Church, like many things in this country from higher education to politics is more and more about money. Misguided pastors see bigger crosses and oversize sanctuaries as some kind of holy writ biblically sanctioned by God's blessed hand forcing credit card contributions between the homily and communion.

The loss of the meaningful membership directly translates into this. With a massive hall of Sunday only Christians you reduce the network of people who are there to help each other, work in their communities, step up in times of crisis, and exist as the heart and soul of the church itself.

While I don't agree with The Monk on many of his other points or many other of his postings on his blog I do agree in these two as being major problems in both Evangelicalism and in organized faith.

What is interesting is the note that Zack from Revolution in Jesusland makes:

"I really want to see the left get to a place of confidence where it can have that same discussion. Maybe I'll start it with my own list of Thirteen Critical Problems Facing the Left...but not today."

Screw the left I'd like to see the whole damn party get to any place of confidence where it can have ANY discussion and make any conclusions about anything.

I'm following Zack's lead and I'm making a list.