Vegasish

Don’t get me wrong, there are lots of good people in Las Vegas and I’d like to think I’m one of them. That doesn’t, however, diminish the iconic nature of Sin City. This mecca of greed has been built on putting self number one, a truth which it doesn’t even try to hide. Again, this is painfully representative of the contemporary American mindset which is attracted to the something-for-nothing philosophy that drives not only Las Vegas, but politics, business, and religion, too. As I naively accepted an appointment to Trinity United Methodist in 1996 it was with an admittedly Pollyannaish notion that the churches (which urban legend claims there are more of per capita in Las Vegas than anywhere else in the United States) would be little sanctuaries of altruism standing their own against the larger scheme of things. But, guess what? The popular religion here promises heavenly salvation for nothing more than a profession of faith. Does that sound familiar? It should, because it is the same consumer theology that is burgeoning across the country. I suppose that poker chips in the offering plate may be unique to Las Vegas, but the Jesus-save-me-first attitude is nothing more than a mirror image of today’s America. A personal favorite among my sermons examines completing “self” with the suffixes “ish” or “less” to better understand the way of the Christ. The sad truth is that we’ve all become pretty ishy, and that’s what is going to keep this place going until the whole house of cards comes tumbling down.