A prominent pastor told of an experience with TV broadcasting. During the preliminary discussions with a public relations representative, the pastor discovered the only way to succeed in TV broadcasting was to include three areas of ministry. The rep told him that succesful television ministries must include an overseas mission, a healing ministry for all, and a last days agenda.
When I think about this even now, I am amazed how true this is in the religious world today. Surely you have seen these pleas from every major TV evangelist in America and many pastors from local churches as well. Spreading the Gospel over the world is, after all, the great commission. Most groups claim they are fulfilling the commission by taking the gospel to the world.
There is nothing like the picture of starving, homeless children to cause a person to open her purse. Drilling water wells for Africa and providing food for the hungry throughout the world are noble Christian causes. No one would even think to criticize these efforts. If you watch any TV evangelists, you will find them targeting these causes as well as a number of others.
Now stop and think for a moment about the reality of these claims. Just in my lifetime alone, if all the alleged accomplishments were true, the entire world would be hunger free and completely healthy. All the money that has been raised, all the food that has been sent, and all the miraculous healings that have taken place would be more than enough to cover the globe. In addition to those claims, we would also be living in the glorious last days. Jesus would be the King of Israel reigning in Jerusalem, and all the Jews would have returned to live in that holy place.
Ministries make many assertions, however many of them are unsubstantiated. Is this just pretence, or is it reality? I say it is make-believe.
Take a deeper look and you will find the American society is saturated with this premise. The political system has taken on the religious character. When the establishment wants to rally citizens around the flag, it creates an overseas calamity. These calamities may be real, imagined, or even manufactured.
Over the years, the U.S. involvement in Korea, Russia, Viet Nam, Iran, Iraq, and now Afghanistan has brought millions of citizens under the control of the establishment (government). It also creates a reason for unlimited spending.
Then there is the idea of healing for everyone. (Healthcare) The uproar over this issue is keeping America from looking at the moral decay taking place in our society. Healthcare is important, but it is not the real issue. The real issue is developing a healthy lifestyle. If Americans would discipline themselve to maintain a healthier life-style, then the need for healthcare would be minimized. However, few people are willing to make the changes necessary for healthy living.
Another similarity of politics and religion is the last days issues used to raise money and to control or manipulate others. Politics uses global warming, real or imagined, and religion uses daily newspaper headlines to tout the end of the world as we know it. Both of them magnify bits of truth in order to influence a certain populace. Talks and arguments using facts and fiction are used by each to substantiate their views. Much is just conversation with no real thought about it. Some believe global warming is inevitable while others are just as certain it is only make believe. The same can be said about the end of the world. This has been ongoing as long as I can remember, yet not a single so-called prediction has proven to be true. The bottom line for me is: both politicians and religionists will use any means possible, fact or fiction, to raid your bank account and your intelligence. Beware!
I hope that I have painted a picture for you that will cause you to think. I wrote in an earlier blog, God is the only thing completely dependable. Anything else is small talk – a smoke screen if you will – that keeps us from looking deep into the soul of America.
Religions may claim they are taking Jesus to the world and saving it from sin. Politicians may claim they are saving the world from terrorists and replacing oppressive governments with democracy. But there are those who see through the hypocrisy. Both American religion and government only make claims that have little validity. We are becoming the laughing stock of the world.
America is the greatest country in the world. I would not want to be anywhere else just as I would never give up my relationship with God. Both God and country are precious to me. However, the need to be real is of utmost importance.
We cannot continue to pretend we are doing what in fact we are not. In both instances, government and religions today are self-indulgent. They are not concerned about others, but they are concerned about their own welfare. A greedy and self-centered heart leads to selfish actions. Why pretend otherwise? Why make claims about how they are doing for others when actually they do things to benefit themselves.
All the talk, all the laws, all the money will not take the place of pure heart. Money cannot buy it. Laws will not change it. Talk will not sway it. A Godly heart comes from God alone. Man is foolish in thinking he can create anything remotely as pure as a Godly heart in humanity.
We can create all the noble issues we want - democracy overseas, healthcare here at home, or a green society globally – but they will never replace what God wants. He desires a pure heart and clean hands. America has neither.
What could happen if we give to Him all the attention and resources we give to false gods that bring no lasting relief to anyone?
Why do we continue to pretend reality is not real?
