Well you know, American Protestants seem like the types to match up business and religion. So I wouldn't be surprised.
What part of "American Protestants seem like the types to match up business and religion" is non-disparaging to American Protestants? Being that they are the majority of people in our great nation I'm pretty sure a substantial number of people will find that offensive. It's OK if you don't care that they are, but don't tell me that this isn't a cut on the faith of every American Christian that isn't catholic. At least be honest about it.
I am an American Protestant, but I don't find this statement to be derogatory unless the convention is accepted that "business is bad" or that the insinuation is that the church is now making money as a first preference, rather than tending to the spiritual needs of it's congregation. I personally believe that one's faith is completely integrated into every part of their lives, and that includes business. If you divorce your faith from any aspect of your life, then it's probably only "convenient religion". If a church abandons their duty of spiritual guidance, or if they have used the pulpit as a way to make money, that's a Bad Thing™.
I have been to several Protestant churches that have a form of business attached (bookstore, etc) as a means of supporting the church (instead of begging people to give them money), and I don't have a problem with that. One example from the New Testament to support this would be the Apostle Paul - he was a tent-maker by trade, even though we know him as a major religious leader. He supported himself by means of business as opposed to living on the charity of others. There are plenty of other examples: Peter, James, and John were fishermen, and even Jesus was a carpenter.
Most likely, the author of the statement was making a broad sweeping insult against Americans and/or Protestants. I think the fact that you would insult that large of a group of people means you have a big set of cajones. It's like walking through Brooklyn with a sign around your neck that you hate black people. I can only attibute that statement to ignorance (which can be overcome through education) or stupidity (which you're stuck with). For the record, I don't think Joe is stupid.
Ack, you responded before I could. Regarding those big "commercial and impersonal" churches - I have studied a couple of them intensely, including their programs for attracting new members. Some of them have memberships greater than ten thousand. That doesn't mean that they only have one big service. A church that size can only survive if they have small group programs to foster a sense of intimacy. They may use a commercial billboard or TV add to attract the attention of people in the area, but once you come to the church, there are plenty of programs to make you feel at home instead of feeling like you're at an arena.