Waxing on God and TV

Some irony is just too much to ignore...this week on American Idol, The Clark Brothers sang "This Little Light of Mine," yeah, the same one you might remember from Bible School. It also included the chorus of "Jesus on the Mainline." In the same show, Dolly Parton sang "Jesus and Gravity." It wasn't great but conveyed a message of simple faith in Jesus as well as the need to stay humble...on American Idol! Also on Americal Idol, the show continued to talk about its upcoming "Idol Gives Back" and showed viewers some of the work that has been done from last year's show where 76 million dollars was given to help the needy in Africa and the United States. Pretty cool stuff, and I know I am not telling you something you probably don't already know but what made this so ironic to me was the same night (after American Idol) I was in the mood to hear some preaching and I flicked to one of the "Christian" networks...what I saw was disturbing and embarrassing.
After watching some of this, if I didn't know better I would think that God lived in Costa Mesa and unless I sent some money to Costa Mesa, He couldn't bless me. I heard all kinds of scripture, taken out of context, in an arrogant attempt to justify this incessant plea to send money to them, so that the blessing could be "released in my life." According to these people a "wealth transfer" was on the way and it was pretty easy to see where the wealth was being transferred to. It was enough to make me sick. All I heard was give us money, money, money and you will get all you want from God...I just don't see it in the scriptures.
Jesus said give but He said to give to the poor and the needy. I saw more real concern for the needy on American Idol than I saw on this "Christian" network. All I heard was send us money so you can get rich! Have the house you want, drive the car you want! "Your financial breakthrough is coming!" Jesus was pretty clear that these things are what the UNBELIEVERS spend their time thinking about...Jesus didn't say give to get! Not on this earth anyway. He said our treasure is in heaven. Wake up before it is too late!!

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)
Jesus also said that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks...pretty easy to see what the hearts of these speakers were full of...the love of money. That is all they talked about!!
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (Matthew 6:24)

So if earthly prosperity is what God is all about....what about the people of faith who live on the street (by the way, Jesus was homeless)? What about the Christians who have had their homes foreclosed on in the housing crunch?
What about the Christian war veterans, who have lost legs and eyesight and their families have spent everything they have just to make their life tolerable?
What about Christian parents of special needs children who have 6 digit medical bills?
And what about those Christians who have been believing these lies for 20 years and have sent so many "seeds" that they have NO MORE SEEDS LEFT?
Repent you who devour widow's homes and confuse the weak-minded! You who live on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence, in the name of Jesus! You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. Repent! Give your riches away to those in need! Open your eyes and give to the poor! Honor Christ with your riches!
Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. (James 5:3)
Our God does not live in Costa Mesa and you don't have to send a dime there to receive His grace! His glory fills the whole earth and He gives liberally to all who asks! He gave His own Son to ransom your soul from eternal damnation! He loves you with an everlasting love and His love does not cost you a penny! The price for our sins has been paid by the precious blood of the Lamb Who alone is worthy to be praised!
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:7-11)