Eckhart Tolle comes to Michigan

Christ Community Church, a "Progressive" "Christian" "Church" (...yes, each word is individually in quotes - on purpose) discusses Eckhart Tolle's insipid intellectual offerings book(s).

This is an extremely liberal "church" that is somewhat large and influential in the Spring Lake/Grand Haven areas, which last year for Easter celebrated the "coming of the Cosmic Christ," loves "Bishop" Spong, and hosts meditations on...eastern meditation.

And other such stuff.

Again - as a pastor, it simultaneously breaks my heart, drives me up a wall, and completely mystifies me that so many in this area just can't get enough of this kind of [insert Mark Driscoll colorful language here], and that this "church" is so well attended and so influential.

But, when you lose your taste for the pure, unmediated Word...

It struck me today, as I was reviewing C3's "statement of core values" again, what it sounded like.  I quote it here:

Christ Community Church’s core values

Pursuing Relevant Religion — We value the progressive religious journey.
Pursuing Justice — We seek to be the change we wish to see in the world.
Pursuing Sustainability — We seek a future in harmony with the earth.
Pursuing Wellness — We value holistic health.
Celebrating Gender — We value the masculine and feminine expression in all.
Celebrating Sexuality — We are an open and affirming community.
Celebrating Inquiry — We encourage independent thinking.
Celebrating Creativity — We value the arts.
Celebrating Interfaith — We celebrate universal truths.
Celebrating Community — We value community.

...sound familiar...?

...like, for instance, someone that had A Generous Orthodoxy and thought Everything Must Change because of the Secret Message of Jesus might wholeheartedly embrace with enthusiasm and verve?

I'm just sayin' is all...

"...cosmic christ is risen in us...???"

So I was just driving down the main strip here in Spring Lake (where my "tentmaking" is), and I was passing Christ Community "Church" -- a very well-known, large, theologically liberal congregation here on the Lakeshore. And as I'm driving by, I notice this sign in their rather sizeable parking lot. So of course, I have to pull over and take the pic... and all the while, wondering, "why even bother? Why even bother calling yourself a "church" when you're not, claiming the name of Christ when you don't even believe in Him... and why do so many people eat this stuff up?" As a pastor, it's utterly hearbreaking...