Posted this a while back and thought it time to post it again.

Well in ending 2006, I’m hosting the annual Rahab (Christian Whore) Awards. I think Craig Gross said it best when he said, “If Satan’s a Pimp, Don’t be his Hoe.”

This award goes toward the best public display by a prominent Christian to sell out/whore out to the world. By their actions they are saying, I love you God, but my integrity can be bought for a price.

The Nominations:

A. Joel Osteen for “Your Best Life Now” Board Game. Ummm wow. It almost speaks for itself. Reminds me of the Prayer of Jabez CD! 

B. Me - As someone once said (in the comments below) “one mans sell out is another man’s angry rantings.”Touche’!  Very true, so I’m placing myself, now, on this list between Osteen and the blonde. So I’m in good company! Bonus points for coming up with a critical awards nominations list in the first place.

C. Jessica Simpson-  My Daddy was a youth pastor, but he likes flaunting what God gave me for cash! Bonus points for having a daddy pimp you out!

D. Veggie Tales- Big Idea productions gets bought (Phil Vicher, creator is out) and bye bye go the Christian morals for Saturday mornings on NBC.

E. Us- for fueling a christian marketing industry that uses our faith for making boat loads of money! It’s no different from the commercialized world, it just looks nicer. Bonus points: we killed Christmas. Jesus who? Forget that - where are my presents!

Please add any write in’s to the comment bar below.

Is this an angry rant? Well, blogging is my therapy.

In light of the current homosexual lovin’ for pay scandal with Rev. Ted Haggard… I feel it is my Christian duty to refer all of us to this website:

www.GodHatesFigs.com

I know it’s controversial, but he Lord really did hate figs (check out all the examples on the website). This site convicted me and I’m changing my diet immediately. I’m a changed man because of it. I’m pretty sure that Mr. Haggard ate figs, and look what happened to him. Let his story be a cautionary tale to you all.

Also there are bonus free tracts on the site that are free to print out! A must see!

(thanks to Chris Summerfield for the link)

I blogged a while back on Hollywood pursuing the Christian dollar. And after hearing about it again this morning on the news, I’m just mad. What have we done as Christians to be viewed as a dollar demographic of people?

Is it even good that we’re viewed as a demographic. It makes us sound more like lambs for the slaughter than roaring lions. We are no longer viewed as dangerous individuals tirelessly pursuing Christ and giving our lives over to saving a lost world. No, we’ve become a buying class of people. Are we dangerous? No.

How does the world percieve us? Well, we’re PG and family wholesome. We buy nice clean things that make us feel nice and clean. We have let ourselves become stereotyped and neutered.

Where are our Christian testicles!?! They were lopped of long ago. I want to be a scary hairy smelly man crying out in the wilderness like John the Baptist. I don’t want be Ned Flanders.

Hollywood sees us as just another group to market and milk for cash. They don’t fear the message we have to offer. The smile, nod their heads and then give us what we want as we call it a victory for Christians!They set the trends (take the cash) and we dutifully follow.

The guys at the XXXchurch.com website use the phrase, “If Satan’s a pimp, don’t be his hoe.” Well are we hoe-ing ourselves out for a better life? To fit in? To be comfortable?

What has been lost? Too much.

How do we get it back? That’s something I’m trying to figure out, seeking it in prayer and practice.

So how about you? How does this make you feel?

Doing a web search earlier this week (on a completely different topic) I stumbled on this website.

http://www.nomoretithing.org/

It’s a site completely devoted to proclaiming the idea that we’re free in Christ and don’t need to tithe… ever! Then make the argument that tithing is an Old Covenant (Old Testament) practice and doesn’t apply now. We can give, but shouldn’t feel like we have to.

I don’t really know where to start with this one. All I can tell you is my belief on tithing. I believe that we are called to give the Lord our best, weather that is through, works, time spent with him, or giving (tithe). Tithing is a heart issue. Are we so consumed with what we have that we are unwilling to give back to the Lord in faith. I give out of my love of my Maker. The most basic story that should cover this is Cain and Abel. Abel gave out of an abundant heart of love while Cain held back. This whole concept seems to be very Cainish.

I know people have been burned by televangelists and churches who seem to focus more on money than equipping the saints for service. I agree that there are many ministries that are off and moving forward with false motives. But let us not be reactionary. I’m accountable to the Lord and my heart is tied to Him and not a church. We give to Him, not a church.

I’m not held to a 10% or guilted into giving. I do it because I feel called to. I do it out of obedience. I do it with joy. I do it because I choose to follow Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I do it because all that I have is the Lord’s anyway - so why fool myself into thinking otherwise.