Mega Church Meditation
When I started this blog more than a year ago, I didn’t have any clear objectives on what I wanted to accomplish. Over time, Lao-Lao helped me understand that it was perfectly OK to have a blog that was “top-of-mind” because the people who know me will get it and the people who don’t will enjoy my writing. When I look back at the comments, I am always surprised and flattered that people take the time to comment and that they take a passionate stance when it comes to the considerable political debates we’ve had. Legitimately, I average 50-100 unique visitors a month and am generally pleased with the shape the blog has taken.
The biggest struggle for any writer can be what to write about and part of my growth as a writer is learning that my better posts happen when I’m able to provide a relatively uncensored view of what’s going on in my real life. Which while tedious, usually gives way to better posts over time and explains why so much of my personal life ends up here. Not that I think that my personal life is inherently interesting, only that I’m always seeking the common thread that holds us all together.
My Denver friend, herself a lapsed Catholic has been attending services at an Evangelical, bible-based Church in suburban Denver called Word of Life Christian Center http://www.wolcc.net/. In a troubled marriage practically since they exchanged “I do’s”, with two children she struggles to raise and mounting health issues, I applaud her reaching for faith to give comfort and purpose to her life. She has now fallen down the Christian well, attending services every night and multiple bible studies on the weekend. I am losing my oldest friend to a bunch of happy-clappy Jesus freaks, part of the Evangelical political right-wing conservative ass-holes who leverage the Bible to advance their own political causes. It saddens me in a way that I can’t find words for- because while I identify myself as a ‘christian’ if I have to check a box, I am more spiritual than anything and make allowances that we may exist in this life in part because of how our souls lived in a past one.
A text from her last night read simply, “I feel that God is preparing me”.
I wanted to fly to Denver, drive to Littleton, kidnap her and take her to an all make revue. Or gambling up in the mountains. Or an all night binge on long island ice teas.
That’s terrible, isn’t it?
I mean, I’m the same woman who posted an entry about Lent. So what’s the difference between my involvement with Arlington United Methodist Church and my Denver friend sitting in a stadium seat with a few hundred white, mid-western families swaying, hand held up in praise while songs are sung from words projected from a PowerPoint presentation onto movie screens?
Methodists, while no less conservative that other denominations have a favorable view of women as clergy and promote diversity. These mega Churches are seductive; new and amenity rich with robust children’s programs, they hide behind the Bible to justify anti-gay sentiment.
I only know that my friend, at her most vulnerable has been sucked into the vortex of this church and the God that is supposed to be the blessed binding tie has instead left us untethered on different seas.
I like to use the euphemism “recovering Catholic”; I’m one o’ those…
I’m with ya on this… These Wal-Churches seem to have the biggest vacuum effect on the disenfranchised (read “spiritually vulnerable”). I hope your friend gets the rabid parts out of her system soon. It’ll happen as soon as the church disappoints her the first time, which it inevitably will.
Thanks for understanding me on this one. I’ve been wrestling with how to write about it without making it seem like I’m anti-church, or anti-God.
JJ, this happens over and over again. Organized religion has always preyed on the weak, the vulnerable and the disenfranchised. While there are ‘good’ parts about religion and spirituality, this is an example of one of the ‘evils’. Any “church’s” ability to scoop up troubled ‘souls’ and mold them into what they want them to be is a double edged sword. I’ll hope that your friend finds the comfort she is looking for, and is able to find it without losing touch with who she is, who she loves, and those things that made her your best friend.
Anyone who has read enough of you understands that you’re neither anti church nor anti God. One of my mother’s preist’s adages is that you cannot adequately worship God if you do not question Him…
Bill B — you have captured my thoughts perfectly, so I won’t add to these comments. Unless, of course, another comment comes along that DEMANDS I put in another two cents worth.
Jen, I don’t believe you’ve lost a friend due to her seeking out God. And your friend will change as she matures in her faith. And as one of those bad guys, I’m kinda surprised by your take on this. I’d love to talk with you about this when you have time. And BTW, where’s all that liberal tolerance?
Jon W, I’m going to extend to you an opportunity that I’ve only made a few times during the election to Republican Dude and False Auntie: an opportunity to guest blog on the topic of Evangelical, Holy Roller Christian Churches who prey on the disenfranchised under in the name of God in order to recurit people to further a political agenda and specifically, I’d invite you to look at the covenants on the Word of Life Website… especially the “we believe marriage is between a man and a woman”. We are *this* close to identifying the gene linked to homosexuality and transgenders and I’m confident that during my lifetime being gay will be as inherent to one’s identity as skin or eye color. This church doesn’t preach tolerance, they preach conversion. She is changing because they are taking the fun-loving, spirited, passionate woman I’ve known for 27 years and turning her into a bible thumping drone who is losing the ability for independent thought, instead reducing our conversations to an onslaught of biblical cliches.
Climbing down from the soap box.
You are a good friend. I’d welcome your thoughts. Prove me wrong. I love and dare you.
Jennifer,I sympathize with you regarding losing your friend. I agree with you fully that these “fundamentalist” churches use religion to spread hate and fear, and distort Christianity to their purposes. Not much to add to the comments already here, but I do hope your friend can find the comfort she needs without becoming a “drone” with hateful views. Love and friendship is what will help her through, and that is the one Christian principle anyone can agree on.
Jen, how in the world do I debate, argue, reason on this subject with you when you’ve already made up your mind that anyone who calls themself a “born again” Christian verses a Christian is nothing more than an intolerant, bigoted, money grubbing, indoctrinating, always conservative, etc., etc. person? As I mentioned, I’m one of them. Do you honestly think that of me? As I said, where’s that liberal tolerence? You can ban me for saying this if you want, but you’re just as intolerent as the people you’re sitting in judgement on–that is if you really step back and re-read your words. They’re only entitled to their opinion if it matches up to yours? Please…Last point: I do not care to debate this in a public forum, especially on a friend’s blog that happens to be (mostly) frequented by folks that are of the same opinion as you. If you’re really interested in discussing this, I’d be happy to buy you dinner and wine somewhere–or treat you to a nice pot of sauce at my house whenever you’d like–yes, I know I’m outside the beltway.