comfortable

I have issues when our starting place is to create a safe place or alternatives.

Someone please give me a legitimate reason 

why I should buy a crappy painting 

or figurine 

or video game 

or book 

or music 

simply because it has a fish or a cross on it. 

& someone please tell me why 

if something is already working well 

someone has to take it and reshape it 

and fit a cross into the logo.
I just threw up in my mouth. 

I need a Testa-Mint.

Some of the things that are 

synonymous 

with the dark side of the 

Christian Subculture that 

make me puke 

and make it difficult 

for my neighbors 

to approach Jesus

Ignorant sounding pithy grabbers

shallow absolutes

intellectually offensive language

cheap knockoffs that attempt to mimic pop culture

The subtle or not so subtle fingerpointing at “secular” culture

Bad art/production/acting/aesthetic, etc. created in an attempt to evangelize

Perpetuation of an impulsive consumer mentality driven to consume all things “Christian”

Asceticism and escapism as opposed to incarnating the culture

There was a religious subculture of sorts in Jesus’ day. 

It wasn’t unlike our current Christian subculture. 

It elevated rules over relationship and had created systems, 

safe havens, 

alternatives, 

and a club mentality.
These people were called the Pharisees 

Pharisee literally means “set apart” or “separated ones”

Jesus was always telling these guys that they were missing the point. 

There was more finger pointing their way than at the culture at large.

Jesus is not interested in us setting up 

spiritual retreat centers from our world.

END RANT.