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'Megachurches' draw big U.S. crowds
Reuters via Yahoo! ^ | 11-22-2005 | Joyce Kelly and Michael Conlon

Posted on 11/22/2005 7:11:21 AM PST by nckerr

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To: Eagle Eye

Anyone who thinks blues riffs are not of God has not studied the simple beauty and science of the pentatonic scale.


261 posted on 11/22/2005 12:54:23 PM PST by Warren_Piece (Three-toed sloth)
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To: sauropod

mark


262 posted on 11/22/2005 12:54:54 PM PST by sauropod ("The love that dare not speak its' name has now become the love that won't shut the hell up.")
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To: ItsOurTimeNow
You claim that spiritual laziness is a-ok.

Now you are being dishonest; I never said or implied that so now I am ending this discussion.

263 posted on 11/22/2005 12:56:45 PM PST by Eagle Eye (There ought to be a law against excess legislation.)
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To: Eagle Eye
A person can rob a bank and have his debt to society paid in 10-20 years.

Marry the wrong person and you have a life sentence.

Somehow it doesn't seem fair.


That's because you're comparing two different things. Robbing a bank is a sin against society, and a material sin at that.

Divorce is seen as a sin against God, the Church, however you want to phrase it.

Is it fair? That would take pages and pages to hash out.
264 posted on 11/22/2005 12:58:25 PM PST by af_vet_rr
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To: Warren_Piece

Well said.


265 posted on 11/22/2005 1:00:23 PM PST by Eagle Eye (There ought to be a law against excess legislation.)
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To: Warren_Piece
Anyone who thinks blues riffs are not of God has not studied the simple beauty and science of the pentatonic scale.

So, so true.

266 posted on 11/22/2005 1:02:07 PM PST by TexanToTheCore (Rock the pews, Baby)
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To: Eagle Eye
Just because there's unhappiness doesn't mean it's the wrong person.

It may just take work.

267 posted on 11/22/2005 1:06:53 PM PST by Siena Dreaming
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To: Eagle Eye

Your own words:

"Spiritually not everyone is ready for the 'deeper truths' and some will never be."

"Is there no place for someone who just gets saved and likes to sit in church, feel good and praise the Lord?"

"Not everyone who is saved will always hunger and thirst for righteousness"

These statements are non-Biblical, you have yet to show me otherwise.


268 posted on 11/22/2005 1:17:35 PM PST by ItsOurTimeNow (Aslan is on the move...)
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To: NormB

Church music changes over time. If you look at a hymnal form the 1830s, you probably would not recognize many of them. The current selection of hymns were put together during the 1890s and 1920s and have been in continuous use since then.

The current edgy music is another change that reflects the popular music of the 21st century.

Many hymns were not associated with the current tunes until rather late. "Amazing Grace" did not formally adapt the current tune until 1853 when the words were published in "The Sacred Harp" a wildly popular song book (not a hymnal) that was first published in 1853, nearly 80 years after the hymn was written.

If you attend an older church you may be able to locate an old hymnal in the library that includes only words. These hymns were put to popular tunes of the day so that the congregation knew the music reasonably well. The hymnal with music is a rather recent development. Most hymnals still contain indexes that allow the Pastor to match the meter of a written hymn with the music of another (metrical index).

Change in sacred music is rather slow but constant.


269 posted on 11/22/2005 1:18:40 PM PST by TexanToTheCore (Rock the pews, Baby)
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To: showme_the_Glory

The small group is really nothing more than the same concept of a "sunday school class" ... it's just that the mega's have such huge numbers that can offer a variety of "subjects".

We visited a mega a few times in San Antonio - I did not care for it at all ... always felt like an Amway convention to me. That and the Sunday morning class we were visiting was right across from the teenagers - we could hardly hear ourselves think due to the extremely loud music ...

So now - we're at a tiny church - no need for small groups .. we ARE a small group... laugh...

I say that understanding it is all based on personal preference - however I must say that there seems to be a lack of depth in majority of folks I know that attend extremely large churchs.


270 posted on 11/22/2005 2:15:18 PM PST by pamlet
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To: ItsOurTimeNow

A) My own words say nothing about justifying spiritual laziness as you dishonestly or mistakenly claimed;

B) You are simply wrong and have not read the Bible with understanding. Go read WHY Jesus taught in parables and also read that he had to explain them to his disciples because even they often couldn't understand his point. No, not everyone is ready for the deeper truths and some will never be;

C) Those with experience ministering to people know that people who don't stay hungry for the word won't continue in their quest. That point is self evident even in the physical life. Thursday you will find millions of Americans that will reach a point that they will refuse to look at food. This is possible spiritually, people can get so filled in the head that they don't continue.

D) You don't seem to realize that just as plants grow and different rates depending on many variables, so do people. Some are going to be saved and happy just knowing that Jesus died for them and rose again. When they are ready, if they eveer get ready, they will go on but not before and no amount of dogging them will change that. In fact, pressure at the wrong time will chase them away. A GOOD pastor knows how to tend the flock and my guess is that you are not a pastor.

You need to read more carefully, more prayerfully and get some understanding. It would also do you good to serve people, especially some of the weakest of the flock and make them stronger instead of demanding that they try to run at the same pace as the rest.

I do not believe that continuing this is beneficial or profitable, at least not on the public forum.


271 posted on 11/22/2005 2:53:45 PM PST by Eagle Eye (There ought to be a law against excess legislation.)
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To: Sensei Ern

I'll take John MacArthur any day over the Rick Warrens of the world.


272 posted on 11/22/2005 3:35:06 PM PST by TommyDale
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To: Warren_Piece
they usually have little or no music

sounds like the C of C of lore

273 posted on 11/22/2005 4:56:50 PM PST by wardaddy (Captain Spaulding .....the perfect dinner guest)
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To: TommyDale

Phoenix. Mostly Mormon which seems to be on every block. But, I don't consider 20,000 a mega church only ...A mega church can be more like 6 to 10 thousand. Non-denomination churches with that amount range at about 6 or 7 churches in my area.
I might add that those churches have been very politically active for the conservative agenda. I have no doubt that the evangelical "get out the vote" is what helped Bush in 04.


274 posted on 11/22/2005 4:57:50 PM PST by hope (Things are beginning to come into the light....)
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To: Left Coast Refugee

Most clergy I've met in the big Chicago Archdiocese, especially those from Mundelein Seminary, and especially the non-Hispanic clergy, condemn abortion about the same way you'd condemn a person who lied about the Easter Bunny.

This past Sunday at my church, the pastor gave the homily rather than one of the ex-nuns. In his homily and in blessing the sacraments and in the final prayer he emphasized "honoring the family in whatever form it happens to take without condemnation". The homily was all about diversity of forms of the family. Read into it what you will.

This November, the US Bishops are pushing collections for the Campaign for Human Development. The CHD funds both pro-abortion activists and political activists ... more Dennis Kucinich and ex-nun Marcy Kaptur type than John Kerry type Catholic Democrats.


275 posted on 11/22/2005 5:16:39 PM PST by spintreebob
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To: absolootezer0

I don't understand this logic... about the talents...

Those things listed are not talents - they're jobs.. or tasks...

Somehow Vegas style entertainment seems to cheapen a church service to me... Please understand that this is MY opinion - and not really Biblically based - unless we take the admonition that we should be in the world - but not of the world..


276 posted on 11/22/2005 5:26:53 PM PST by pamlet
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To: ItsOurTimeNow

"That entertainment becomes the center of his faith, and not Christ's atonement of our wretched state. It can easily become the only way he can "worship" - if he has that particular music. No prayer, no supplication, no humilty, no Godly sorrow for his sinful state - all because of some easy-to-sing songs."

This is SUCH an interesting discussion... strange "parody songs" and all...

On another board I frequent - my heart broke over a post a woman made... she HATES their Christmas Eve and Easter Services.. because... get this... it's ALL geared to Just the Christmas Story and Easter - and SHE prefers "worship". Her husband and children are involved in the music ministry and she doesn't know what to do because she feels like she HAS to be there - but the message isn't for her... (where's that eye popping smiley when I need it).

I have no idea whether her's is a "mega church" - but from the sounds of it it's a steady diet of "worship" .. no teaching to speak of.. certainly no gospel message... That has been my discomfort with mega churches... a lot of "worship" ... and not much teaching... a lot of dessert - but no meat.


277 posted on 11/22/2005 5:33:48 PM PST by pamlet
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To: Eagle Eye
"Imagine the Corinthians with the internet! Ha!"

Well, that is an EXCELLENT example, my friend. Computers, networks, the Internet........how would early churches have been set up differently, how would they have proliferated, how much more efficiently would the Word have been spread given such things?

Now, what's OUR excuse? :) We have all of these things. I'm being somewhat facetious here; I do believe the Christian church is taking full advantage of such technologies to spread the Word, the story of Salvation through Jesus Christ. Add to that.......TV, radio....VERY powerful. I find it a wonderful thing.

Something I hadn't brought up earlier but is near and dear to my heart: music. I'm the lead guitarist in a praise and worship team in a reasonably large evangelical church. I will tell you......there is NO way 1st century instruments can carry the power of God's Word to the masses the way a stage full of musicians can today. NO way. I take full advantage of the music technology available to me to convey the pure POWER of Jesus' love; the message that He is the way, the truth, and the light....that it is through Him and Him only that we achieve salvation. I do it LOUDLY and very proudly.

It happens to be my ministry. I'll never be an evangelist or missionary.....but I can play praise and worship music and affect many, many people; and I have, through His graces. It's how I give back to the one who died for me a little over 2000 years ago. He took a bullet for me........this is what I do for Him in return in my own small way.

278 posted on 11/22/2005 6:48:20 PM PST by RightOnline
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To: tutstar

Personally, I prefer a smaller church.

Thanks for the ping!


279 posted on 11/22/2005 7:43:20 PM PST by dixiechick2000 ("Virtute et armis" - By valor and arms)
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To: RightOnline

Music can be extremely powerful.

One church I attended several years ago had a praise song that had some heavy drum beats that made me imagine the music that was probably played as the OT armies marched into battle against those inhabiting the Promised Land.

That also explains why I like high school/college drum lines so much.

There is nothing wrong with music getting our hearts right and our minds fertile for the Word.


280 posted on 11/22/2005 8:19:06 PM PST by Eagle Eye (There ought to be a law against excess legislation.)
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