Six Flags over Jesus

I was emailing with someone this weekend and the subject of religion came up. He said he wasn't much into the whole "six flags over Jesus" thing and felt like it was just more important to be a good person. Really? (Warning: stepping up on the soap box.)

Never heard "six flags over Jesus" before? Me, either (and I would remember because it's a pretty clever little phrase). Basically, it refers to a mega church, which has services like...a coffee shop...a gym...a bookstore...gasp. And it collects money. And has a membership of 20,000 and 8 parking lots...and it's all orderly. And then get this, from the pulpit, you get messages, you know, like maybe a preacher might deliver. In a church!

I've been to a couple of mega-churches...that were not evil, cash cows looking to sucker the masses in to support the man. They were successful. They are successful in reaching people, in drawing them in and, clearly, in getting support and building a connection.

Six flags over Jesus...man, that's cynical, but the world's cynical and ready to enlighten any "poor" person who might believe in the possibility of good in people and hope for the future. Churches are supposed to be poor and struggle, right? Not be successful and powerful and alive. Oh, and you shouldn't enjoy worshiping either, so let's be suspicious.

And trying to be a "good" person...where does the standard come from? There's absolutely no way to be good enough and, in fact, the reason we have mega-churches in the first place is that there are a whole lot of people who realize they will never be good enough. And that's OK anyway because they can still be accepted and still serve and accomplish God's purpose...through His church, no matter the size. What you did matters less than who you know and what you can do.

Whether you worship in a mega-church or a country church or a countryside, that's religion. To me, faith is a relationship. Yes, worship is important, but that relationship, that's life and death. When you realize that just being a good person isn't enough, that there's more to this world than what you can get for yourself, and you reach out to begin that relationship with Jesus Christ, that's faith. And that's critical. And letting something silly like an aversion to mega-churches or televangelism or, even worse, all the hypocrites (or politics or fill in the blank) that fill churches today keep you from that relationship is just a cop out. And it's dangerous. And sad.

But I didn't say any of that. Yet.

I just thought it.

The proper response isn't defense, and really, it's OK to choose to worship somewhere besides the big church. I don't think it's really fair to judge them until you know more about them, and "six flags over Jesus" seems pretty judgmental. What's really more important is the whole "focus on being a good person" argument.

Wonder what I'll say about that? My answer is still pending...

Romans 3:22-24
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

(stepping down off the soap box now)