VIVA LAS JESUS – Megachurches are all about entertainment. Which one is right for you?
From the Orlando Weekly…A Non Christians view of the mega church.
If you’ve ever seen Joel Osteen on television, you know what a megachurch
is. Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston is the epitome. It seats
16,000, and based on the services I’ve seen on TV – the broadcasts
reach another 18 million or so viewers – those seats are filled week in
and week out. Lakewood is more than a church. It’s a mini-city, an
institution unto itself.
is. Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston is the epitome. It seats
16,000, and based on the services I’ve seen on TV – the broadcasts
reach another 18 million or so viewers – those seats are filled week in
and week out. Lakewood is more than a church. It’s a mini-city, an
institution unto itself.
That’s what separates today’s crop of
megachurches from churches of old. Call it the Wal-Martization of
church, where the big boys on the block swallow up their smaller kin.
Or chalk it up to the free market, where some churches have simply
pegged a formula to pack the pews, using the sizzle to sell the steak.
megachurches from churches of old. Call it the Wal-Martization of
church, where the big boys on the block swallow up their smaller kin.
Or chalk it up to the free market, where some churches have simply
pegged a formula to pack the pews, using the sizzle to sell the steak.
But
megachurches are about more than standing-room-only crowds. There’s a
reason people will seek the Lord in a room of 2,000 people or more
rather than attending a smaller, monotonous gathering that lets out in
time for lunch at Golden Corral and the NFL kickoff. That’s old school.
The new school is about excitement. It’s flashing lights and loud
drums. It’s dancing in the aisles and praising Jesus until your voice
goes hoarse. It’s energy; these places feel alive.
megachurches are about more than standing-room-only crowds. There’s a
reason people will seek the Lord in a room of 2,000 people or more
rather than attending a smaller, monotonous gathering that lets out in
time for lunch at Golden Corral and the NFL kickoff. That’s old school.
The new school is about excitement. It’s flashing lights and loud
drums. It’s dancing in the aisles and praising Jesus until your voice
goes hoarse. It’s energy; these places feel alive.
That
feeling goes beyond the music, which in some cases lasts for more than
an hour. The preaching is powerful as well; you don’t get membership
numbers in the thousands by putting everyone to sleep. The sermons
delve less into who begat whom and focus more on evangelism. There are
altar calls in which folks come forward by the dozens to be “born
again.” The collection plates are filled with thousands of dollars,
money used to finance huge buildings and rock-concert quality lighting
that, in turn, draw more people in.
feeling goes beyond the music, which in some cases lasts for more than
an hour. The preaching is powerful as well; you don’t get membership
numbers in the thousands by putting everyone to sleep. The sermons
delve less into who begat whom and focus more on evangelism. There are
altar calls in which folks come forward by the dozens to be “born
again.” The collection plates are filled with thousands of dollars,
money used to finance huge buildings and rock-concert quality lighting
that, in turn, draw more people in.
Orlando has more than its
share of megachurches. They’re typically Protestant, socially
conservative and evangelical. They want to change the world, one soul
at a time, and are amassing the resources to do it.
share of megachurches. They’re typically Protestant, socially
conservative and evangelical. They want to change the world, one soul
at a time, and are amassing the resources to do it.
But with so
many to choose from, which megachurch is right for you? That’s where we
come in. Over the last few months, I visited five of Central Florida’s
biggest, loudest and funkiest churches. Some were rollicking; others
were more subdued. Some begged for money; others begged you to convert.
They all had their own charms, though some made me want to leave a
little faster than others.
many to choose from, which megachurch is right for you? That’s where we
come in. Over the last few months, I visited five of Central Florida’s
biggest, loudest and funkiest churches. Some were rollicking; others
were more subdued. Some begged for money; others begged you to convert.
They all had their own charms, though some made me want to leave a
little faster than others.
I put together a guide to five of
the largest megachurches in Orlando; I know there are more, but I
didn’t have the time or space to go to every one. They are graded from
one to five (one being the lowest) in the following categories:
the largest megachurches in Orlando; I know there are more, but I
didn’t have the time or space to go to every one. They are graded from
one to five (one being the lowest) in the following categories:
Audio/Visual
Did the light show and video screens blow my mind?
Per$i$tence
How much pressure did I feel to empty my wallet?
Fire and Brimstone
They all wanted my soul, but who made the best case?
Politics
How much does the Lord dislike homos, taxes and liberals?
Touchy-feeliness
Did I leave feeling warm all over?
And now my disclaimer, which will be ignored by those who believe writing
critically about any church is sacrilege, but here it is: I grew up in
a religious family and attended a Christian school and a megachurch
until my high school years. And while I’m not down with many
fundamentalist values these days, I respect the right of everyone to
worship as they please. The simple fact is that some churches are more
entertaining than others.
CALVARY ASSEMBLY OF GOD
www.calvaryorlando.org
This is the church that will blind you if you catch the sun reflecting off
its glass walls while driving on I-4. But more than that, Calvary is
one of the most politically important churches in Central Florida, as
it houses Exodus International – the group that wants to make gays
straight – and provides the set for the Liberty Counsel’s television
show. This was the first church I attended on my little adventure –
truth be told, the first church I’d attended in a while – and I
probably could have picked a better day. It was July 31, and as I later
realized, the Rev. Clark Whitten’s last day in the pulpit. After 10
years as Calvary’s pastor, he was leaving following a dispute with the
church’s deacons. So perhaps I didn’t get the full flavor of a Sunday
morning at Calvary; but what I did get was memorable.
its glass walls while driving on I-4. But more than that, Calvary is
one of the most politically important churches in Central Florida, as
it houses Exodus International – the group that wants to make gays
straight – and provides the set for the Liberty Counsel’s television
show. This was the first church I attended on my little adventure –
truth be told, the first church I’d attended in a while – and I
probably could have picked a better day. It was July 31, and as I later
realized, the Rev. Clark Whitten’s last day in the pulpit. After 10
years as Calvary’s pastor, he was leaving following a dispute with the
church’s deacons. So perhaps I didn’t get the full flavor of a Sunday
morning at Calvary; but what I did get was memorable.
Audio/Visual
Calvary has a massive choir, and at this 9:45 a.m. service it also had a full,
relatively tame band that played music just upbeat enough to keep you
awake, but quiet enough not to make the mostly white suburbanites that
dotted the pews uncomfortable. What freaked me out was the flag corps.
This church has its own flag corps! That was something I’d yet to see
in my prior years of churchgoing. The corps wasn’t great or anything,
but who cares? Calvary also gets points for making the “announcement”
part of its service a truly high-tech affair, including a 30-second ad
on the huge projection screens above the stage that looked like a car
commercial but ended up asking men to sign up for Promise Keepers.
relatively tame band that played music just upbeat enough to keep you
awake, but quiet enough not to make the mostly white suburbanites that
dotted the pews uncomfortable. What freaked me out was the flag corps.
This church has its own flag corps! That was something I’d yet to see
in my prior years of churchgoing. The corps wasn’t great or anything,
but who cares? Calvary also gets points for making the “announcement”
part of its service a truly high-tech affair, including a 30-second ad
on the huge projection screens above the stage that looked like a car
commercial but ended up asking men to sign up for Promise Keepers.
Per$i$tence
Every church passes a collection plate – or a red-felt collection satchel, in
this case. That’s how they make money to build buildings and pay their
staff. It’s expected. And Calvary, like every other church I’ve ever
been in, took up an offering. But here, it was low-key; in this guide,
that will earn Calvary fewer stars (or money buckets, as the case may
be), but it will make me a little more willing to go back. I also
applaud the church for putting its financial information out for all
the world to see.
this case. That’s how they make money to build buildings and pay their
staff. It’s expected. And Calvary, like every other church I’ve ever
been in, took up an offering. But here, it was low-key; in this guide,
that will earn Calvary fewer stars (or money buckets, as the case may
be), but it will make me a little more willing to go back. I also
applaud the church for putting its financial information out for all
the world to see.
Fire and Brimstone
Whitten’s short (and final) sermon mainly consisted of a goodbye to his
congregants, reminiscing about how the church grew huge under his
watch, wishing them the best and assuring them that he was going to be
all right. There was no altar call.
Politics
Whitten is well-known as a conservative activist, battling gay-rights groups
and supporting groups like the Liberty Counsel that try to push their
worldview into politics. So Calvary gets its four stars mainly on
reputation, as Whitten’s only political reference was to “people who
hate God” who protested his anti-gay agenda one Sunday long ago by
making a ruckus inside his church.
and supporting groups like the Liberty Counsel that try to push their
worldview into politics. So Calvary gets its four stars mainly on
reputation, as Whitten’s only political reference was to “people who
hate God” who protested his anti-gay agenda one Sunday long ago by
making a ruckus inside his church.
Touchy-feeliness
Calvary has a smoothie/coffee bar. How cool is that? The congregation is smiley
and friendly and if you walk into the sanctuary Bible-less, they’ll
give you one. But it was the smoothie bar that I’ll remember. It wasn’t
the best smoothie ever and it wasn’t free, but so what? It was served
with a smile and a “God bless,” and that’s just cool.
and friendly and if you walk into the sanctuary Bible-less, they’ll
give you one. But it was the smoothie bar that I’ll remember. It wasn’t
the best smoothie ever and it wasn’t free, but so what? It was served
with a smile and a “God bless,” and that’s just cool.
The first thing you see when you turn into FBC-Orlando is a sign for the
Payne Stewart Athletic Complex, named for the golfer and church member
who died in a plane crash a few years ago. The church also runs a
school, The First Academy, and holds an annual golf tournament, which
appeared to be sponsored by Harley-Davidson this year. This church is massive.
It looks more like a convention center than a sanctuary. As the crowd
filed in, the projection screen boasted advertisements for mental
health classes, a prison ministry, the anti-gay marriage amendment and
a dance troupe.
Payne Stewart Athletic Complex, named for the golfer and church member
who died in a plane crash a few years ago. The church also runs a
school, The First Academy, and holds an annual golf tournament, which
appeared to be sponsored by Harley-Davidson this year. This church is massive.
It looks more like a convention center than a sanctuary. As the crowd
filed in, the projection screen boasted advertisements for mental
health classes, a prison ministry, the anti-gay marriage amendment and
a dance troupe.
Audio-Visual
The 10:45 a.m. service had a rather small choir on three risers in the
center of the stage. However, this was the “contemporary” service; the
earlier, traditional service had an orchestra and gigantic choir. This
service had a band that, like Calvary’s, was almost-but-not-quite
jamming in a Dave Matthews kind of way. The lights dimmed when the
first song kicked in, but the rest of the light show was unremarkable.
What I did notice was how perfectly the music ebbed and flowed with the
rest of the service, how it brought the audience to their feet, hands
raised, and then calmed them into a more gentle, contemplative state
just before the sermon began.
center of the stage. However, this was the “contemporary” service; the
earlier, traditional service had an orchestra and gigantic choir. This
service had a band that, like Calvary’s, was almost-but-not-quite
jamming in a Dave Matthews kind of way. The lights dimmed when the
first song kicked in, but the rest of the light show was unremarkable.
What I did notice was how perfectly the music ebbed and flowed with the
rest of the service, how it brought the audience to their feet, hands
raised, and then calmed them into a more gentle, contemplative state
just before the sermon began.
Per$i$tence
I don’t even remember an offering, which means – if memory serves me
right, which it probably doesn’t because I’m rarely coherent on Sunday
mornings – it was pretty basic, or I took off before they passed the
plate at the end of the service.
right, which it probably doesn’t because I’m rarely coherent on Sunday
mornings – it was pretty basic, or I took off before they passed the
plate at the end of the service.
Fire and Brimstone
Pastor Jim Henry’s sermon was about the end of the world, or more
specifically, signs that the end was nigh-ish. In essence, he said that
in every generation people predict the end times and they haven’t come
yet, so don’t worry. (Jesus is coming, but Henry’s not really sure
when.) He did say that 60 percent of Christians worldwide live under
some form of persecution – like a school bus driver in Maryland who was
fired after leading a prayer and an evangelical Hillsborough county
commissioner who was attacked in the media after pushing an anti-gay
vote. There was an altar call over a soft, almost weeping piano in the
background.
specifically, signs that the end was nigh-ish. In essence, he said that
in every generation people predict the end times and they haven’t come
yet, so don’t worry. (Jesus is coming, but Henry’s not really sure
when.) He did say that 60 percent of Christians worldwide live under
some form of persecution – like a school bus driver in Maryland who was
fired after leading a prayer and an evangelical Hillsborough county
commissioner who was attacked in the media after pushing an anti-gay
vote. There was an altar call over a soft, almost weeping piano in the
background.
Politics
Henry’s reference to the county commissioner who was supposedly persecuted –
although pushing a homophobic law in a political arena is bound to get
some pushback, wouldn’t you say? – was the only overtly political
reference I heard. But the pre-sermon “ads” endorsed the anti-gay
marriage amendment, and you just kind of got the feeling they weren’t
too fond of liberals, either.
although pushing a homophobic law in a political arena is bound to get
some pushback, wouldn’t you say? – was the only overtly political
reference I heard. But the pre-sermon “ads” endorsed the anti-gay
marriage amendment, and you just kind of got the feeling they weren’t
too fond of liberals, either.
Touchy-feeliness
FBC isn’t unfriendly, but it did feel a little antiseptic for my taste. The
people there looked like run-of-the-mill, suburbanite Christian
conservatives, and there was nothing in particular that struck me as
wrong, but I felt a little disconnected from the rest of the
congregants. Just my opinion – don’t crucify me for it or anything.
people there looked like run-of-the-mill, suburbanite Christian
conservatives, and there was nothing in particular that struck me as
wrong, but I felt a little disconnected from the rest of the
congregants. Just my opinion – don’t crucify me for it or anything.
FaithWorld! Party time! Excellent! FaithWorld is theater from beginning to end,
almost to the point of parody. I went in unsure what to expect, having
read media reports that painted Pastor Clint Brown as a money-grubbing,
Hummer-driving charlatan, and nothing that I saw dissuaded me from said
media reports. There is a huge emphasis on money, and while Brown is an
emphatic speaker, he isn’t well-versed in theology. But it’s a show,
and it’s entertaining, and for that you have to pay. I think that’s
what keeps the crowds coming back, no matter what Brown does with their
money.
almost to the point of parody. I went in unsure what to expect, having
read media reports that painted Pastor Clint Brown as a money-grubbing,
Hummer-driving charlatan, and nothing that I saw dissuaded me from said
media reports. There is a huge emphasis on money, and while Brown is an
emphatic speaker, he isn’t well-versed in theology. But it’s a show,
and it’s entertaining, and for that you have to pay. I think that’s
what keeps the crowds coming back, no matter what Brown does with their
money.
Audio/Visual
In this category, FaithWorld has no rival. Start with the fog machine, and
the lights that flicker and swirl like anything you’d see at House of
Blues, and the choir that sways and dances, hands raised high the
entire time, shouting on command. Add the audience, which sways and
shouts back (including one young lady a few rows in front of me who
looked to be on the verge of an uncontrollable seizure the whole time).
Top it all off with the mimes. Yes, FaithWorld has mimes; they
performed a 15-minute routine to a recorded version of one of Brown’s
sermons – which totally smacked of hero worship, or perhaps idolatry,
but whatever. In terms of pure, unadulterated entertainment, FaithWorld
wins hands down.
the lights that flicker and swirl like anything you’d see at House of
Blues, and the choir that sways and dances, hands raised high the
entire time, shouting on command. Add the audience, which sways and
shouts back (including one young lady a few rows in front of me who
looked to be on the verge of an uncontrollable seizure the whole time).
Top it all off with the mimes. Yes, FaithWorld has mimes; they
performed a 15-minute routine to a recorded version of one of Brown’s
sermons – which totally smacked of hero worship, or perhaps idolatry,
but whatever. In terms of pure, unadulterated entertainment, FaithWorld
wins hands down.
Per$i$tence
I’ve never seen a church ask for money with so much fervor. There are two collections:
one for tithes – 10 percent of your “gross, not net” income, as we were
poignantly reminded – and another at the end for offerings above the
mandatory 10 percent. “Only give if God has blessed you,” the audience
was instructed. That’s a loaded statement. (Brown also asked if anyone
in the audience could write a $55,000 check to cover the cost of a gym
they’re trying to buy.) But more than the high-pressure sale, what was
unique to FaithWorld was the teaching that God will reward you
financially if you give money to the church. I’ve been around a lot of
churches in my life and I’ve been taught that tithing elicits God’s
blessings, but I’ve never heard anyone preach that if you give more
than 10 percent of your (gross, not net!) income to FaithWorld, God
will pay you back, with interest. My seventh-grade Bible teacher would
have a problem with that.
one for tithes – 10 percent of your “gross, not net” income, as we were
poignantly reminded – and another at the end for offerings above the
mandatory 10 percent. “Only give if God has blessed you,” the audience
was instructed. That’s a loaded statement. (Brown also asked if anyone
in the audience could write a $55,000 check to cover the cost of a gym
they’re trying to buy.) But more than the high-pressure sale, what was
unique to FaithWorld was the teaching that God will reward you
financially if you give money to the church. I’ve been around a lot of
churches in my life and I’ve been taught that tithing elicits God’s
blessings, but I’ve never heard anyone preach that if you give more
than 10 percent of your (gross, not net!) income to FaithWorld, God
will pay you back, with interest. My seventh-grade Bible teacher would
have a problem with that.
Fire and Brimstone
No doubt, Clint Brown is one animated speaker. He paces the stage, he
screams at the audience, and they scream back. That said, I had trouble
figuring out exactly what message Brown wanted to convey. He was, to
put it bluntly, all over the place. He talked about the literal
seven-day creation, and then skipped to something about God giving him
the talent to praise more than to preach, then to women not pursuing
men, then to homosexuality being bad, and back to the idea that giving
the church money is good. But he is entertaining, and he did end with
an altar call that produced a number of raised hands signaling new
converts, so all’s well that ends well.
screams at the audience, and they scream back. That said, I had trouble
figuring out exactly what message Brown wanted to convey. He was, to
put it bluntly, all over the place. He talked about the literal
seven-day creation, and then skipped to something about God giving him
the talent to praise more than to preach, then to women not pursuing
men, then to homosexuality being bad, and back to the idea that giving
the church money is good. But he is entertaining, and he did end with
an altar call that produced a number of raised hands signaling new
converts, so all’s well that ends well.
Politics
Two lines stick out from Brown’s sermon. The first: “Man and man don’t fit,
and if it don’t fit, acquit!” This got huge applause, and though I’m
not sure if it technically makes sense, the point is that gays are
sinful, based upon the in-hole/out-hole theory of sexuality. The
second: “Women, quit running around chasing [men] and let them come to
you because you don’t need them.” While some feminists might cheer this
line on, in context it was actually a call for chastity and came during
a discussion of to what degree men should be leaders of the household.
At least I think so; like I said, the sermon was a bit disjointed.
and if it don’t fit, acquit!” This got huge applause, and though I’m
not sure if it technically makes sense, the point is that gays are
sinful, based upon the in-hole/out-hole theory of sexuality. The
second: “Women, quit running around chasing [men] and let them come to
you because you don’t need them.” While some feminists might cheer this
line on, in context it was actually a call for chastity and came during
a discussion of to what degree men should be leaders of the household.
At least I think so; like I said, the sermon was a bit disjointed.
Touchy-feeliness
FaithWorld may have been a spectacle, but it didn’t give me that warm, fuzzy
feeling. You could argue that it was because I was one of only a few
white faces – FaithWorld is a predominantly African-American church,
although Brown is white – but I don’t think that’s it. It was more a
sense that I was an outsider, that this was a clique and I wasn’t
invited. Maybe if I had thrown some money in the plate things would
have been different.
feeling. You could argue that it was because I was one of only a few
white faces – FaithWorld is a predominantly African-American church,
although Brown is white – but I don’t think that’s it. It was more a
sense that I was an outsider, that this was a clique and I wasn’t
invited. Maybe if I had thrown some money in the plate things would
have been different.
I wonder what Sandals and our own churches would get?
[Comment Box]
Los
[ht: TG]
RAIN IT DOWN
That might have been the longest post I’ve ever seen on your blog. However, it intrigued me enough to read the whole thing. Does make you wonder though.
I don’t think there’s a risk that my church will fall fully into the Six-Flags-Over-Jesus thing, but I DO wonder how much to temper our (my) continued push for improving what we do, especially when ‘improvement’ means ‘buying new stuff’. Anything can be justified when you wrap the right language around it, but as this writer shows, much of what we do during weekend services can be re-cast as manipulation, over-performance, or self-worship. Scary stuff. Hard to find the balance.
Ouch – “Every church passes a collection plate – That’s how they make money to build buildings and pay their staff.”
Thot u’d like that.
I stumbled upon this one whilst “working” here at my lowly job as a church loan underwriter – which, the more I think about it, is a job that is likely to land me directly in the 5th level of hell. Who’s enabling the consumer mentality in churches today?! That’d be me, the guy handing out the money…
The little graphics are hilarious. Especially the fire-and-brimstone.
the symbols are cute.
Yuck. This whole thing made me feel sick.
Ahhhh – church critique…
Why don’t we ever listen to the people who take so much time to go and comment about how we do church in America?
Entertainment? Which one is right for you? Bleccchhhh.
This guy is so right and so wrong at the same time!
this breaks my heart.
my heart is broken for the young man who wrote this article and for those who see church as merely a means of entertainment.
you should read “the irrestible revolution” by shane claiborne, its an amazing book
“This got huge applause, and though I’m not sure if it technically makes sense, the point is that gays are sinful, based upon the in-hole/out-hole theory of sexuality.”
I laughed outloud. Good work.
……a high school, they meet in a freaking high school!
actually, i think i know the guy who wrote this article. jeff billman. i graduated high school with his sister. small world.
if i ever work at/belong to a church gathering that is rated on it’s audio/visual quality, Touchy-feeliness, or politics then please, please kick me in the groin.
just another sign that Christians are really good at being exclusive, with their own code language and less about loving one another(and loving our enemies). Whatever happened to the concept of the church as a body? I wonder if Mega-mega churches (not Sandals) will have to go too far and fall apart before we wake up and realize what it is about. Not the building or what happens in the service. Being real. Loving people. Especially the ones we don’t like. Serving. Bringing our gifts and sharing. Letting the Holy Spirit guide our lives and filling us up with the fruits of the Holy Spirit. I’m being reminded that it’s not about how much or how well I can live good, or love others or be kind with my own strength. It’s about realizing that I can’t do it without God’s help, letting his love , joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, kindness, self-control flow through me.
Hi, I stumbled onto your blog from somewhere else.. I just came back from Florida (family there), but have never gone to a church service (although went to one last April for a concert etc). At the time I went the mega churches were called into question as well as W/O Walls church and said pastors. Interesting how the church is never much in media except when it gets bad. Anyway, I liked your reviews… personal yet not. Reminded me of the matt and casper go to church book. thanks.
On 4/5/2008 12:56:38 AM, stone said:
I do belong to one of the churches listed, but I don’t think that matters to this point. Church is about God. The buildings, light shows, whatever, are designed to bring us closer to Him. All we do should be to glorify Him. We can ask, what do I like, what do I want? We can be humanists, as the writer of the article seems to be. We want churches to serve our needs. We want nice places to sit. We want social clubs. We want attention for ourselves from the people at the church. Do we want Him? Do we really want His will in our life? Will we rejoice in suffering for the gospel so that we can rejoice in the hope He has to offer? (Romans 5:2-5) Can we walk in full obedience to Him, or is our faith simply filling our obligation on Sunday morning? It’s not about the building. It’s not about the show. It’s not even about who says “hi” to you. It’s not about YOU. It’s amazing how much we forget to celebrate forgiveness and the wonderful hope of our coming salvation. (Heb. 9:15; 5:8) Church is for His glory because He is worthy. (Rev. 5) “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe…God placed all things under his feet (Jesus’) and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fill everything in every way.”
I was wondering where the other 2 reviews were? I am working on an interfaith project and am enjoying learning about different congregations in Orlnado as well as meeting religious leaders. Please let me know where I can get a full review of your tour!
Thanks!
I attended a church in Indiana which was started by an ex biker. 20 years later and it is full and running over with folding chairs and people standing in aisles. You can dress however you want as long as you are covered so if Jesus came back right now, you wouldn’t feel bad at all about your holiness. This was a small church that needs to add on. Every race was welcome, every person greeted, the band was christian music that put you on a mind set to recieve the message. Message was always in and of the Bible, not some quote about “if it don’t fit, you must acquit”lol.stolen from OJ simpson trial. jeez… I am looking for a church now. The closest one is a first Baptist that has 3 sermons every Sunday, same minister. I like the Sunday Cafe service. Serves coffee, has band. gets you ready for sermons, but I don’t think politics has a place in church. Nor do I believe religion does either. Jesus preached a whole different way than was the norm. He helped the homeless, sick, and not at all what religious leaders of the time did. He has a lot to say about religion and about the church, and how we are to be… Love for others being the most impt. Love for money the least impt.Jesus is all about love and he did miracles that helped heal, feed,and even save our very souls. These mega Churches and even some of the smaller ones are into politics,greed ,judgemental of others,pious. I am still looking for a church to call home and am having a really hard time finding one that doesn’t focus all the money on bells and whistles and gives to the needy community like Jeurs did……Good Artical thanks