Posted on 02/21/2006 2:17:28 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
THE head of the World Council of Churches has expressed concern about the spread of megachurches around the world, such as Hillsong in Sydney, saying they could lead to a Christianity that is "two miles long and one inch deep".
The WCC General Secretary Samuel Kobia said megachurches - huge Protestant churches with charismatic pastors, lively music and other services - mostly ran on a business model to make worshippers feel good and were shallow in their theology.
Megachurches, which pack in thousands for rousing Sunday worship services, are popular in suburbs in the United States. Most are evangelical or Pentecostal, with few or no ties to mainline churches such as the Lutherans or Episcopalians.
Mr Kobia said the megachurch movement, which is not represented in the mostly mainline Protestant or Orthodox World Council of Churches, broke down borders among denominations with a populist message.
"It has no depth, in most cases, theologically speaking, and has no appeal for any commitment," the Kenyan Methodist said at the WCC world assembly in this Brazilian city.
The megachurches simply wanted individuals to feel good about themselves, he said.
"It's a church being organised on corporate logic. That can be quite dangerous if we are not very careful, because this may become a Christianity which I describe as 'two miles long and one inch deep'."
Reverend Geoff Tunnicliffe, international director of the 400 million member World Evangelical Alliance, said at the assembly that "historical and deeply-felt issues" separated them from other branches of Christianity.
The largest US megachurches attract some 20,000 worshippers every Sunday. Abroad, megachurches have also sprouted up in Australia, South Korea, Britain, Canada, and other countries.
According to a report by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, there were 1210 US churches drawing more than 2000 worshipers, the official minimum for a megachurch. That was double the number in 2000.
The WCC groups nearly 350 Protestant and Orthodox churches that mostly broke away from the Roman Catholic Church in the Great Schism of 1054 or in the 16th century Reformation.
You're right, and it's difficult to get people to hear the word by first informing them that God expects them to be holy.
I think that preaching God's love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness through the shed blood of Christ on the Cross works more to get people to be "holy" than all the sermons about sin, judgment, and holiness do.
My wife's love for me, kindness to me, her forgiveness of my stupidities, and her daily sacrifices on my behalf have done more to keep me in love with her than any amount of nagging or pointing out of my mistakes and faults could have accomplished.
I believe when the govt told Daniel not to pray HE DISOBEYED We also have something called the separation of C & S
There are two things that need to be taught:
One Jesus loves you.
Two Jesus says "Follow me. Do what I tell you to do." And he means it
If you only do number one, then you get stuck where Gene Robinson is, sometimes, thinking that God validates you where you are and you don't have to grow.
But, you should be wanting to follow Jesus if you are his.
Therefore gird up your minds, be sober, set your hope fully upon the grace that is coming to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." (I Peter 1:13-16) RSV,
Jesus says, "Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest," but he also says "Why do you call me `Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?"
Because he chose to suffer and die and was ressurected, we have a refuge. Because he chose to become man in all things but sin, he knows what our struggles are like, and has mercy on us. But also, because he's been here, done that, he knows that with his help we can become a holy people, and tells us how to live to do that.
So, if you are only being taught God is Love, and not God expects you to be holy, you are only getting part of the message.
I usually don't agree with the WCC, but this time they're right!
LOL!
What's the prob about Joel's wife?
I agree w/ TBD btw.
Give me the directions and I'm there!
Until then, I'll settle for my mega-church that preaches the truth, unlike those mega-churches that are so shallow.
But the zoning and building codes don't forbid prayer or worship. They are for the protection of the people worshiping and the community. These are neutral regulations that are applicable to all whether they be a theater, sports arena, music hall, school or church.
You telling me your church never, never, never compromises the Word of God, think about what your saying, that's on the same level as saying your church is perfect.
I'll probably won't mind visting your church, but not during the winter. I moved to Tennessee from Michigan about 10 years ago to get a little bit warmer weather during the winters, I'm a whimp, I'm ready to move even further south. Maybe I could become a missionary to the Floridians, or to your snowbirds from New York.
Your Bible doesn't have the 10 Commandments!!??
And what does the WCC do with all that ecumenical cr........er ............... stuff?
He forgets the passage in 1 John 5:16,17
16: If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that.
17: All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal.
Right there are the two classes of sin. Mortal, and those that are less than mortal, which we call venial.
Sounds wonderful. Pastor at a local Orthodox Presbyterian Church is going to be covering Ephesians VI with his Sunday School kids. Following that all will share in a meal too.
It's a sweet little Church, with a lovely and loving Congregation. The Church has a couple of pianists that are oustanding.
I'm not a big fan of big churches either. Don't know if it's axiomatic that Big Churches equal bad instruction in the Faith, but they're way too impersonal. Do each one of these Churches have many Pastors? If not, how do they attend to their flock?
Subgroups, I suspect. If they don't do it officially, it's going to happen naturally. About 150 is the max you can have get together without natural groups forming within the larger group.
I think you're probably right.
16 If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.
I've heard this passage interpreted to mean that the sin that leads to death is apostasy or a sin against the Holy Spirit, not that adultery is worse than misuse of office supplies....
Are you committing a mortal or venial sin if you break one of the Commandments? Let me know if you also keep all of the Mosaic Laws listed in Leviticus. You do keep all of them, don't you? You are still under the yoke of the law, aren't you?
While I dislike the WCC, in this case, they are right.
Megachurches do not allow for true doctrinal agreement on major, divisive issues in Christianity.
Only denominations do that.
I should point out that the WCC is shallow in their own way.
Amen.
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