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 writer’s 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 I’ve 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.
I fail to see how a comment on facial features is offensive.
The fact is, you have proven more time than I can count that even if I posted that on a clear day, the sky is blue, it would be offensive.
Howabout we found the Church of the Holy Tares for these people. Anyone?
Seems they already have them, by the thousands, and they are all over satelite TV too.
Most likely, they share the same plastic surgeon!
I've noticed a definite pattern of some, who shall remain nameless, who come with a chip on their shoulder looking to be offended at nothing.
Also observed is a definite pattern of the exact same nameless to not respond to queries posed but yet turns around and demands his queries be answered, only to be offended again when the game is not engaged.
Reminds me of a kid in my neighborhood when growing up...the kid who brought his ball and when....well, you know the ending. :-)
"Straight is the way, and narrow the gate that leads to eternal life, and there are few that find it."---Jesus Christ
1Cr 9:20 "And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all [men], that I might by all means save some."
Employment of Pharisaical logic is what happens when churches define "success" by their theological system rather than the Bible.
Most likely, they share the same plastic surgeon!
Cookie cutter surgeon? It's kind of like transitional architecture, one floor plan fits all.
Given the choice between sitting through all the begats in the Bible and singing "Pass It On", I would choose the former. And it's not because I'm a genealogy buff.
In that case, the Mormon church fits right in, as does Islam, and a number of other cults.
no prob - I didnt see you saying that....I just wanted to be clear that we do
The problem is that you never say it that way; you always say it more along the lines of, "The sky would be bluer if not for the Arminians."
LOL - an oft banned disruptor wouldnt have it any other way now would they
now - regarding your flamebaiting - you spoil the punchbowl and then complain when everyone notices whats floating
I expected perhaps too much from you
A lot of the "simple Bible stories" are simply not for children.
Did you teach your children about how the Israelites smashed the heads of Amalekite infants on rocks?
How about the story of how good King David committed adultery and then committed murder to cover it up? Did you teach those simple Bible stories to your 4 year olds?
That's not what I meant, either. Everyone reads what they want, I guess. This pastor's kids didn't know about David and Goliath, Noah and the Ark, Jonah and the Great Fish, etc.
They didn't even know how to play Christmas songs at Christmas! This is more common these days than you might think -- everyone is wanting to be a megachurch, even in smalltown America.
Isn't that an oxy moron? :O) (That's a joke son!)
Yeah and I want my church to be a mega church too. I pray that every single night our church becomes the launching platform for the new life of a new believer who will someday be the next Billy Graham.
Did it ever cross your mind that a lot of the mega churches never wanted to be mega churches but merely wanted to preach the gospel to the lost? Now not all mega churches are good churches, but clearly not all mega churches are bad. It seems to me that a lot of the judgement on these churches is so petty it comes down to the type of coffee that is served in the kitchen or whether or not the pastor looks like a homo.
Many of the largest Churches in America started out as home bible studies. And yet many of these churches get ridiculed because people just assume that if it is big, God's hand simply can't be in it. And then when you point out to them that pastors like D. James Kennedy and John Piper preach to thousands every Sunday, and the silence is deafening. Either than or they try to claim that if God blesses a Calvinist Church with great numbers of worshippers, then it is a work of God, but if it is a non-Calvinist church, then obviously it is a work of the Devil himself.
Just look at the petty things that have been said about Joel Osteen by people who call themselves Christians. They say he looks like a faggot. They say he and his wife look like they had plastic surgery. But these people who cricitize him all seem to take the position that they are a lot holier than Joel who, as far as I can tell has never said a bad word about any of them.
OK Joel Osteen may not be the prince of preachers. He may even be preaching a distorted version of the gospel. But to denigrate him on his looks and then to ridicule those who (by the grace of God) may actually have come to Christ at his mediocre and often innane preaching is unseemly at best, especially from those who claim to have a closer walk with Jesus than Joel Osteen.
Hmmmmm...I'm not quite sure I understand this statement. The Pharisees used the scriptures and "supplimented" them with their own teachings. I'm not sure I would call this a theological system. (A religious system perhaps.)
wow - all in 29 days of forum life
you certainly have the gift of discernment ;-P
Also observed is a definite pattern of the exact same nameless to not respond to queries posed but yet turns around and demands his queries be answered, only to be offended again when the game is not engaged.
kinda like when rnmom answers a question with a question ?
which retread are you - cmon - is that you jean ?
or wrigs ?
>>You don't go to church in an "old bathrobe", why would you think it is any different with your spouse if you could afford something more alluring?<<
Because with true love (both for Christ and your spouse) anyting "external" is not needed.
If you need anything outside the realm of what's already been provided, then your efforts are already doomed to failure.
I'm talking about espresso coffee and electic guitar worship and altar calls.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.