While in Houston last weekend, Steve and I decided to check out the famous Lakewood Church. This is the huge Christian church (the center holds around 16,000) televised with messages from pastors such as Joel Osteen. You can pretty much see the Lakewood Church from Steve's condo and we thought it would be interesting to get in there with the locals and experience something different from our Mormon upbringing (most of you probably know by now we are no longer Mormon. We are not in search of a new church, we attended Lakewood just to get a better understanding of the locals and different cultures). This church had a congregation of pretty much all races and ages, which really surprised me. I guess I was expecting more of a straight southern baptist feel, but it was really very diverse.
The party before the message:
The morning started off with performances by the band and choir with the congregation chiming in and singing and dancing along. The music and words were very uplifting and it was just a happy place for everyone to join and celebrate. The way these people "felt the spirit" if you will was very different than our Mormon upbringing, and yet I have to say just as real. It was an uplifting experience for all. The televised portion of the service did not begin until about an hour in (which is when we finally got to sit down!).
Joel Osteen himself then came on stage to give the message. Here's where things went downhill. The message was just fluff, no depth really. But it made the congregation happy and feel nice things and that's really all that matters I suppose. Joel's message was about "God's little surprises." He told story after story of a single mother who...and then received...or a poor family who...and then such and such happened...or the little unfortunate child who...but then someone came along and...they were really just touchy feely stories of miraculous sounding events that, in reality, probably never happened. But again, if it uplifts people and they enjoy listening, whatever, more power to them.
Pastor Joel Osteen himself:
It was one particular thing Joel said that made me want to up and walk out (which I managed to refrain from doing since they asked us to stay until the end what with it being televised and all). Joel told of 'how one might be struggling to make ends meet and then...they receive a large tax return...one of God's little surprises!' The crowd went wild cheering and clapping. I almost threw up in my mouth. WHAT?! I'm sorry, but it does not take an accountant to know that a tax refund DOES NOT have ANYTHING to do with God. There is a mathematical equation if you will for how much tax you will owe or receive as a refund at the end of the year. It is 100% dependent on your income and the number of exemptions/deductions you claim and are eligible for. God does not change the tax tables. WOW.
All in all we were glad we went once. It was interesting to get to see how people may really believe in a religion, but from an outsider's perspective it just doesn't make any sense.
5 comments:
Geez. You are a tough critic, Sarah! And I thought you were supposed to be 'tolerant' of new things. :)
Interesting observations, though. I agree it seems extreme to do a blanket credit to God for everything and anything ...what is luck, the government (in this pastor's example), or actual divine intervention. I've actually taken up studying that personally this year. From my personal experience, there is a lot of gray, but sometimes something is powerfully and undeniably connected to God. And it is not always what I choose it to be.
I know, it doesn't make sense if someone is athiest. Just my personal journey, (and since you said only a few people read this, I can babble, right? )
Anyway, interesting to hear your experience. I know you said you weren't looking, but let me know if you try a 'get up and sing' church. I'd love to hear your 'fly on the wall' reaction to that!
hey beth, i thought i WAS pretty tolerant! i even enjoyed myself most of the time until the tax return part. again, whatever makes people happy. it obviously didn't make me happy when he made that comment though :)
oh, and this WAS a get up and sing church! that's all they did the entire first hour was sing and clap and dance with the band! it was pretty fun i might add. not that i ran on stage or went crazy in the aisle or anything, but it was absolutely fascinating!
Haha, that's awesome! It kind of reminds me of when Carl & I joined the gospel choir at Fresno State while I was getting my masters. We looked a little out of place, two of the few white faces in a sea of black, but it was SO cool. We did the whole clap your hands, sway side to side, singin' praises. Mostly we just performed for local churches who asked us to come and then a big performance at the end of the semester. It was really neat to be part of something different and some of the songs were really beautiful. We actually talked to our YSA Bishop about having a "fireside" and having the choir perform but it never crystalized. Oh well. Do you listen to KLOVE? I love that radio station. Seriously, I do. :)
ps. So, since I'm slow on the uptake, and terrible at keeping in touch, I didn't know you'd left the church. What happened? (unless you don't want to talk about it).
Hey Kristen,
About the church . . . we’d been working through some issues we've always had and came to the conclusion (hope not to offend anyone if this sounds harsh, I'm sharing my personal feelings just as members share theirs), that the mormon church is not what it says it is and it is NOT "true."
Leaving was probably the toughest things we’ve ever had to do, but we felt we had no choice. We’re very much at peace now with our decision and are doing great!
To each his own . . .
No offense taken of course! :) I'm sad to see you go on that front because I love the Church BUT I'm also really glad to hear that you're happy and that things are going well for you.
Ok, so on the moving front...how much do you love Arizona? I don't know how much of an option it is but I figure the more opinions I have about various places, the better. :)
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