Bakker, Brown: What the hell happened to Christianity?

[rebel with a cause]

POSTED: 10:07 a.m. EST, December 14, 2006

Bakker, Brown: What the hell happened to Christianity?

By Jay Bakker and Marc Brown
Special to CNN

Editor's note: Jay Bakker, son of former Praise The Lord leaders Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye Messner, is minister of Revolution Church and subject of a new documentary series, "One Punk Under God," on Sundance Channel. Marc Brown is a Revolution staff member.

NEW YORK (CNN) -- What the hell happened? Where did we go wrong? How was Christianity co-opted by a political party? Why are Christians supporting laws that force others to live by their standards? The answers to these questions are integral to the survival of Christianity.

While the current state of Christianity might seem normal and business-as-usual to some, most see through the judgment and hypocrisy that has permeated the church for so long. People witness this and say to themselves, "Why would I want to be a part of that?" They are turned off by Christians and eventually, to Christianity altogether. We can't even count the number of times someone has given us a weird stare or completely brushed us off when they discover we work for a church.

So when did the focus of Christianity shift from the unconditional love and acceptance preached by Christ to the hate and condemnation spewed forth by certain groups today? Some say it was during the rise of Conservative Christianity in the early 1980s with political action groups like the Moral Majority. Others say it goes way back to the 300s, when Rome's Christian Emperor Constantine initiated a set of laws limiting the rights of Roman non-Christians. Regardless of the origin, one thing is crystal clear: It's not what Jesus stood for.

His parables and lessons were focused on love and forgiveness, a message of "come as you are, not as you should be." The bulk of his time was spent preaching about helping the poor and those who are unable to help themselves. At the very least, Christians should be counted on to lend a helping hand to the poor and others in need.

This brings us to the big issues of American Christianity: Abortion and gay marriage. These two highly debatable topics will not be going away anytime soon. Obviously, the discussion centers around whether they are right or wrong, but is the screaming really necessary? After years of witnessing the dark side of religion, Marc and I think not.

Christians should be able to look past their differences and agree to disagree. This allows people to discuss issues with respect for one another. Christians are called to love others just as they are, without an agenda. Only then will Christianity see a return to its roots: Loving God with all of your heart and loving your neighbor as yourself.

The Apostle Paul describes this idea of love beautifully in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."

But don't take our word for it; look at what Jesus and his followers stood for in his time and what Christianity stands for today. Then come to your own conclusion.


The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the writer. This is part of an occasional series of commentaries on CNN.com that offers a broad range of perspectives, thoughts and points of view.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/12/13/bakker.brown.commentary/index.html

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. come on, people now,

smile on your brother, everybody get together, time to love one another right now....

The teachings of Christ, of the Buddha, of Mohammed, of all prophets, deals with accepting others and working, first and foremost, upon your own faults, not theirs.

[rebel with a cause]

2. Everybody now

sing along. :bounce:

I agree with this teaching, although I am far from living up to it.

[Bushies gotta go]

3. Amen

The way I see it, I despise these right wing Christian nuts that have assumed the Bush card means they can dictate, dictate, dictate... and I firmly believe it will end up much the same as the 06 election.... People by the masses will shun anything to do with them and the result will be that Christianity will become an unpopular thing to mention.

[stopbush]

4. Yes - take a look at what Jesus actually said and you'll find that the

intolerant nut position more fully reflects his teachings. Why do these apologists always cherry pick the sayings of Jesus to
support the "peace and love" end of his message? Where's the stuff about fulfilling the law which will last for eternity? Where's
the stuff about owning slaves? Where's the part about hating your parents and your family to become a follower of Jesus? Where's
the part about no one getting into heaven unless they follow Jesus? That's hardly "come as you are," in principle or in practice.

Sorry, but the "differences" the article mentions are the foundations of this religion. Xians not having an agenda? Hell - Jesus GAVE them
the agenda, ie: go out and make disciples of everybody.

A pretty weak article. What's that about being lukewarm and being spit out?

[rebel with a cause]

8. Okay, you made your point.

The thing is that I prefer to remember that the bible was written by men, and rewritten by men to please kings, slave owners and religious leaders over the years. I take what I see as reasonable about the reports of his teaching and forget what I think was added by others.

Oh, I don't think it's recorded that you should hate your parents and family, instead it said "forsake", which I don't agree with either. what I do believe in is that you should live a life that shows others what a "Christian, Muslim, Buddhist,and etc" should be and that would be the testimony of your belief. I don't believe anyone should be preached at, who does not want to be. Before you get too up at arms at me, I also do not really believe in organized religion, because the organizations tend to take away the humanity and forms a "mob think" (in my opinion). On the other hand, I believe in the rights of people to have their own way to worship, and do not put down anyone who does not hurt their fellow beings.

On the good side, you make me look like a little ray of sunshine. O8)

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

9. Please cite sources

I don't have a Bible handy, but I know the admonishment for slaves to obey their masters is found in one of Paul's letters, not in the words of Jesus. I believe the "forsaking" of parents, etc, doesn't mean "hate" but leaving an old outmoded way of thinking. I would suggest you read the work of Aramaic scholars who have recently done direct translations from Aramaic to English to fully understand the words of Jesus. I would suggest the author Neil Douglas-Klotz; I know him personally and find his scholarship and understanding excellent.

[twilight_sailing]

11. more slavery than you can shake a whip at -

http://search.freefind.com/find.html?id=2949348&pid=r&mode=ALL&query=slaves&t=s

[stopbush]

13. Here ya go: online sources at your fingertips.

http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/

Re, slaves:

Matthew 5:17 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
Jesus says that the Old Testament laws are binding on everyone forever, and the OT law tells you how to treat your slaves. Those are the words of Jesus, not Paul.

And, just in case you think the OT laws aren't binding on the followers of Jesus, there's this:

5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven

Re: hate:

Luke 14:26 "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple."

That translation is pretty standard. The word "hate" appears in the versions listed here: http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/versions.html

I trust you'll do any more research on your own. The above site is easily searchable.

[Tace]

5. This Guy's Dad Is A Poster Child For Mammon Worship

I see the son has joined the family biz.

[denverbill]

6. I never thought I'd agree with anyone from that family.

I still don't have much trust in any mega-church preacher. I don't know if the new Bakker is one of those, so I hope he isn't following in his father's footsteps. Using the power of the pulpit as a path to earthly riches is as anti-Christian as you can get. But just based on his words here, it's hard to believe he's doing that.

[anotherdrew]

10. if this is who I think it is, his church is in an old building in the poor part of downtown Portland

he doesn't have a mega-church that's for sure. Anyone inside who wants to go after the right wing loony branch of the church is fine by me.

[closeupready]

14. Tammy Faye's son's ministry/church is in Brooklyn,

I think.

[rebel with a cause]

12. I don't trust him either,

and am definitely not a follower of his or anyone else. I did see him interviewed and he is not much like his father, except in the preacher thing. He is a tattooed, pierced thirty year old who looks more like a biker than a minister. He says he does not believe in the mega churches or the way his father ministered. The documentary made on him (they showed a clip during the interview) showed him preaching in a bar. I basically don't personally believe in even his way of "testifying", but it is not up to me to pass judgment on him. As long as he is not taking advantage financially or otherwise hurting the people he is speaking to, I've got nothing to say on it. He said he had made peace with his father and is close to his mother Tammy Faye, who is dying.

Okay, that is all I know about him.

[melm00se]

7. the answer is easy (but not palatableto them)

Why are Christians supporting laws that force others to live by their standards?
So when did the focus of Christianity shift from the unconditional love and acceptance preached by Christ to the hate and condemnation spewed forth by certain groups today?

because, they aren't Christians?
calling a dog a duck, no matter how many times, will never make a dog a duck

[maddezmom]

15. locking

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