Cushy Christianity by Julie Albracht

I simply want to share what I believe is a brilliant article that a friend wrote. Thank you Julie Albract for writing. Enjoy!!

As a recovering Cushy Christian, I write this not of out judgement, but hope for those who are stuck in a system that is very short-sided. I define “Cushy Christians” as those who are more concerned with what they're going to wear to church this Sunday, who they are going to sit with, whether the leaders will acknowledge them, how they can out Christianese their fellow Cushies with how “blessed” they are because they have the Lord's favor, than about God or their own families. They spend most of the church service contemplating which Cushy family they will go to lunch with afterwards. In the system of Cushy Christianity, there is a selfishness that is led from the top. It teaches that you need to do and think “this” way, so that you can “get” this or that. It is all about you. God gets lost and is used as a prop to get our selfish agenda accomplished. It isn't even a realized idea that we are selfish because everyone we are around is also selfish, and we all talk about God a lot and quote the scriptures to fit our agenda, so it must be right....right?

Cushies use the word “fellowship” to justify the amount of time spent with other Cushies. There is nothing wrong with relationships with other believers, in fact they can be the most amazing and rewarding. The problem comes when MOST of our time and energy is spent with them. There are other kinds of relationships that are amazing, as well. There are people out in the world that could benefit from your time and energy. You go to a house of worship to get filled up for the week, however, most are doing nothing but rubbing the back and ego of other Christians. Who or what is filling you up? Is it God or others approval of you? Step outside of the comfortable frat life that is being created and use what you are learning as a believer of God's word, and look outside of yourself and other Cushies. Help those outside of the walls of your Cushy Zone.

Leaders of the Cushy world do not want this to happen. They want you to help others only as long as it means bringing them back to the Cushy Zone, so they can become Cushies as well. Leaders of the Cushies want to have control of who you help and how much time you spend outside of that system. What is worse is the way recovering Cushies are treated when they decide to look outside of the walls of their house of worship. They are treated as traitors. Traitors of what? They aren’t traitors of God, but traitors to the idol worship of that system. It is not a sin to look outward instead of inward. In fact, looking only at what benefits you and your church surely is.

I used to work for a bank. They taught me in training that opening a checking account is good, but if we really want to get them attached and loyal to our bank, then we need to persuade them to open other accounts, CD's, get loans etc. The thinking was the more they are invested the harder it will be for them to ever leave, even if something goes wrong. This same philosophy is being used in churches nationwide. North American churches are becoming more and more about big business and less about God. When people who have been members of a large church for years leave, and the leadership doesn’t even notice, maybe your church is just too big. Bigger doesn’t mean better. Invest in the people God gives you to lead, instead of manipulating them to invest in you and your system.
A leader doesn’t ask others to do what they aren’t willing to do themselves. Is your leader removed from others, or do they mingle with the “common folk”?


I heard recently about a multi million dollar church dedication service in which a prayer went something like this, "God, we pray you would be bigger and greater than this building." Seriously??? Shouldn't you have thought about that before you started building? You are praying this to the creator of the universe?? God doesn't care about your fancy building. He cares about your heart...period. We don't have to be comfortable to worship Him. In fact, I think the more comfortable we become, the less we worship. Where is the need? People I know who have visited churches in other countries, come back to America and their stomaches turn at how ridiculous we have made the business of church. I think of the movie "Schindler's List" often and the scene when Liam Neeson is on his knees crying and saying "this ring could have saved another life".....What benefit does the opulence of your building or life have on the kingdom of God? What hurting person could have benefited from the money spent on opulent buildings?

I'm not saying sell everything you own and have a poverty mentality, but I am asking for people to come out of the fog and start to think outside of what the modern church culture is selling. This is not speaking of every church, there are many great ones who have their focus on “God”. The "church" means God's people. Somehow we have come to believe it means a building or organization that has a big cross somewhere. Again, it is great to have a house of worship to get refreshed and encouraged by other believers, but then go out and make disciples, not new frat members. Let’s pray that the Holy Spirit is more prevalent in your church than the Hollywood spirit. I heard recently that Christians originally called themselves "Repenters". I love that, and hope we can move back in that direction.

Peace and Love,
Julie

Let Him

Max Lucado is my all time favorite author. This blurb was on his website today and I thougt it was worth sharing:

Let Him

“Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it—because it does.” I Corinthians 14:1 The Message

Loosen up. Don’t you have some people to hug, rocks to skip, or lips to kiss? . . .
It’s time to retire. Not from your job, just retire from your attitude. Honestly, has complaining ever made the day better? Has grumbling ever paid the bills? Has worrying about tomorrow ever changed it?

Let someone else run the world for a while.