The whole "Greg Laurie" thing
I went to grocery shop today at the Harris Teeter in Cameron Village (the usual if I don't go to Trader Joe's). I was making up a salad at the salad bar when I was approached by a rather demure couple who began telling me about the Greg Laurie concert/revival/crusade tonight (Sunday) at the RBC Center. For those of you unaware of who Greg Laurie is ( I had only a vague idea before the encounter), he is a pastor of a large non-denominational church in Riverside, CA. Anyhoo, I politely declined because I don't really "do" the megachurch/revival thing. They offered me a flyer or two to give to some friends, which I also declined and they left with a polite "god bless".
About the megachurch thing... I've never felt comfortable around them. I grew up Lutheran at a traditional church in Lincolnton, NC (Emmanuel Lutheran). My church had two ordained ministers.... both also went to seminary at their respective institutions before entering the clergy. They were always there for us... when we needed someone to talk to, when our families had marital problems, when one of the members or were in pain or grieving a loved one. The point is, when we needed someone to help us interpret the difficulties in our lives, they were there and knew how to help us. I don't see how a megachurch could possibly provide that. It seems they get all the trappings of stardom and wealth without all the congregant service that traditonal pastors provide, or the intensive formal education.
As well intentioned as he is, Greg Laurie has no real credentials (he has a high school diploma). He has never formally studied religion and has likely never entered into a deep philosophical or theological discourse with other religious scholars. I have never trusted a self annointed religious leader, just as I would not trust a self annointed doctor or lawyer. Not that I don't trust the guy's intentions persay.... its that I feel that they don't particularly cover the essential issues in contemporary religion. It's "feel good" religion.... bands playing catchy tunes, with a smattering of religious symbolism and a short scripture, usually with the evangelist's own personal interpretation of its content. Such gospel might be entertaining (for some) in the short term, but it doesn't help answer the big questions.
We can already see what negative effects the collusion of entertainment and news have had (think the O'Reilly Factor, Anna Nicole and Paris) on the media's credibility. Unfortunately, the line between what constitutes entertainment and religion continues to blur as well. Just like most everything else today,.....Americans want their religion prepackaged, entertaining and largely without substance. And I'm sure theres plenty of people willing to sell them that.
As for me, when I go to church, I'll go to church. And if I want to see a band play, I'll go see the Allman Brothers.
About the megachurch thing... I've never felt comfortable around them. I grew up Lutheran at a traditional church in Lincolnton, NC (Emmanuel Lutheran). My church had two ordained ministers.... both also went to seminary at their respective institutions before entering the clergy. They were always there for us... when we needed someone to talk to, when our families had marital problems, when one of the members or were in pain or grieving a loved one. The point is, when we needed someone to help us interpret the difficulties in our lives, they were there and knew how to help us. I don't see how a megachurch could possibly provide that. It seems they get all the trappings of stardom and wealth without all the congregant service that traditonal pastors provide, or the intensive formal education.
As well intentioned as he is, Greg Laurie has no real credentials (he has a high school diploma). He has never formally studied religion and has likely never entered into a deep philosophical or theological discourse with other religious scholars. I have never trusted a self annointed religious leader, just as I would not trust a self annointed doctor or lawyer. Not that I don't trust the guy's intentions persay.... its that I feel that they don't particularly cover the essential issues in contemporary religion. It's "feel good" religion.... bands playing catchy tunes, with a smattering of religious symbolism and a short scripture, usually with the evangelist's own personal interpretation of its content. Such gospel might be entertaining (for some) in the short term, but it doesn't help answer the big questions.
We can already see what negative effects the collusion of entertainment and news have had (think the O'Reilly Factor, Anna Nicole and Paris) on the media's credibility. Unfortunately, the line between what constitutes entertainment and religion continues to blur as well. Just like most everything else today,.....Americans want their religion prepackaged, entertaining and largely without substance. And I'm sure theres plenty of people willing to sell them that.
As for me, when I go to church, I'll go to church. And if I want to see a band play, I'll go see the Allman Brothers.
Hey Steve,
I just saw this on the Wolfblogs page and was intrigued. I got to the end of the thoughtful post, on which I was preparing to comment about how much I liked it, and lo and behold it was you.
sg
Posted by steve on June 25, 2007 at 01:51 PM EDT #