Kentucky Fried Church Sells Out Jesus...for Britney Spears
Por ejemplo...
The Southland Christian Church of Lexington, Kentucky has asked its congregation to send letters of love and support to crazy, pop star Britney Spears.
Britney Spears?!
What...they plumb ran out of "local" heathens in need of saving? Southland Christian Church needed to reach all the way out to Los Angeles to find a "worthy" soul to save?
The church's pastor John Weece characterized the behavior of Spears as the result of "devastating life choices."
No...really?
She's a multi-millionaire who's going through a divorce/custody battle and battling substance abuse. Take away the multi-millions and she's little different than half the country, maybe 2/3. Where are the letters in support of them?
In both the Sunday sermon and on the church's website blog, Weece offered the following message:
"Take a few minutes and write a note to Britney Spears. No preaching. No criticizing. Just love. As a church, let's love Britney the way Jesus loves her."
Britney Spears?!
Yes, Britney Spears is worthy of forgiveness and the healing power of Christ...nobody is arguing that point.
But why in the world would a Lexington church be so transparent and superficial as to make a sermonic appeal to support a pop singer in Los Angeles?
A rhetorical question to be sure, the answer is quite obvious.
Let Spears be the cautionary tale in a sermon and use it accordingly to help those within your flock...but a public appeal for letters for a pop star 2,000 miles away?
(Rolling eyes)
How many present members of the Southland Christian Church would be better served by heartfelt notes of healing and restoration? How many of the downtrodden and disenfranchised within the Lexington community could have been uplifted by genuine ministerial leadership? In other words, there are plenty of dysfunctional people right there within the city limits of Lexington, not to mention the whole of the Bluegrass state.
This can't be underscored enough, no public appeal for the salvation of the "regular" dysfunctional and wayward souls within their own church...
Just Britney Spears. What, is Lindsay Lohan next on the prayer menu?
On one hand, it's laughable. On the other, it's unconscionable. Believe it or not, Mo'Kelly's displeasure and disgust is not at putting together a letter campaign in support of Britney Spears. Fan clubs conduct similar efforts routinely.
Fan clubs...
In truth, this isn't even about Britney.
The offensive component is in contriving a publicity stunt under the guise of Christian love. Publicity stunts like these are why people become more and more disenfranchised with organized religion and/or perceive churches less as houses of God and more as houses of idol worship. If one is searching to put their finger on the root of many people's cynicism towards religion, 'X' marks the spot.
A "public" appeal for the healing and restoration of Britney Spears arguably was never about bringing Britney closer to Jesus; only about bringing Southland Christian Church closer to national prominence.
Mission accomplished. Congratulations, more people know its name now than ever before. Christ surely celebrates.
The Associated Press has placed this "story" in print and online sources all across the country. The stunt has even gained it coverage in The Mo'Kelly Report and that's no small accomplishment. The odds of Mo'Kelly waxing poetic about anything in relation to some random church in Lexington, KY prior to the Britney Spears publicity ploy were slim and none.
Miracles never cease. Not quite like turning water into wine...but close.
Some have criticized Mo'Kelly's hardline stance against church misconduct, arguing that such individuals and organizations are made up of fallible humans, no different from any one of us. They deserve our prayers, not our criticism.
That much is true... (the fallible humans part, not the omission of criticism part).
There is something much more disagreeable and distasteful when it comes from the church again and again and again. There is something all the more bothersome when such questionable behavior is contrived and coercive in nature, conceived specifically to mislead those in the congregation. Juanita Bynum's transgressions are not "mistakes" they are conscious and continuous. They are consistent choices of deception, not a byproduct of the frailty of the human condition. The financial impropriety and subsequent intimidation by Oral Roberts University leadership has been incessant and ongoing (allegedly). This behavior is not endemic of well-meaning individuals who unwittingly lost their way.
It's not the "sins" that are the problem; it's the hubris and malice in which they're committed. It's the WILLFUL "misleadership" of those in their care who are seeking a closer relationship with God.
In the name of God no less.
For a supposed woman of God to ask her congregation to purchase $1,000.00 pens and sow $200,000.00 in "emergency seeds" so she can have a lakeside "threshing floor"... all while her congregation struggles to pay its own bills.
That is offensive.
For Bishop T.D. Jakes, the supposed preeminent authority on domestic abuse to have to be goaded by The Mo'Kelly Report into making a public statement on domestic violence...it is offensive.
For a church to have nothing to offer on Darfur or urban poverty yet rallies to 'save' Britney...is wildly offensive.
If it's really about love and redemption and not publicity, show us the press releases about the work with the marginalized, not just the major deviant celebrities. If it's really about Jesus, make sure the most prominent item featured on your website or blog is Jesus, not Juanita Bynum or Juanita Bynum's products for sale...por ejemplo.
This is not another classic complaint alleging church "hypocrisy." This is not about "saying one thing and doing exactly the other." It's the misuse of the word of God for self-aggrandizement at the expense of their congregations. It's insipid and inexcusable.
Enough is enough.
The only thing more inexcusable is the lack of outrage and criticism in the wake of these various and sundry misappropriations of the Lord.
Britney Spears?!
The Mo'Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse...as well as entertain. The Mo'Kelly Report is syndicated by Newstex. For more Mo'Kelly, http://www.mokellyreport.blogspot.com.
Morris W. O'Kelly can be reached at mokellyreport@sbcglobal.net and he welcomes all commentary.
Published by Mr. Mo'Kelly
Online writer and/or producer for radio and TV personalities such as Jim Rome, Tavis Smiley, Ryan Seacrest and others. Work has been published in the Los Angeles Times, USAToday and dozens of other periodic... View profile
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9 Comments
Post a CommentI would like to offer an opinion about Southland from someone who lives in Lexington, and who has seen Southland first hand. Upon actually seeing the church, one would not at all be surprised about the Britney letters. The church is about the size of our local mall, which, in my opinion, is completely ludicrous. Why couldn't Southland have spent some of the money they earned to build this mega church on feeding the homeless? Or bringing bibles to AA meetings or something? Also, the church has a broadcasted sermon, called "southland hour." Is this necessary? The "sanctuary" is the size of TWO gymnasiums, and the walls are equipped with bigger-than-movie-sized screens. The lighting is incredible from a theatrical point of view, but is all this really neccessary? Let's ask ourselves one question: WWJD? Would Jesus raise millions of dollars only to build a mansion church and a bunch of camera equipment? NO. Jesus would use any money he raised to help the community. He would use the money t
maybe "mo" should do research on how much money southland gives to Africa and other needy countries every year. And what about the town of Lexington who Southland has loved and supported.
Ah, here's the original article. I agree with you, Mo. Organized religion sometimes pulls some eye-rolling moves in a genuine attempt to stay relevant and demonstrative. I think it's okay to be annoyed, and I didn't sense any over all condemnation from you in your writing. :) People often pipe up and say that you shouldn't criticize at all if a church is doing even one good thing, but I think it's important to maintain a dialogue at all times. That's called accountability. I didn't hear you say you hated the church at all.
Is "judging" saying you don't agree or subscribe to someone's methodology? How is that "judging?" Nobody is wishing eternal damnation on anyone and nobody is saying that Southland doesn't have its moments of dutiful contributions...
But the Britney Spears campaign just isn't one of them. Southland Christian Church is free to support anyone they like. But if they REALLY want demonstrate how they are consistent with God's all-inclusive love...start a letter-writing campaign for OJ Simpson, the alleged murderer. That would say far more than propping up Britney Spears. Or how about the alleged pedophile R. Kelly. I wonder how much support either of them would get in the church.
Something to consider...
it makes no sense that people spend so much time judging other people its just a waste of time. how bout just enjoying your life and not critisizing others. thats why this world is so messed up!!!
Southland Christian Church is a wonderful church that helps millions of people throughout the community and world. I think that it is sad for people to focus on one small act of kindness just because the famous name. If you are going to write about one incident, know all your facts and write about the difference this church makes in peoples lives on a daily bases. May God Bless You.
Everyone needs prayer in their life, I will pray for you
Southland Christian Church is a wonderful church that helps millions of people throughout the community and world. I think that it is sad for people to focus on one small act of kindness just because the famous name. If you are going to write about one incident, know all your facts and write about the difference this church makes in peoples lives on a dailey bases. May God Bless You.
Who is Britney Spears?