Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know people want to, as a rule, crap all over other people posts on DCUM. But I believe that the OP has made a valid and insightful observation. I've read similar perspectives on the Christian megachurches -- the full-service ones, some even with Starbucks and gyms in them. The focus, in these churches, is personal gratification. It's feel good "religion" from the folks that subscribe to the so called "prosperity gospel." The preachers are "cool" young dudes with highlighted hair and there's a lot of me, me, me there. There's not much concern for others. Most of the people attending are republicans (shocker!) and they only care about themselves. Seems kinda far away from Jesus to me.

Then don't join their church! Live and let live. They have no effect whatsoever on your life.

I'm wondering if you extend your "live and let live" philosophy to gay marriage? Abortion? Or is it useful only when someone's unpleasant insights are directed at you and yours?

To put it in terms you (perhaps) will understand: "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?"

Anonymous wrote:IME none of the churches I know focus enough on charity. Catholic or otherwise. They certainly donate a lot to politics. Why not spend that money on single mothers in need instead? Put the money where the mouthpiece is.

Anonymous wrote:OP, it's simply a question of authority.

Catholics believe Jesus founded his Church with authority, and with a promise that the gates of Hell would not prevail against that legitimate authority. Therefore, we have the unbroken succession of popes and the ongoing authority of the Church in matters of doctrine and faith. Even corruption and heresy and scandal have not destroyed that authority in matters of faith and morals. The Church has seen even darker times than the past few years, by far, yet its teachings stand.

Christian churches began with the rejection of the authority of the Church, and now each denomination--or even each pastor or each individual--is their own absolute authority.

This seems ok at first--we are all decent people, right? But then you plow into a brick wall of moral chaos, and we are back to the problem Jesus came to solve: after the Fall, we were sheep without a shepherd, clouded consciences, trying to listen to God's word written on our hearts, but without the ability to see it clearly. Then the Word became flesh. And the absolute Authority that is God gave us His authority on earth.

Without authority, every church is a social group, nothing more. I would never, ever go to church if it were not the mass, because I go for the Eucharist, not the music or the donuts afterwards. The social stuff is important, but what is essential is the sacramental union with our Lord.

Our Christian brothers and sisters have a lot that is good, as do people of good will everywhere. But the issue of authority is the ultimate issue, and everyone needs to come to a decision about whether or not there is such a thing, and if so, does one submit to it or reject it?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know people want to, as a rule, crap all over other people posts on DCUM. But I believe that the OP has made a valid and insightful observation. I've read similar perspectives on the Christian megachurches -- the full-service ones, some even with Starbucks and gyms in them. The focus, in these churches, is personal gratification. It's feel good "religion" from the folks that subscribe to the so called "prosperity gospel." The preachers are "cool" young dudes with highlighted hair and there's a lot of me, me, me there. There's not much concern for others. Most of the people attending are republicans (shocker!) and they only care about themselves. Seems kinda far away from Jesus to me.

Then don't join their church! Live and let live. They have no effect whatsoever on your life.

I'm wondering if you extend your "live and let live" philosophy to gay marriage? Abortion? Or is it useful only when someone's unpleasant insights are directed at you and yours?

To put it in terms you (perhaps) will understand: "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?"

Do you extend your "live and let live" philosophy in all aspects of life? I doubt it. We all have some sort of belief or disbelief system that affects our opinions and values.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know people want to, as a rule, crap all over other people posts on DCUM. But I believe that the OP has made a valid and insightful observation. I've read similar perspectives on the Christian megachurches -- the full-service ones, some even with Starbucks and gyms in them. The focus, in these churches, is personal gratification. It's feel good "religion" from the folks that subscribe to the so called "prosperity gospel." The preachers are "cool" young dudes with highlighted hair and there's a lot of me, me, me there. There's not much concern for others. Most of the people attending are republicans (shocker!) and they only care about themselves. Seems kinda far away from Jesus to me.

Then don't join their church! Live and let live. They have no effect whatsoever on your life.

I'm wondering if you extend your "live and let live" philosophy to gay marriage? Abortion? Or is it useful only when someone's unpleasant insights are directed at you and yours?

To put it in terms you (perhaps) will understand: "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know people want to, as a rule, crap all over other people posts on DCUM. But I believe that the OP has made a valid and insightful observation. I've read similar perspectives on the Christian megachurches -- the full-service ones, some even with Starbucks and gyms in them. The focus, in these churches, is personal gratification. It's feel good "religion" from the folks that subscribe to the so called "prosperity gospel." The preachers are "cool" young dudes with highlighted hair and there's a lot of me, me, me there. There's not much concern for others. Most of the people attending are republicans (shocker!) and they only care about themselves. Seems kinda far away from Jesus to me.

Then don't join their church! Live and let live. They have no effect whatsoever on your life.

Anonymous wrote:I know people want to, as a rule, crap all over other people posts on DCUM. But I believe that the OP has made a valid and insightful observation. I've read similar perspectives on the Christian megachurches -- the full-service ones, some even with Starbucks and gyms in them. The focus, in these churches, is personal gratification. It's feel good "religion" from the folks that subscribe to the so called "prosperity gospel." The preachers are "cool" young dudes with highlighted hair and there's a lot of me, me, me there. There's not much concern for others. Most of the people attending are republicans (shocker!) and they only care about themselves. Seems kinda far away from Jesus to me.



Then don't join their church! Live and let live. They have no effect whatsoever on your life.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, it's simply a question of authority.

Catholics believe Jesus founded his Church with authority, and with a promise that the gates of Hell would not prevail against that legitimate authority. Therefore, we have the unbroken succession of popes and the ongoing authority of the Church in matters of doctrine and faith. Even corruption and heresy and scandal have not destroyed that authority in matters of faith and morals. The Church has seen even darker times than the past few years, by far, yet its teachings stand.

Christian churches began with the rejection of the authority of the Church, and now each denomination--or even each pastor or each individual--is their own absolute authority.

This seems ok at first--we are all decent people, right? But then you plow into a brick wall of moral chaos, and we are back to the problem Jesus came to solve: after the Fall, we were sheep without a shepherd, clouded consciences, trying to listen to God's word written on our hearts, but without the ability to see it clearly. Then the Word became flesh. And the absolute Authority that is God gave us His authority on earth.

Without authority, every church is a social group, nothing more. I would never, ever go to church if it were not the mass, because I go for the Eucharist, not the music or the donuts afterwards. The social stuff is important, but what is essential is the sacramental union with our Lord.

Our Christian brothers and sisters have a lot that is good, as do people of good will everywhere. But the issue of authority is the ultimate issue, and everyone needs to come to a decision about whether or not there is such a thing, and if so, does one submit to it or reject it?

Woooooooo
So Pooes and Priests are infallible?
We all have acess to God thru Jesus Christ who sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us.
The Church is the Body of Christ, which is us as Christians as a whole.
It is not some organization.
Christuan churches have communion, just not every service.
I am sorry, but what you are saying is just scriptural.
It is about what the Word says, you are to study and learn it "In Spirit and in Truth".

Anonymous wrote:OP, it's simply a question of authority.

Catholics believe Jesus founded his Church with authority, and with a promise that the gates of Hell would not prevail against that legitimate authority. Therefore, we have the unbroken succession of popes and the ongoing authority of the Church in matters of doctrine and faith. Even corruption and heresy and scandal have not destroyed that authority in matters of faith and morals. The Church has seen even darker times than the past few years, by far, yet its teachings stand.

Christian churches began with the rejection of the authority of the Church, and now each denomination--or even each pastor or each individual--is their own absolute authority.

This seems ok at first--we are all decent people, right? But then you plow into a brick wall of moral chaos, and we are back to the problem Jesus came to solve: after the Fall, we were sheep without a shepherd, clouded consciences, trying to listen to God's word written on our hearts, but without the ability to see it clearly. Then the Word became flesh. And the absolute Authority that is God gave us His authority on earth.

Without authority, every church is a social group, nothing more. I would never, ever go to church if it were not the mass, because I go for the Eucharist, not the music or the donuts afterwards. The social stuff is important, but what is essential is the sacramental union with our Lord.

Our Christian brothers and sisters have a lot that is good, as do people of good will everywhere. But the issue of authority is the ultimate issue, and everyone needs to come to a decision about whether or not there is such a thing, and if so, does one submit to it or reject it?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The focus is supposed to be about maturing your walk with the Lord.
Learning and growing in your understanding of the Word, maturing in your faith.
I am sure there are some large churches that don't do this and some that don't.
And the pp who wrote about what other people's opinon...needs to find out about it for themselves..not go on someone else's opinion.
What is the message of Jesus that you think they are getting away from?
Frankly, I don't believe that every Sunday you should be preaching about how to get saved....you have to mature as a Christian.
You open the doors of the church of course -- have people come for salvation...but that should not be the focus of every sermon.

I agree
and that is why I got tired of going to church. Same thing just about every Sunday, and my financial situation changed so I felt guilty about attending without paying

Anonymous wrote:
The focus is supposed to be about maturing your walk with the Lord.
Learning and growing in your understanding of the Word, maturing in your faith.
I am sure there are some large churches that don't do this and some that don't.
And the pp who wrote about what other people's opinon...needs to find out about it for themselves..not go on someone else's opinion.
What is the message of Jesus that you think they are getting away from?
Frankly, I don't believe that every Sunday you should be preaching about how to get saved....you have to mature as a Christian.
You open the doors of the church of course -- have people come for salvation...but that should not be the focus of every sermon.

Anonymous wrote:I know people want to, as a rule, crap all over other people posts on DCUM. But I believe that the OP has made a valid and insightful observation. I've read similar perspectives on the Christian megachurches -- the full-service ones, some even with Starbucks and gyms in them. The focus, in these churches, is personal gratification. It's feel good "religion" from the folks that subscribe to the so called "prosperity gospel." The preachers are "cool" young dudes with highlighted hair and there's a lot of me, me, me there. There's not much concern for others. Most of the people attending are republicans (shocker!) and they only care about themselves. Seems kinda far away from Jesus to me.

OP here: YES, this is exactly what I was trying to say! the focus is all wrong in my opnion.