Hack and the Christians

So anyway I was listening to Hack on my way home from work yesterday (Triple J current Affairs show available as a pod cast for my overseas buddys www.triplej.net.au) and along with the topic of Gay marriage and 2 Sydney lads heading off to NZ to get married they also had a story on a new Church opening on the Gold Coast called Kings.

So anyway this church has been open 7 years, and was celebrating the opening of some hall or something, but what struck me and has got me thinking is how these new churches fund themselves and how they operate. This church can be likened to Hillsong in Sydney's Hills district if you know anything about that one. And young people are joining in droves.

If like me you know not alot but are a little puzzled why hundreds of young folk are joining these Christian Pentecostal style churches I decided to delve into it a little more and do some research of my own. So Ive opened up a big can of worms here and Ive not come to any conclusions, if anything Im a little scared, scared of the unknown, well yes.

It is in my understanding these churches are very conservative in there teachings, and FYI Hillsong has received support from the Liberal Party and John Howard has even attended one of its Hillsong Conventions. While this does not surprise me at all, what really got my attention was and going back to the original point of my story was the young people being interviewed on Hack that pledged money every week to the Church.

Not so different than the plate that was passed around the Catholic Church I was dragged to every Sunday growing up by my parents. Well yeah I think it is, these young people pledged 10% of there yearly wage to the church and then also offered another weekly offering on top of that. They also have an eliteist group of the congregation that offer $100k+ a year.

In return, what did they get?? Well a shiny new building with a full multimedia set up to stream the 'word' to begin with so they could praise the lord in an emotional display that is regarded as being one of the defining marks of Pentecostals. Yeah these are the guys that raise there hands and spontaneously "thank the lord" and also have a rock band and choir attend services. Electric rock Gods?? hmmm yeah ok.

And while I immediately think of a whole heap of American scammers and early morning bad christian TV, oh and those huge drug and alcohol free christian rock festivals, oh and the christian life surfers that held bbq's next to the uni bar in Newcastle. Im still not so sure why the Christians from churches like Hillsong and Kings are unsettling me so much. Maybe its the way that Christians have no fear in expressing the way that they have found Jesus and brought him into there lives and now they are saved.

Yeah right, ok saved, saved from what?? All the sins they committed before they were saved?? Saved from Friday night football and Sundays by themselves all alone?? Ok so Im a little cynical. I feel all the people joining up are taking a giant step back.

But hey what would I know, think I need to have a few debates with all the 'new' Christians joining up and get to the bottom of this cause it just aint sitting right.

To be Cont...