The Fastest-Growing Churches Have Modern Worship, Teach Literal Interpretation of the Bible: Study

Christian Post ^ | 11/30/2016 | Brandon Showalter

[HiTech RedNeck]

If you are going to use nonsensical terminology, why should I answer?

[editor-surveyor]

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>> “ The people in the Bible did sing and dance and raise their hands up to the Lord in praise.” <<

And the people OF the Bible do it today, and have done so for millennia.
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[editor-surveyor]

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>> “Methinks this view is going to last until they run into something that renders their hierarchy’s directions utterly implausible.” <<

Coming soon to a world near you! (check listings for time and station)
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[Unam Sanctam]

What’s wrong with the old classic Protestant hymns? They are the best thing about the Protestants IMHO.

[G Larry]

Outside of Revelation, what parts of the NT do you consider “symbolic” rather than literal?

[editor-surveyor]

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>> “Well, except for when they don’t” <<

They don’t when they can’t!

One cannot take a cultural idiom literally.

All of Yeshua’s words at the last supper were culturally idiomatic. When he said that he wouldn’t partake of the cup again until we meet for the wedding feast, it was clear that the cup was in no way blood.

There will be no blood present on the sea of glass mingled with fire.
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[editor-surveyor]

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There is no element of “modern worship” that can be said to take scripture literally.

Modern Worship is by definition “liberated” from the binding ties of the scriptures.
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[Tax-chick]

Not sure why any believer would struggle with it.

It makes one wonder what they mean by "believer." Although, I suppose, everyone is a "believer" in something ...

[21twelve]

Olsteen seems like a pitchman to me. Willow Creek puts out lots of good Bible studies that our church uses. My church isn’t a mega-church, but is pretty large and growing. It has traditional and modern services, and a really good pastor that preaches from the Bible. And lots of opportunities for Bible studies, etc.

The leadership is very conservative theologically, but most of the people in the pews are probably liberal in their politics.

[Dawn53Fl]

“Never really understood the whole waving hands in air thing”

1 Timothy 2:8
Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.

Psalm 63:4
So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.

Psalm 119:48
And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, Which I love; And I will meditate on Your statutes.

Psalm 28:2
Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help, When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.

Psalm 141:2
May my prayer be counted as incense before You; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.

Psalm 134:2
Lift up your hands to the sanctuary And bless the LORD.

Lamentations 2:19
“Arise, cry aloud in the night At the beginning of the night watches; Pour out your heart like water Before the presence of the Lord; Lift up your hands to Him For the life of your little ones Who are faint because of hunger At the head of every street.”

Lamentations 3:41
We lift up our heart and hands Toward God in heaven;

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Perhaps you should cross out that verse in your Bible...

[Puppage]

Yeah,, you just jump up and down...hands in the air...because that makes you closer to God and hold the moral ground. And, BTW, how NICE of you to reply to my kind words. Speaks volumes to your “holy” character.

[Puppage]

Ummmmmm, yeah. Okay.

[RegulatorCountry]

“Mainline” must mean something different in Canada. Name one in the US that has a “modern” worship service yet teaches a literal interpretation of the Bible.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

I’m not a jumper. Scripture leaves that topic to personal choice.

God does command us to raise our hands. Your call.

I certainly wish you growth in Christ and every blessing.

[Pollster1]

Can you imagine if Barack Hussein had been by statute the head of the Church of the United States? Out Founding Fathers were wise and prudent in ways I never would have predicted.

[RegulatorCountry]

Can you imagine if Barack Hussein had been by statute the head of the Church of the United States? Out Founding Fathers were wise and prudent in ways I never would have predicted.

How would he differ from, say, Pope Francis?

[tbw2]

What is that? Or rather, whose?

[Pollster1]

I am not going to touch that one!

[cloudmountain]

Well, watered-down Christianity is like watered-down liquor. It doesn’t get the job done and nobody who has experienced the real thing prefers it.

"Watered-down Christianity" = Protestantism, no requirements at all, none.
However, that doesn't sound very nice. I know Protestants who are charitable, good, worthy followers of Christ and they go to Church every Sunday, no excuses. They aren't "watered down" at all according to their own Protestant lights.