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 am ceaselessly amazed at how those who concern themselves with outward appearances never seem to fail to inherently contradict themselves in the very act of condeming those who whom they think have failed to uphold those appearances they find so meaningful.
There were testimonies in there about how if you train your mind and eyes not to look at those features on other women, you will start to appreciate your own wife's 'features' much more -- even if she has that matronly figure. :-)
And hey, to quote someone else here,
why would you think it is any different with your spouse if you could afford something more alluring? It's called basic respect
It goes both ways. Why wouldn't you train your mind to appreciate her as she is, if that is what she wants? It's called basic respect.
If people spent half as much time building up their own church
How do you know people on FR aren't doing so? Using your same logic, maybe if you spent as much time building up your church as you do critizing other Christians on FR.....
What? And deprive him of his reason for living?
Would you prefer me to say he looks like a Metrosexual?
Why is saying someone looks like a faggot and is indistinguishable in outward appearance in gender from his wife "overboard"? Its only a comment about how someone LOOKS on the outside, not who they ARE on the inside.
I think it is overboard to dress and look androgynous if you are a Christian.
Maybe, if people had judged Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker by outward appearances, they would have realized the truth much sooner and stopped serving a lie.
* That is right out of The Grapes of Wrath Going from town to town, after his preaching the woman would be so excited they'd lie down with him in the fields.
7 For a bishop must be without crime, as the steward of God: not proud, not subject to anger, nor given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre:
8 But given to hospitality, gentle, sober, just, holy, continent:
1 But speak thou the things that become sound doctrine:
2 That the aged men be sober, chaste, prudent, sound in faith, in love, in patience.
3 The aged women, in like manner, in holy attire, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teaching well:
4 That they may teach the young women to be wise, to love their husbands, to love their children.
5 To be discreet, chaste, sober, having a care of the house, gentle, obedient to their husbands: that the word of God be not blasphemed.
6 Young men, in like manner, exhort that they be sober.
7 In all things shew thyself an example of good works, in doctrine, in integrity, in gravity,
1 Christ therefore having suffered in the flesh, be you also armed with the same thought: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sins:
2 That now he may live the rest of his time in the flesh, not after the desires of men but according to the will of God.
3 For the time past is sufficient to have fulfilled the will of the Gentiles, for them who have walked in riotousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings and unlawful worshipping of idols.
* I guess Titus is now considerd "Up-Tight(us)" and the First Pope is just a spirit-denying grouch.
>>So you don't shower, shave, brush your teeth and use mouthwash, deoderant, brush your hair and put on clean clothes for your wife like you do for the world?<<
Good grief, do you guys hurt yourselves jumping to such far-fetched conclusions? There is a far, far difference between basic personal hygiene and dressing like a "hottie" just to add spice to your love life.
Making wild, irresponsible comparisons doesn't exactly help you make your case.
I recognize your intent and am on the same page with you here.
I recognized what they were before most. My mama thought I was a little heretic for pointing it out to her. She now runs TV ministers by me before sending in her money....
And what do you think "in spirit" means when Jesus says to the Samaritan woman, whose worship was an emotional experience, "the day will come when they will worship "in spirit" and in truth?"
From post 6 on this became an attempt to link all evangelical churches to the teachings of Osteen, Hinn, and Copeland.
Well I did not level criticism at non-Evangelical Churches. If they feel led to read more bible then they teach, then good for them. My church teaches more Bible from the pulpit than we collectvely read mainly because we as a congregation are expected to read the Bible before we come to Church.
I suppose I could constantly refer to some of the wayward "Reformed" leaders and Churches as examples of reformation leaders, but I know that would be dishonest as most of the Reformed freepers are not doctrinally in agreement with those men or those institutions.
Frankly GC, I'm disappointed in you for not calling Herman on his profane comments about Joel Osteen's appearance. Instead, you picked up the ball and ran with it. The thread deterorated accordingly.
>>There were testimonies in there about how if you train your mind and eyes not to look at those features on other women, you will start to appreciate your own wife's 'features' much more -- even if she has that matronly figure<<
Agreed.
Above all that, a woman with a Godly spirit, who hungers and thirsts for righteousness, who knows how Godly women are to be, is the most attractive thing I could ever see in my wife.
Her respect for me, my love for her, all borne out of a dedication to God, and a devotion to His way of how marriages are supposed to be, is the key to our happiness as a couple. She could wear all the trashy lingerie in the world, but it would be useless - it simply could never add to how I feel about her.
Look at what you are writing. What you are experiencing is not a "dry, boring scholastic exercise", but what about those around you in worship and those who visit? Corporate worship is a communal experience not a private exercise. It is the body expressing its homage, gratitude and praise with all that constitutes us as created in the image of God. We are to love Him with mind, soul and body and worship Him in the same way.
I don't know what they had at that time but I do know whatever it was Isaac was afraid of it just like his father since they both were afraid of being killed because of their wives' beauty and they weren't talking about inner beauty.
Thus we are "his servants" (Revelation 1.1).
... and of one another.Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.Our service is the outgrowth of the two greatest commandments ..."Love the Lord thy God ... "
"Love your neighbor as thyself."
I think you're going a little overboard there. Not that I'm defending anybody else's criticisms necessarily, but I wouldn't exactly describe your post as an admonishment :)
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