’s grace. What Christ did for you not on Christmas, but three days before the first Easter, when his skin was disfigured, and punctured like play dough and toothpicks, all because he cared enough to pay your sin, and bail us out of an eternal Hell.

So instead of sitting with the family and seeing “The Nativity” why don’t you watch The Passion of the Christ and discover what Christmas is really not about?

- Marcus

Mel Gibson Apologizes...What a Christian thing to do.

Mel Gibson and Forgiveness

It amazes me how the Media is attracted so much to Mel Gibson. This week on Good Morning America Mel Gibson gave his public apology for his drunken ramblings and anti-Jewish remarks.

For those of you who are not aware a few months ago Mel Gibson was arrested for driving under the influence of Alcohol. Apparently he relapsed into his addiction and when arrested stated several cruel things about the Jewish Race.

Thus came day’s of media out lash criticizing Mel Gibson, calling him a hypocrite, The Passion of the Christ really is Anti-Semitic. The news channels and magazines proudly stated.

I immediately wrote an article about the man I greatly admire, criticizing Barbara Walters and the rest of the media legions for so harshly attacking him. Celebrities are charged with DUI all the time. Paris Hilton, Haley Joe Osment (who was under age and Drunk) and Bam Bam Magera are just a few examples, but those didn’t make big news.

It wasn’t until The Christian messed up that it became a big deal. How dare someone who is a Christian make a mistake! The media acted like Mel Gibson was caught red handed on Datelines To Catch a Predator.

But time settled and people forgot about Mel Gibson. That is until Diane Sawyer interviewed Mel this week on Good morning America. Mel Gibson who was obviously incredibly nervous described the incident and events leading up to it. Diane Sawyer tried to pin him in the corner, stir the waters prove he was really Anti-Semitic.

But the wave of controversy that attacked Mel Gibson this time wasn’t on his anti-Semitic marks. This time the news onslaught that followed was about True Forgiveness.

And there we have it folks. A brilliant God uses a fallen follower of Christ to evoke questions of forgiveness.

What is Forgiveness, how is someone truly sorry. How do we know?

They asked Maya Angelou, theologians and educated Doctors and Professors. How do we know if someone is truly sorry?

They all concluded with the same answers. It was as if they were quoting from the bible itself

Admit you were wrong.

Really Feel Remorse

Change. Or as Jesus puts it, Go and Sin no More.

There it is the Gospel brilliantly played out again through the eyes of Mel Gibson. The first time he showed us Christ though his Faith. The second time Mel showed us Christ through his Failures. Both times the Anti-Christian media played a huge role. There criticisms fuel God’s will.

Mel Gibson, if you read this I want you to know that I am a true admirer of you. You are such a great example of a biblical Old Testament figure. A loser in society that does great things through Faith and Failure. Like David the Adulterer, and Moses the murderer, You are a role model not because of your sins. But because of how God used them for his glory.

Keep up all the great work. Keep strong in Christ. You are forgiven, but you know that already don’t you.

Marcus

www.transplantministries.com

www.hollywoodjesus.com

Why are you NOT watching Studio 60.

This is a Call to Action...

Today I was skimming by MSNBC (I swear I never really watch that channel) when I noticed it was talking about the hottest TV shows this season. Some of my shows were on there, Lost, Heroes, The Office ....But one show was not. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.

In fact it was mentioned as a "Second Chance" show. Please give it a second chance. It really is a good show. The guest was pleading. Watch Studio 60. Because apparently No one is...

I have to disagree Studio 60 isint a good show it's an amazing show. But besides the amazing cast, incredible plot and of course Arron Sorkin. I need to mention one thing.

This show gives the best (fictional) representation of a Christian ever showed on Network TV. Her name is Harriet Hayes played by Sarah Paulson , she plays the ex-girlfriend of Matt Albie (Matthew Perry).

This show having a Christian as one of the main Character could have been an insult to all of Christianity. She could have represented every major true and false stereotype about the christian faith known to man. But NBC didn't write her that way. No instead Harriet Hayes is a phenomenal christian who stands boldly for her faith in a totally secular environment.

She broke up with Matt Allbie because Matt couldn't stand the fact she went on the 700 Club. (A Show which I adore). She is ridiculed, slandered, and mocked all because of her faith. Yet she remains strong in it. Working hard. She even makes Jokes of her own Faith. She is the best actress on the show (The Character not Sarah Paulson) . And she credits that to her faith. If NBC tried to make her a Joke of Christianity they did a terrible job, because she comes off so perfectly at being not perfect.

Christians are the FIRST, to criticize a show for slandering Christians but were the last to Praise a show for positively portraying Christians. And this is what Studio 60 does so incredibly well...

So this is a Call to all readers of Hollywood Jesus. This is a Call to the Church, The Christian Coalition and all other Christian people and friends you can possibly thank of. Let's stand behind this show. Let's give it our support. Buy any episodes you missed on iTunes. It really is an exceptional show, and it would be a shame to see A great leading Christian Character like Harriet Hayes be reduced to nothing more then a DVD sale of a 2 Disc "Complete Series" Collection.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip comes on Monday's at 10pm after Heroes on NBC.

- Marcus Pittman
www.transplantministries.com

Placing the Must See back in NBC.

Placing The Must See Back in NBC.

Conan Joked about the Glory day’s of NBC on the Emmy’s. Days when Seinfeld, Frasier and Friends were keeping NBC profitable. But ever since TiVo replaced sitcoms with week to week Drams, NBC has fallen short.

Fox has 24 and The OC, ABC has Lost and Desperate Housewives, CBS has several versions of CSI. But as far as good dramas on NBC, well, I never watched any of the several Law and Orders, and never did get into The West Wing. I guess a lot of other people didn’t watch either judging on them being ranked lowest of the top 5 stations, last year.

So NBC decided this year, they are changing the game. First of all there are tons of shows coming out on other networks, but do we really know what they are? It may just be me but NBC has really pushed the marketing campaign this year to build hype for there almost entirely new season.

Here is what NBC Plans to Deliver.

Heroes

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

30 Rock

Kidnapped

Friday Night lights

20 Good Years.

I have been privileged to preview 3 Titles of the ones above. I would like to do a quick preview and make my prediction for NBC this year.

Kidnapped…

I have to say I got this preview courtesy of Netflix along with Studio 60. I didn’t care for Studio 60 but hey it was on the DVD as well, I was incredibly excited about Kidnapped. So much so I ran to Radio Shack (My Current Second Place of Employment) to get a Universal DVD remote. I couldn’t wait till Sunday for the church to open back up. (I left my DVD Remote at Church because I haul my DVD player back and forth to show DVD’s for bible study for my youth group….anyways)

Clearly taking the queues from Fox’s Prison break, kidnapped is the story of a high ranking government official who has his son stolen, Instead of using the conventional FBI the father hires a sort of hit man who conveniently specializes in returning stolen kids..

Well that is about it. The preview doesn’t give us any more information then that, and at the end of the Pilot we are left asking if we really want to continue with another episode. Now supposedly I get the idea that the Son is incredibly smart and will actually free him self. But that’s not real clear yet.

In all honestly it left me bored. It wasn’t exciting, nor did it have the rush of 24 or prison break. It left you empty in a way that didn’t leave you asking for more. Disappointed I decided to fill my empty holes by watching Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

Ok, so it didn’t go so well for Joey. After being pushed and pushed NBC finally decided to cancel the spin-off leaving the first Friends cast member’s, after friends attempt at television a, failure. It was beginning to have the famed Seinfeld Curse that Julia Louise Dreyfus just broke.

Then the creators of the West Wing hired Matthew Perry to do Studio 60…

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is NBC’s First joke of themselves. Studio 60 is about two writers who get a job writing for the failing “Friday Night in Hollywood” the National Broadcasting System’s wannabe Saturday Night Live. That’s right I said National Broadcast System or NBS. In this make believe world, there is ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and oh yea the NBS.

NBS hires a new female president played by Amanda Peet who has just come from get this, An amazing ratings success at NBC. I couldn’t make that up if I tried. Her first day on the Job starts off when an elder writer for “Friday night…” interrupts a live taping and goes on a rant about how corrupt corporate broadcasting is.

Amanda Peet decides to make the NBS look good, by hiring two incredibly talented writers, who well hate the NBS and have had several bad past experiences. I really want to get into the plot more, because let me just say there is literally Christian meaning in here, Christianity happens to be the focus of one of the main characters, but I don’t want to give anything away. I will do a full review once Studio 60 is out, and people already know the basics of it.

Let me just start off by saying, this show disappointed me tremendously. Not because of the bad writing, or poor actors. It didn’t have any of that. I was disappointed because I have to wait till October for the entire show to come out so I can see the next episode.

I think the reason I like it so much is because it gives me such an inside view of where I want to be. Transplant Ministries is (ww.transplantministries.com) is the passion of my soul right now. Creating quality Christian Television and eliminate the crappy televangelist scum from the face of God’s planet.. So anyway it’s like Studio 60 is my internship.

It is very West Wing. It is Very Good. NBC should be proud of there competitor the NBS. It’s not exciting to watch, it’s not edgy or raw. It is just good screenwriting, and it is fun to watch. They didn’t leave anything out, you have the cast of the show, the production staff, the president and board, even actual guests which happened to be Felicity Huffman and Three Six Mafia.

The studio like the White House is very busy, with a lot going on. I love it.

I am glad this came with the Kidnapped DVD, it really made my day. This is the show that will be left long after Kidnapped is cancelled, and quite possibly the head Emmy winner next year. (That is if 24 just randomly disappears of the face of the earth)

Heroes.

Unless you have been living under a rock lately you probably know by now that NBC is going to have a Lost like show called Heroes.

Heroes is the story of several people, who have gained Super Hero Powers. Like X-Men, actually a lot like X-Men the whole bogus Evolution line is in there as well. Millions of years, through evolution blah blah blah. Besides the obvious origins difference I have with the show, this show is really quite good.

And you will hear that it is like unbreakable, you will hear it is like X-Men but in the words of my brother “How many new ways are there to make super heroes”

This show is like Lost. Not because people are stranded or there are secret magical numbers, but because it has that many many mysteries feel to it. If you havnt watched Lost you will know that it keeps you hooked because it has several different plots and story lines only a few get attention every week, so you are literally starving for answers. Heroes has lost written all over it.

It is just intriguing. I love Super Heroes. They are awesome. They remind me of Old Testament bible characters. I cant get enough of them. Just watch Heroes, I don’t think you will be incredibly disappointed.

30 Rock

Next, we have 30 Rock which I have not seen but I know that it is like ‘The Office” but is jokes NBC. This is the Second Joke of NBC, except unlike Studio 60 who makes fun of a fake studio. 30 Rock makes fun of NBC. That’s right, themselves.

30 Rock stars several Saturday Night Live cast members Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, alongside of Alec Baldwin, who might as well be considered a Saturday Night Live Cast member. He has his Own Best of SNL DVD anyway.

I haven’t seen it yet, I am hoping the release a preview. I cannot wait. It looks a mixture of Arrested Development and The Office. So Right on NBC, keep it up.

Friday Night Lights.

Finally there is Friday Night Lights based off of the movie which as based off of the book which is based off the true story of a football team in Texas. I have to say I do not know how this is gonna end up, I want to watch it I can’t wait to see it. It is directed by the same people that made the movie. So it can’t be that terrible can it. I mean it’s about Football…

NFL on NBC

Not much to say here, It has been said a station without NFL coverage is a station that has no future. SO now the four major networks has some sort of football coverage (ABC still does it’s just technically on ESPN which is technically the same thing.) So that was just an obvious move on NBC’s part. Granted Ratings. Which also means people are guraneteed to see the previews of your shows during the commercials.

So we have a winner NBC. Keep up the good work and thanks for giving me no reason to do anything after work but watch TV.

Mel Gibson is a Sinner!

Oh No! A Christian Sinned, Shame on you Mel Gibson

Seriously though was what Mel Gibson did really that bad. Yes he relapsed into his alcohol addiction, said some terrible things about Jews, and made some sexual slanders. But I mean the way the press is acting, they act like they have never seen a Christian sin before.

You see the Media has this false notion that is popularized by current Christian media symbols, from TBN and Christian T-Shirts that all Christians are perfect. We never fail, Jesus makes us Godly.

Are you ready for this, Christians Still Sin. Pointing out our flaws and our weaknesses just make Christians look like a bunch of hypocrites. It makes Christians look bad. It makes Christianity look worse.

We know Mel Gibson struggles with alcohol addiction, and unfortunately and with great sadness he relapsed. We do not know why he did, or what caused it, we just know it happened. Is Mel Gibson still a Christian, was he ever or did he just play all the Christians in the world as a fancy attempt to gain 300 million dollars?

I would say that Mel Gibson is still a Christian and he is deeply sorry for what he did. We need to look past his flaws, and get on with more important news. Hollywood stars drink and drive all the time, its never a big deal. Unless you are a Confessed Christian that made more money with a film that Hollywood just cant duplicate.

And his statements about Jewish people. Were they that far from truth? I believe he said that Jews were responsible for all the Wars in the World

Well they kind of are. I dont want to get into this very deeply, but as the war against liberal media and Christianity flows day to day, so does the war against the Jewish nation of Israel. The current crisis in the Middle East is because of Israel, SHOCKER, and the there will be more Wars because of Israel. Terrorist despise America because we support Israel, and the 500 WMDs recently found in Iraq were quite possible intended for Israel. The ungodly hate the things God loves. We have seen this time after time. God loves Israel. God loves Mel Gibson, God Loves his followers.

Barbara Walters said on The View that she will boycott everything that Mel Gibson does, and asked for everyone else to do the same. Congratulations Barbara, you just became the exact mirror image of a raging Christian hypocritical housewife who Boycotts Harry Potter movies. Like you never drink anything?

I just know that this will not stop Mel Gibson. The media tried to stop The Passion, now they will try to stop Apocalypto. It will only fuel the fire.

And to Mr. Gibson, I still think you are wonderful, you have your flaws. But so did everyone else in the bible (except for Jesus) and you are not him, you just told his story. David fell several times, and God didnt give up on him, Samson caved to a woman, and God didnt give up on him, Paul and a constant Thorn, and God still didnt give up on him. I hate to disappoint everyone but God doesnt use Perfect people to do his work.

I still look forward to seeing Apocalypto, I still want to see more films by Mel Gibson and I still want to meet Mel Gibson one day. To someone that didnt need Hollywoods approval for The Passion, I do not think You will need Barbaras. I am praying for you, and hope God only uses this to strengthen you and encourage you. And If you are ever in Newport News, VA I know a great place for coffee.

--Marcus

Barnyard

First let me start off by saying that there has only been one movie I have ever walked out on, and that was Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius. I just didn’t care to see the ending. I didn’t care about the movie. I surely didn’t care that Nickelodeon decided to turn a second rate film, into a terrible TV series. Most importantly I didn’t care to see their new movie, Barnyard.

But after much consideration I decided to go out and give it a shot. After all I am a tremendous fan of animated films, and the second Nickelodeon 3d film can’t be as bad as Jimmy Neutron right?

Well the truth is I don’t know, I only have a vague idea of the plot. Why you ask? Why would you spend an hour and a half in a movie full of crying babies and laughing kids and not pay attention to the movie Was it the kids, was it the Cell Phones?

I worked at Chuck E. Cheese for over two years, so crying kids do not bother me anymore. The reason I couldn’t pay attention to this movie was well because of the movie. You see it’s really simple. All the cows in the Barnard world have utters. And it is so distracting to watch that I quite simply couldn’t focus on any of the plot.

For those of you that don’t get it. Male cows are called bulls. They do not have utters. To see a male and female cow both displaying milk dispensers is annoying and distracting.

But if I could somehow get passed the bad character design, the story is nothing more then a barnyard version of The Lion King. It is actually almost exactly like it.

I can’t really go into detail why without giving it away, but don’t worry it’s not worth seeing much anyway. Just go rent The Lion King, sit back and be glad, Timone and Pumba were drawn to sex.

Actually this movie was so distracting for me as a viewer, that I was districted with discovering any hidden biblical meanings, or messages….or maybe that is the message.

Satan uses things like boy cows with utters, to distract you from God’s message. Whether it is sitting in church texting on a cell phone, or just quite simply working to hard. These can all be distracting from what God is trying to reveal to you.

So just be still and know that God is God. Ignore male cow’s with utters and do not watch this movie.

---Marcus