Friday, July 07, 2006

A "Sign" of the Times...

Matthew 5:14 talks about us Christians being the light of the world. That a city on a hill shinning brightly cannot be hidden. I know that some people have differing views on some parts of scripture...but recently I've been wondering if some churches/pastors have been taking this passage out of context...and a little TOO FAR!

This blog isn't going to go into huge theological depths...but rather what I want to draw to our attention is churches/pastors spending RIDICULOUS amounts of money to make "icons" that somehow are supposed to attract others because of their either a) immense size b) blinding glow c) obvious location.

Here's a few examples:

1) Statue of Liberation Through Christ (72 feet tall)

















Total Cost to Build: $260,000 USD
Location: World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Church
To read more click here:

2) "Touchdown Jesus" (62 Feet Tall)












Total Cost to Build: $250,000 USD
Location: Solid Rock Church
To read more click here:

3) 198 Foot Cross


















Total Cost to Build: $1.1 Million USD
Location: Effingham, Illinois
To read more click here & here

These are just a few of the many Christian icons that are popping up accross America. Don't mis-read me here...I have nothing against American's and their faith in Christ. However I do have a bit of an issue spending butt-loads of cash on a giant cross/statue/jesus, when that money could very well be spent on translating bibles, supporting missionaries, feeding the poor, etc... I infact applaud my American brothers and sisters in Christ for being this blunt about their faith.

In fact, I'd love to hear what my American readers have to say about these things...do you agree/disagree with building these massive icons?

As far as I know we Canadians have nothing that so obviously represents our faith. The only giant things we have are:

The Giant Nickel in Sudbury:












The Giant Hockey Sticks in Dawson Creek:











You can find out more about what LARGE roadsign attractions Canada has by clicking here:

This post is really about stirring up your thoughts/rants/opinions etc... Please feel free to leave any comments you wish, but do so in a repsectful manner. This post is more satire than anything (if you didn't catch on by now!)

It's the weekend...time to get out of here!

Peace:

Ty

3 comments:

afterthoughtcomposer said...

"Good morning fellow believers. I would like to take this moment to pray for all the homeless, sick, displaced, outcast people in our city and in our world. To all the widows, orphans, and other people in need, we would like to offer up a few words in prayer. But not before we say a HUGE THANKS! to our congregation for raising the MUCH needed one point one MILLION dollars to make that obnoxiously big cross in our parking lot! Praise the Lord."

Greg Drummond said...

Hey Tyler,
I drove by that big cross in Southen Illinois 2 months ago. It's just amazing to see. (The area around it is kinda bland though). The cross is surrounded by benches for people to sit, think, pray, meditated.

Unknown said...

I am disturbed by the lack of financial accountability in many aspects of American culture. Schools, health systems, government, churches... God tells us to be good stewards of what we have.

We can learn much from those who have little. Just think how far that money would go in Africa. The need is desperate.
htpp://www.malawiafrica.blogspot.com

There are biblical examples of huge expensive objects...
*King Solomon's Temple
*Tower of Babel

Haggai 1:4-9
4 "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?"

5 Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it."

7 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored," says the LORD. 9 "You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the LORD Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house.

Old Testament to New Testament... We ARE the church. It's not about buildings, it's about PEOPLE. As a global christian community, we are doing a HORRIBLE job meeting the basic needs of the poor, hungry, homeless… widows… orphans… WORLDWIDE. Don’t just throw money towards them, build relationships and meet their needs. Jesus is a great example of this mentality in the gospels.