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Video: Christians vs. Christ-followers

posted at 3:43 pm on December 7, 2006 by Allahpundit
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Four spots here from the Community Christian Church. Their “Journey” page doesn’t say much but judging from the ads they’re not entirely comfortable being called “Christians,” at least in the cultural sense. Either that or they’re trying to convert unbelievers by first turning them into hip, laid-back “Christ-followers,” at which point they’ll proceed to what the CCC portrays as phase two: full-fledged dorkwad Christianity.

The ribbing is gentle, but it’s still surprising to see this kind of religious stereotyping in an ad. Even if it is intramural.


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Comment pages: 1 2

Which Jesus do you follow?
Which Jesus do you serve?
If Ephesians says to imitate Christ
Then why do you look so much like the world?

Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the arrogant
So which one do you want to be?

Blessed are the poor in spirit
Or do we pray to be blessed with the wealth of this land
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness
Or do we ache for another taste of this world of shifting sand

Cause my Jesus bled and died for my sins
He spent His time with thieves and sluts and liars
He loved the poor and accosted the rich
So which one do you want to be?

Who is this that you follow
This picture of the American dream
If Jesus was here would you walk right by on the other side or fall down and worship at His holy feet

Pretty blue eyes and curly brown hair and a clear complexion
Is how you see Him as He dies for Your sins
But the Word says He was battered and scarred
Or did you miss that part
Sometimes I doubt we’d recognize Him

Cause my Jesus bled and died
He spent His time with thieves and the least of these
He loved the poor and accosted the comfortable
So which one do you want to be?

Cause my Jesus would never be accepted in my church
The blood and dirt on His feet would stain the carpet

But He reaches for the hurting and despised the proud
I think He’d prefer Beale St. to the stained glass crowd
And I know that He can hear me if I cry out loud

I want to be like my Jesus!
I want to be like my Jesus!

“My Jesus” by Todd Agnew

BigOrangeAxe on December 8, 2006 at 8:52 AM

Can we get back to politics?

Is someone forcing you to read this thread? There’s plenty of other stuff if you take a look at the front page…

Hack Ptui on December 8, 2006 at 9:05 AM

Well, they got one thing right…the parody is as elitist and as annoying as the original.

James on December 8, 2006 at 8:17 AM

Ding! And we have a winner.

spmat on December 8, 2006 at 9:49 AM

“A Mighty Fortress is our God” is a great song-but I can’t truely praise HIM in music while standing like a statue.

I’d rather praise Him while singing and dancing, shouting and chanting. — annoyinglittletwerp

…you don’t seem to understand.

Christianity isn’t about *YOU*. It’s about *HIM*.

What you’re talking about is enterainment. “‘A Mighty Fortress is our God’ is a great song…” is an understatement of epic proportions.

It is a hymn. As it happens, it’s a spiritual treasure, based on Psalm 46, written by the Great Reformer himself. To dismiss it as “a great song” is offensive in the extreme.

Worship is constantly and continually reduced to the point of view of the worshiper. Each man wishes to have himself as his own god. Christianity as a Sunday morning outing is a waste of your time. Christianity as salvation from the wrath of a just and righteous God is not.

Puritan1648 on December 8, 2006 at 10:51 AM

…I gotta have my music-which is why the Lutheran Church(Missouri Synod) and the OPC didn’t work for me. — annoyinglittletwerp

…I understand…I was brought to church after nearly 50 years of wandering by a hymn…”Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing” to be exact. But, worship and discipleship are more than song.

What is more, I *REALLY* don’t understand why the OPC didn’t work for you…musically, that is. The OPC publishes probably one of the finest, most theologically sound hymnals in use today, the Trinity Hymnal. One of the theological consultants for the current edition of Trinity was the pastor of our church here for 20 years, and I’m humbled to say he’s a good friend.

If you need musical fireworks, sights and sounds and smells, you’d be advised to check out a *LARGE* Roman Catholic church. They are as entertaining as all get-out. Latin, maybe some chant, even a few old American hymns, they run the gamut. You only have to get past the works-righteousness in their doctrine….

In the end, though, it’s not about the music, or how comfy the pews are, or whether their church constitution allows the ordination of women or some other secular pet peeve. It is whether the church is *BIBLICALLY* and doctrinally sound.

If you want music, go to the Mormons…they have a kick-a$$ choir. I’m sure you’ve heard of it.

Puritan1648 on December 8, 2006 at 10:59 AM

Can we get back to politics? — Anton

Is someone forcing you to read this thread? There’s plenty of other stuff if you take a look at the front page… — Hack Ptui

…absolute, total agreement. You don’t like a thread, give it a miss.

I’ll admit that this thread is a little puzzling, and more than a little troubling. That is because modern evangelicalism is troubling. Still, it gives us a chance to compare notes.

There’s a lot to talk about on HotAir. Don’t like this thread, go shopping. Something you’ll like will come along presently.

Puritan1648 on December 8, 2006 at 11:10 AM

“A Mighty Fortress is our God” is a great song-but I can’t truely praise HIM in music while standing like a statue.
I’d rather praise Him while singing and dancing, shouting and chanting.
Jesus is a Jew.
I’m sure HE understands.

annoyinglittletwerp on December 8, 2006 at 8:28 AM

I sing that song while dancing, shouting and chanting–at the top of my lungs. Love it!

urbancenturion on December 8, 2006 at 11:26 AM

Non judgmental question here: Is chanting and speaking in tongues the same thing?

Matticus Finch on December 8, 2006 at 11:43 AM

Good stuff!!! Gotta get these to my pastor for our usage!

danarchy on December 8, 2006 at 12:02 PM

By the way…looks an awful lot like my dad (preacher) and me (youth pastor)

danarchy on December 8, 2006 at 12:06 PM

PRCalDude on December 7, 2006 at 9:52 PM,

Regarding your questions above, what is your opinion?

Why did Jesus call only men to be part of his 12 apostles?

Why were all the OT Priests and Levites who served in the Temple men?

What is the reason? Was it cultural? Was is political?

Was it sexual discrimination?

Was it scriptural?

Did God amlighty tell someone that is the way it should be?

What do you think?

Scripture seems to say that man was made first, and woman second. It’s an issue of the creation order, for “Adam was made first, then Eve, (1Tim 2:13″)”. The entire paragraph speaks of women learning in “quiet submission” in church.

I look at the issue much the same way the centurion did when Jesus agreed to heal his servant: “I am a man under authority myself, with servants under me…” Just as any organization works, there are inferiors and superiors in rank. Man is in authority over woman, just as Christ is in authority over the church. I am in authority over my wife, Christ and (by proxy) the elders of my church are in authority over me.

PRCalDude on December 8, 2006 at 12:17 PM

John,

Nope, I wasn’t joking about Slice. I’m more of a reformed confessionalist, so we’ll probably not agree on much as far as church and the doctrines of grace. BTW, how does HB compare to Virginia? I’m originally from HB.

You’re a big fan of Rick Warren, huh?

PRCalDude on December 8, 2006 at 12:30 PM

Being that I was born Jewish-yes I left the faith-I gotta have my music…

…I’d rather praise Him while singing and dancing, shouting and chanting.

annoyinglittletwerp on December 7, 2006 at 9:05PM

I am wracking my brain to figure out WTF you are talking about here. I have lots of ties to the synagogue, and lots of Jewish friends, and to suggest that music represents a more significant theological foundation to Jews than to Christians might be the stupidest thing I have even heard.

I am happy for you that you enjoy “singing and dancing, shouting and chanting” as so many do. Don’t imagine that other Christians are somehow opposed to “moving”.

Jaibones on December 8, 2006 at 1:30 PM

Puritan1648:
My husband says: “CROMWELL RULES!”

annoyinglittletwerp on December 8, 2006 at 1:50 PM

Every person on Earth has decisions to make. And every person on Earth faces what may be called “tests”. Tests come in two basic flavors: Trials, and temptations.

Usually, trials are uncomfortable situations where the decision breaks down as; do this right thing, which may be painful, or choose your own comfort, and don’t do the right thing. Basically, a morally correct decision requires action.

Temptations, on the other hand, appeal to our baser appetites, and the decision breaks down as; do this pleasurable thing, which you know to be wrong, or deny yourself the immoral pleasure. Basically, a morally correct decision requires inaction.

Agents for societal change have forever tried to make our appetites and comfort more important to us than our moral courage. And the only consistent source of protection against the slippery slopes that we face is a decision to submit ourselves to a moral authority outside of ourselves. For me, I choose the God of the Bible. In that way, I do not rely on my own strength to face life’s tests, but on His promises.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Philippians 4:8

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Ephesians 5:1,2

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, pease, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Galatians 5:22-24

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:8-10

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.

For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:35-39

My Christianity is not based on how I dress, what I read, what I listen to, or how I behave. My Christianity is based on my acceptance that Christ took upon himself the sentence for my sins, leaving me under God’s grace, not God’s justice. How I dress, what I read, what I listen to, and how I behave are based on my desire to properly reverence Him who loves me so.

Freelancer on December 8, 2006 at 3:28 PM

The closest the Bible comes to the “Mac” guy’s title of Christ follower is Matthew 4:18-20

And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

Matthew 4:18-20

Flame me for being judgemental, but every single person I’ve ever met that thinks and talks like the “Christ follower” in the videos wouldn’t be caught dead trying to be a fisher of men. They want the benefits of Christianity without the responsibility:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen

Matthew 28:19,20

Freelancer on December 8, 2006 at 4:23 PM

Hummm this seems like what is going on in Iraq? Sunni against Shiite. Muslim against Muslim.

I am concerned and think the video points my concern out. I think the use of religion in politics is against God and sinful. One type of American is better. One type of christian is better, one political party, liberal v conservative. ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL!

Clearly the guy in the suit, with Bush stickers is the evangelical, and the relaxed guy is the liberal christian, not the extream conservative right evaneglical type. That’s my take on it.

Interesting, but the debate is religion and politics, seperation of church and state. I DO NOT THINK the evangelicals should have a “HOT LINE” to the white house or the GOP trade favors or promise of favors to religious groups for votes.

Our founding fathers crafted our nation and constitution for religious freedom. Although our nation is based on principles of morals and laws which are biblically based, the idea of theology and goverment mixed together is BAD BAD BAD. Was the Taliban in afiganistan like that. Do the mullahs in Iran and Iraq weild power causing strife?

As I said I think Dobson, Falwell and Robertson may be good men (or crazy in one case) but they are for sure not my kind or “Brand” of Christianity.

The enemy is with in. If we don’t get our act together and relize its the radical Islamic groups who call for our conversion to Islam or death are our enemy and not other Christians and fellow Americans, we will fall.

Not this year, not 50 years from now, but in a 100 or 200 years, our own sinful nature will destroy us. I pray that Carl Rove and the GOP stop with the hate bating based on religious wedge issues. Debate and fight for what you believe in, but keep the US against THEM (conservatives v. liberals) out of it. I am not for abortion or gay marriage but we live in a free country. We want less goverment not an authoritarian gov that is in our bed rooms and lives. Stem cell? Well what about in vitro fertilization of christian woman who can not conceive. The fertilize many embryos and taking the strong and throwing the rest away is murder? It may be for some, but why are the evangelicals not against this and stem cells? Why let people suffer who may have possible chance of a better life with science, but than want extrodinary means to keep vegetative people alive?

The religious leaders are not consistent and interpreting the bible. THEY SHOULD FOCUS ON SAVING SOULS AND THE SPIRITUAL OF THER FLOCK’S LIFE, NOT POLITICS!!!!

Most modern issues are not spelled out in the bible. We should be free to flow Christ with free will and love, not be forced into one groups view or theology.

You can not legislate peoples religion, morality or theology. The founding fathers knew that. They knew the bible was a great, wise blue print for society, and they also knew religion can only be based on free will and faith, not goverment. You want Christ in your life, seek it in church or synagogue not goverment.

gmcjetpilot on December 8, 2006 at 4:34 PM

I’m a Christian.

Tzetzes on December 8, 2006 at 11:39 PM

I just LOVE that Baby Got Book parody. A friend sent it to me a year or so ago…I kept the link for a while and then managed to unwittingly delete it. THANKS, John, for the link!!

tickleddragon on December 9, 2006 at 2:38 AM

My husband says: “CROMWELL RULES!” — annoyinglittletwerp

…I’d agree…except that the Lord Protector was an avid Congregationalist, and ’round here we’re Presbyterian. He didn’t like Presbyterians.

Puritan1648 on December 9, 2006 at 10:23 AM

Ridiculous. My wife and I have had a hard time finding a church where we live. I have a rule about never attending a church that uses electric guitars or drums in their “choir”. Sadly, it is getting harder and harder to find a traditional church with a SERMON and not a “Christ Lifestyle”.

Why worry about the guitar and start focusing on something important….like Doctrine?

Tim Burton on December 9, 2006 at 12:11 PM

Our founding fathers crafted our nation and constitution for religious freedom. Although our nation is based on principles of morals and laws which are biblically based, the idea of theology and goverment mixed together is BAD BAD BAD.

-gmcjetpilot

Really? Ever hear of the NorthWest Ordinance? It requires the teaching of theology and morality in schools.

From Article 3:

Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.

You can not legislate peoples religion, morality or theology. The founding fathers knew that.

You can’t legislate morality? Then why have laws about murder, rape, incest, bestiality and theft? They are all laws of morality.

I suggest going to http://www.christianlogic.com and buying a book. Then you won’t quote feel good statements, but instead quote logical arguments.

Tim Burton on December 9, 2006 at 12:23 PM

When I read Revelations, I heard in my mind the Word of God sung by the Alice Cooper to a backing track of Marc Tremonti using one of Satan’s Flying V electric guitars.

It was dropped-D tuned.

Revelations melted my face off.

I am a Christian.

ScottMcC on December 11, 2006 at 1:59 AM

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