Today (Friday the 13th) on CBC radio news I heard of the newest mission that churches have started to use to survive. Cell phone towers in the shape of the cross now adorn buildings called churches. The lease raises $20,000 a year for five years, and then the lease will increase 20% at every renewal.

crosses

crosses (Photo credit: istolethetv)

I’m not sure if Jesus started rolling on the emerald sea laughing at the idiocy of religion, or started planning retribution in anger. I’m pretty sure St. Paul would roll in his grave, except he’s not there anymore, living in heaven.

Just when I thought religion couldn’t stoop any lower it surprised me and did. Church buildings represent not only monuments to human pride and divided loyalties, but those piles of wood, stone and glass now represent religion abandoning belief in the God who will supply all our need (Philippians 4:19). Despite the warnings in the Bible for people not to go to Egypt for help (Isaiah 36:6-9) instead of Creator, here it goes again.

Anyway, I rest consoled that my cell phone will work better now that Christian buildings have joined in to add to the network of towers to speed my signal along.

It won’t save a soul or inspire a young person to take up their cross (unless it has a cell phone transmitter attached) or teach humility and faith in God alone, but the heat and lights will get paid and the organs will play for an hour a week still.

As with all betrayals I ask myself, have I given in to the mark of the beast in the marketplace (Revelation 13:16-17)? Not yet, but faithfulness cannot fall to convenience. Jesus demands vigilance.

God is my strong tower (Psalm 18:2 AV), not Rogers, Telus, Bell…