I'm impressed you made it through the entire sermon. I got invited to a megachurch once and left before the thing even started. The aggressive friendliness and acceptance, the deliberate posturing of virtue and righteousness... It's all so just wrong
Southern Methodist, Native Texan here. This is the Southern Baptist way. The article captures their essence perfectly. What is described here has been their theology and their vibe forever. They just have more money and power now. Southern Baptists can be the best people in the world one on one. But, let them "fellowship" too much without any theological challenge and they will go too far. As can any group.
This is why the First Amendment is structured the way it is. It is a nuanced idea which Americans struggle to wrap their heads around. Baptists are free to construct their religious world and live in it. They are even free to try and recruit others to join them. What they cannot do is use the power of government to impose their religion on others. The government cannot establish Southern Baptist as the state religion.
Knowing Southern Baptists the way I do, we should accept that they will never get it, because they don't want to get it. The wall of separation between church and state must be understood by not just our representatives in DC and Austin, but by every citizen. Because what the Baptists have constructed is very enticing marketing. It is so very easy for people seeking community to be led astray.
The major thesis I see in James Talarico's bid for US Senator from Texas is him using his background as the son of a Southern Baptist preacher and a Presbyterian seminarian to re-orient us back to the proper stance between religion and government pursuant to the First Amendment.
FYI - there are many Southern Baptist congregations who are humble Christians rather than Mega [MAGA?] church groupies.
Let's count, one, two, three, how long before Mr. Graham shows up at DFW Airport in dark shades and an improbable wig on his way to Mexico with a couple rent boys?
Plastic tree. Plastic religion. Plastic America.
No way to recycle this crap.
I'm impressed you made it through the entire sermon. I got invited to a megachurch once and left before the thing even started. The aggressive friendliness and acceptance, the deliberate posturing of virtue and righteousness... It's all so just wrong
“ Prestonwood has a media production company called PowerPoint”
Does Microsoft know about this?
Sounds like hell.
🤭
You have learned well -- perhaps too well -- from H.L. Mencken and Joan Didion.
Great writing, HamNo.
Southern Methodist, Native Texan here. This is the Southern Baptist way. The article captures their essence perfectly. What is described here has been their theology and their vibe forever. They just have more money and power now. Southern Baptists can be the best people in the world one on one. But, let them "fellowship" too much without any theological challenge and they will go too far. As can any group.
This is why the First Amendment is structured the way it is. It is a nuanced idea which Americans struggle to wrap their heads around. Baptists are free to construct their religious world and live in it. They are even free to try and recruit others to join them. What they cannot do is use the power of government to impose their religion on others. The government cannot establish Southern Baptist as the state religion.
Knowing Southern Baptists the way I do, we should accept that they will never get it, because they don't want to get it. The wall of separation between church and state must be understood by not just our representatives in DC and Austin, but by every citizen. Because what the Baptists have constructed is very enticing marketing. It is so very easy for people seeking community to be led astray.
The major thesis I see in James Talarico's bid for US Senator from Texas is him using his background as the son of a Southern Baptist preacher and a Presbyterian seminarian to re-orient us back to the proper stance between religion and government pursuant to the First Amendment.
FYI - there are many Southern Baptist congregations who are humble Christians rather than Mega [MAGA?] church groupies.
Let's count, one, two, three, how long before Mr. Graham shows up at DFW Airport in dark shades and an improbable wig on his way to Mexico with a couple rent boys?
How is fostering self-righteousness and intolerance “Christian?” Following the Golden Rule is a tougher path but more Christ-like.
Looking forward to part 2…..
Be strong brother