FEEDING SHEEP OR AMUSING GOATS? (C H Spurgeon)

christian unplugged ^ | N/A | C H Spurgeon

[Calm_Cool_and_Elected]

Amen!

Because I have family members with differing theological beliefs, I began studying different elements of Christianity a few yrs ago. The first thing I studied was worship. I have read several books on worship and every one of them agrees with what you say.

Books I have read regarding worship: With Reverence and Awe, DG Hart and John Muether; The Lord's Service-The Grace of Covenant Renewal Worship, Jeffrey Meyers; and Covenantal Worship, RJ Gore, Jr.

CC&E

[Gamecock]

I have With Reverence and Awe on my bookshelf, haven't read it yet. I have read Michael Hortons A Better Way (see my homepage) and it is simply the best book on worship I have read.

[Gamecock]

That said; the boat does seem to be listing . . .

And the pumps are failing....

[Calm_Cool_and_Elected]

I didn't know about Horton's book. Thanks for the heads up.

CC&E

[Frumanchu]

Actually it's already been posted and disussed here.

[Lord_Calvinus]

Christian Unplugged….

EDITOR: Chris Carmichael

Now, why does that name ring a bell?

FWIW, anything Spurgeon is near and dear to this Baptist’s heart. I’ve read these words several times before and it is always good to go back and understand that we face the same problems our brothers faced in times past. He rather reminds us of these profound words from "the Preacher" Solomon:

That which has been is what will be,
That which is done is what will be done,
And there is nothing new under the sun.
Is there anything of which it may be said,

See, this is new"?
It has already been in ancient times before us.
There is no remembrance of former things,
Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come
By those who will come after.

I often wonder if those who must resort to entertainment as a means to get and keep people in the pews have a fundamental distrust of the Holy Spirit. It is, after all, His job to work conviction in the hearts of men and to enlighten us to the truth (John 16:13) as it is spoken in the Scriptures or elucidated from the pulpit. To think that we must have some kind of glitzy sermon seems to be misplaced at best. I’ve even heard people defend the idea that we must make the gospel simple and entertaining so as not to lose people, meaning talk over their heads. My question to them has and will always be: "Why? If these words are spiritual and we have a Spiritual Truth receptor to guide us, why must we dumb it down for carnal ears?"

Vanity! Vanity! All is vanity!

[kharaku]

I'm happily Russian Orthodox, where I pray such compromises and performances will never be seen.

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[RnMomof7]

IS it possible to "hook 'em, keep 'em, and teach 'em" all in the same service? Or is so much effort expended on 'hook & keep' that the level of maturity of the congregation reaches a stunted limit and never progresses?

This is my fear.

Some of those mega seeker friendly churches feed pabulum every Sunday and then say the REAL stuff is taught on Wed .

So many people can not make it back on Wed or are too immature to realize they NEED to go and to grow

There is nothing sadder than someone that says they have been saved for 10 years and only knows John 3:16 and that God is love.

Saved or not they do not really know the God of the bible, they lack teeth ..

Those pastors will have to answer for this some day