It's The Eleventh Hour...Jesus, Do You Know Where Your Church Is?

In response to Jay Tolson's April 19 article at US News.com, Forget Politics. It's All About The Music, I have a thought or two.
Tolson embarks on an article that appears to be about the success of American churches to assemble so many people to worship, despite the reality that percentages of Americans worshiping have dropped from 40% to 25% since the 60's. Still, it is an enigma that so many would be so willing to give up their Sunday mornings. What are they all doing?
He proposes that the casual observer would assume that American Christians are involved in politically-conscious or social service outreach; this deduced from the highly publicized activity of the nation's religious right.
However, the casual observer would be wrong.
In reality, the majority of congregations are actively involved in cultural activities including education, the various components of worship, and the consumption of art and culture--particularly music and theatre.
In the words of that great icon of religious wisdom, The Church Lady: "Isn't that special?"
Without a doubt, we are enriched by the gifts of art and music and acting. But I am not sure that these things make up the "rock" upon which Christ told Peter He would build His church.
Not at all!
Jesus was a great leader, an agent of change, a man of wisdom and insight. As such, He set forth an agenda right out of the gates, the great manifesto of His Kingdom. He stood on a mountain surrounded by many, many people (see this shot from The Life of Brian) and offered up "a new thing," in the timeless eloquence of His Sermon On The Mount.
Jesus covers a lot of ground here: the hierarchy of the Kingdom, clarification of the Law, the relationship of God to man - man to God - and man to man. He is profound as He explains that the litmus test for success in His economy is fruit.
Good trees bear good fruit.
Bad trees bear bad fruit.
Cultural trees bear cultural fruit.
"And by their fruit you will know them."
The fruit that Jesus desires has only a little to do with great music, writing, and/or painting and much to do with great sacrifice of self for the sake of others. That Chaves' survey reveals that the church today is less involved with social outreach than it is with cultural activity disgusts me.
Many are ready and able to point out the concept that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of sexual sin, but look more closely at the words of Ezekiel: "Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy."
Perhaps the results of Chaves' study suggest a new bumper sticker for good church people. Something like: "Take A Homeless Person To The Museum Today" or "Seek Ye First Season Tickets At The Symphony."
Church people are leading the church to a place Jesus never proposed, but sadly imagined. To His beloved disciple, John, He dictated seven letters to seven churches. Among those letters is a message to the church in Ephesus: "You have forsaken your first love."
Assuming that the "first love" of the Bride of Christ was Christ, Himself, it is time for some intensive marriage therapy in order to get this relationship back to its center, its purpose, its animus. Is it any wonder that those outside the church believe that those within are hypocritical and insincere?
Bottom line: church people ARE called to be patrons, but not of the arts. Webster defines patron as: a person chosen, named, or honored as a special guardian, protector, or supporter.
Imagine, if we of the church actively pursued becoming patrons of our fellow man, of our earth, of the Kingdom Jesus envisioned? That would be art.