We went to sample a Church yesterday, and I got more of what is becoming alarmingly predictable about large Churches. The preaching is disturbingly plain vanilla, one-size-fits-all, non-specific, general. It seems that to garner the large crowds, one has to stay away from specifics. I call this “Fortune Cookie Theology” becuase this is what Fortune Cookies do. They announce the immanenent future with general, postiive trend type stuff; something that could fit practically anybody at any time.

The sermon often starts with something that would seem to be on the virge of telling us something about “what would Jesus do” , but instead remained on the level of “on the virge of”. Lately, I get the sense that these sermons are always about “somebody else”. I kknow I am supposed to put myself in those “sights” and let the message address me, but the problem is, I never seem to hear anymore about the kinds of things that I sense as important issues in our day.

I grow tired of the constant failure to address the blasphemy of neutering the Gospel by keeping “Christian ethics” limited to the narrowly defined issues described as “America’s moral issues” by the Christian Right (as Al Mohler does again in his article today….I had only to read the first line as he started in on gay marraiges as the supreme litmus test of “America’s morality”, but I have yet to see him address anything about the military conduct and military emphasis of the U.S. But why would he? This would call into question what we’ve been told to ASSUME about the Christian response to the powers that be—- that if the appointed spokespersons “approve” and certainly if they “bless” the leaders, then all of that is “appointed by God” and we shouldn’t be worrying our pretty little heads about it.)

I heard it said in the sermon yesterday that “Christ stands against much of what society tells us”—— OK, but how? To remain non-specific and non-descript leaves it in the hands of the ones covered in the media. Jim Wallis of Sojourners has written several times during this campaign season that Democrats are allowing Republicans to define the “applications” of “Christian morality” by remaining silent on issues of faith. Well, it’s not just the Democrats. It’s the Churches who could sound alternatives, and speak of things outside the narrow confines of the Republican/Christian Right “moral” platform. “COULD” is the operative word. DON’T or WON’T is the reality.

The hymn sung at the close of the service cried out through its words to the Churches:

As we worship, grant us vision, till your love’s revealing light
In its height and depth and greatness dawns upon our quickened sight
Making known the needss and burdens your compassion bids us bear
Stirring us to timeless striving, Your abundant life to share.

This “abundant life” must identify just how “alternative” and “confrontive” and “Challenging” this life requires us to be if we are to be witnesses.