Ways to be a Popular Pastor/Christian Influencer
Affirm happiness over holiness. Yes sir! Righteous living is old school. Join the post modern movement and affirm everyone’s personal truth. Whatever makes them happy IS holy!
Never teach repentance! Learn from the mistakes of Jesus and the Apostles! Don’t teach “repent and believe”! Instead, preach “Be your most unique you!”
Jump on the current bandwagon! Doesn’t really matter what it is or how much thought you put into it. Just jump on! The world loves when people agree with it!
Don’t forget to condemn those not jumping on the bandwagon! It is best if you build yourself a moral mountain and condemn from the top. The high vantage point is flattering and it’s always good to make people look up to you.
The only real sin is mentioning other people’s sin. Better to never mention it. Instead, your message should focus on things like “Being a Good Leader” or “Finding Your Truth” or something on the latest social justice craze.
If you are feeling feisty and really want to mention sin make sure it’s the sins of intolerance, absolute truth and judgement.
Only preach from the approved red letter texts of the Bible. Not all of them. Just focus on the “love” parts. Stay away from Paul and the Apostles. They are no fun at all. Speaking of love. Just steer away from the 1 Cor 13 definition. Don’t use a Biblically defined definition of love at all. Instead, as culture shifts, your definition of love must shift too. Right now, loving others is affirming someone in their life choices as long as they are happy.
Well reasoned out theology? That’s a thing of the past. Who needs Bible teaching when a witty meme or snarky tweet can influence so much more quickly?
Remember…truth is relative. Let culture teach what is true. Don’t let the Bible interpret culture. Let culture interpret the Bible.
If anyone stands against you make sure you call them a Pharisee. By now the people you have influenced should know the real Jesus…that super sweet man that never judges and just wants us happy. Should be easy to slap that label on anyone who says differently, especially from the high moral mountain you have built.
Practice these things! Remember, as a Christian, we are going to be loved and respected and honored throughout the world for our message. I mean, that’s the whole point right?
Oh my Tim! I don’t know how much more tongue-in-cheek you could get than this! It is so very sad but nevertheless God loves those people too….we must do our very best to be the reflection of Christ to all men popular, accepted, believed or not. God knows.
I think it would be enlightening for those that read this and don’t know for you to answer the question you pose in the last paragraph. Maybe in a follow up post as a sequel to this one. I don’t know how you would phrase it with your writing style, but it’s not the whole point (being honored, respected, and loved.)
Being a “popular Christian” negates the suffering we go through as Christians. Not just that we are saved and suffer hardships in life just as much as those who are not. But also that the Bible predicts and says that we will be mocked for our beliefs, hated because of our beliefs. That’s a difficult pill to swallow and…