Posted on 08/22/2005 6:26:33 PM PDT by sionnsar
As this piece points out, the churches where you are least likely to hear Scripture read during services are often those where the authority and teaching of Scripture are most emphasized, particularly evangelical churches. Strange, but true. And the writers experience is that even Anglican evangelical churches often read Scripture in their worship less.
My personal experience as one with a evangelical/fundamentalist background? My current REC church is the first of my church homes where Scripture is regularly read during services outside the context of the sermon.
I think this is one way is which evangelical-style worship impoverishes itself. As Ive experienced first hand, there is a power to formally reading the raw word of God in worship. I'd much rather sit and listen to the reading of Scripture than sing one more praise and worship song. And Scripture reading is a prominent feature of Jewish and Christian worship through the centuries. Why cut oneself off from that?
Yes, I greatly value the role of Lector, of reading the Scripture lessons aloud during services.
My reading duties begin this Sunday.
Well, I'm convinced that my Guardian Angel has more than once gently nudged me to slow down just before the speed trap I was unaware of up ahead. But that is really different from what he is talking about.
"I am seeking to have more Scripture in our services, not less. We seek to sing, read, pray and preach Scripture.
* Try the Christian Catholic Church in your town.
The Liturgy of the Mass is Scripture in action."
And if you're not Catholic, try the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. We also have our service based on Scripture.
Kinda like C.H. Spurgeon, huh?
Reread my post. I admitted stirring the pot.
But in this thread I also made some valid points. Care to answer those?
Actually, if you take a close look at them, they have the same facial features.
Scary.....
You are letting him off lightly. He is insinuating successful marriages are based on the woman feeding the man's desire for visually lustful images, and that the essence of the marital relationship is lust and sex.
Catholics counterpose this with the virginity of Sts. Mary and Joseph, and the wonderful story of Tobit.
Then Tobias exhorted the virgin, and said to her: Sara, arise, and let us pray to God to day, and to morrow, and the next day: because for these three nights we are joined to God: and when the third night is over, we will be in our own wedlock. For we are the children of saints, and we must not be joined together like heathens that know not God.So they both arose, and prayed earnestly both together that health might be given them, And Tobias said: Lord God of our fathers, may the heavens and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains, and the rivers, and all thy creatures that are in them, bless thee. Thou madest Adam of the slime of the earth, and gavest him Eve for a helper. And now, Lord, thou knowest, that not for fleshly lust do I take my sister to wife, but only for the love of posterity, in which thy name may be blessed for ever and ever.
Sara also said: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, and let us grow old both together in health. (Tobit 8.4-10)
You must moonlight as Mr. Fantastic, because that's one heck of a stretch you're doing.
Actually, I might have before you stirred the pot. That's why I was reading the thread.
It's pointless now.
Like this one?
***It's pointless now.***
But that won't stop you from bringing it to a boil, will it now.....
Actually, I was just pointing out that we knew what you were up to. I'm content to leave it at that.
Corin Stormhands believes Gamecock may have the last word.
Oh good grief man, there's no earthly comparison. Spurgeon was light years ahead of Osteen, and 10 times the biblical preacher. You're comparing a padawan to a jedi master. I think the proven track records of both can attest to this.
Why not? It's as valid as anything you've brought to the conversation!
This was actually a nice Proddie-RC thread until the Arminians shjowed up.
It would seem that the Arminians are one again a barrier to peaceful threads.
>>Gee, why am I not surprised that Gamecock is now flaunting O-Henry's homepage as "proof" of the "smarminess" of the "Arminians."<<
To be fair, it is irresponsible to assume that Gamecock was insinuating that all Arminians are smarmy. I used the adjective to specifically describe Joel Osteen, who in my opinion epitomises the word "smarmy".
Gamecock simply posted the image. Although I can't speak for him, I think you jumped to a pretty big conclusion there.
Both the traditional and modernized Lutheran worship service is little more than a direct lift of the Roman Missal with the Protestant offending portions emphasizing the Eucharistic sacrifice and ministerial priesthood excised.
We even have the same order of readings and chants to be said throughout the year.
>>He is insinuating successful marriages are based on the woman feeding the man's desire for visually lustful images, and that the essence of the marital relationship is lust and sex.<<
Right you are, my FRiend.
That is one reason the raddie-baddies are off base when they say "Some Catholic Masses look like Lutheran Services."
Well, duh. They copied us :)
Oh sorry! I had a little trouble recognizing the peacefulness of the thread among all the profane insults.
I suppose when evangelical churches are being wholesale maligned and condemned and pastors (regardless of how poor their theology may be) are being condemned in a love fest between Reformers and Catholics for such important reasons as: "He looks like a faggot", or that they have the same facial features as their spouses, that it is the mean old nasty evangelicals and Arminians who come on to challenge those notions and stand up for their own evangelical traditions that are the real troublemakers here.
Employment of Gamaliel logic is what happens when churches are a microcosm of the culture, they define "success" by cultural definitions as opposed to Biblical.
"Straight is the way, and narrow the gate that leads to eternal life, and there are few that find it."---Jesus Christ
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