Posted on 08/15/2008 11:50:44 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
If Jesus is divided then his Kingdom is divided and Jesus himself said a kingdom against itself can't stand. So either the Kingdom of God is divided and about to fall or the "church" as we call it is not of God.
I believe there are people in every denomination on earth who God will call out of their denominations to form the Body of Christ and it will operate in the power Christ operated in.
Agreed. If anything, this looks like a case of empire building. Getting more butts in the seats gets you more $$ + bragging rights on how many you’ve “saved” by the latest marketing gimmick.
>>I can talk to God daily while working, why join a bunch of unbelievers at a social gathering.<<
I can give you two good reasons:
Matthew 18:20
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Hebrews 10:25
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
I am beginning to think that the very thing I most abhored about church is actually one of it’s most important purposes: Christian fellowship. Hanging around with other Christians. Rock climbing, motorcycle and bike riding, you name it.
Why not just teach the bible by the Spirit of Christ? Why all the gimmicks. I think “healing the sick, casting out devils and making the blind to see” would draw a much larger crowd than some #1 best selling author and his self help book speaking on Sunday night.
>>Isn’t anyone else appalled by these ideas and easy use of the terms “marketing” and “promotion” when referring to church attendance?<<
Not me. I consider marketing to be like money. It is not a good or bad thing in itself. Depends on how it is being used. I believe all of life is sales. I suppose that all of life is marketing as well. The word has a very broad definition.
It would be quite easy to make the case that Jesus was marketing and promoting. Heck, I promote the idea of grace every chance I get.
I think that's great! I do that too but I am talking about what these churches offer. Don't we want the truth?
>>I think that’s great! I do that too but I am talking about what these churches offer. Don’t we want the truth?<<
Absolutely! And the church is one of the few places where it WILL be absolute!
I see marketing and selling as synonomous with “presenting”. When I tell someone about the amazing gift of God I am, by definition, selling and marketing. That is really all I was trying to point out. If I try to convince a chef that I have this great ceramic knife and I am willing to give it to him free, I still have to sell it. I have to offer a motivation for him to reach out and grab it as well as quell his fears that it may harm him if he makes the attempt. Further, I am marketing by speaking a language he understands.
I know this is a silly example, but I am merely trying to point out that words like “marketing” in no way offend me when discussing the presentation of the gospel or anything else to people. My offense or lack thereof comes from the context or what the person actually means when they say “marketing”.
Attending church will not get you into heaven, but believers will find a church home to associate with. Keep searching, good luck.
There are some great hymn in this tradition, including "Hold the Fort" (inspired by the Battle of Allatoona in 1864), "The Fight is On, Oh Christian Soldier," and "The Conflict of the Ages" which are rarely, if ever heard today.
Wow I have never experienced any of those “worship” styles.
We honor God and His Son, Jesus. But we are also attempting to develop a community of Christians within the larger community and we have found that having social gatherings that appeal to men is effective.
I spent most of my life in feminized denominations and the difference is stark. My church has an active role for men, which is Biblical, but also runs programs that will appeal to them as guys. One can go only so long on potluck dinners, you know.
I agree. However, ‘giving Praise to the Creator’ and singing ditties are worlds apart. The men I see, Sunday after Sunday, do not seem to want to jump and clap and cheer like they are at a rock concert. Cannot they worship Our Lord and keep their dignity and adulthood intact? If you were having an audience with the King, would you want to jump up and down and clap and cheer, like you were at a sports event? Just seems wrong to me.
bump
And married men die younger because they want to.
If the church is going to do lame unscriptural (or non-scriptual things) things to attract men, in the name of marketing.... Well I can think of a lot of really cool things that are not lame that would attract ment, even if they are non scriptural....
Fly a P-51 into the church parking lot.
Have a parchutist drop from the sky and give every guy there a bow and arrow and see if they can hit the parachute.
Have a demolition derby in the church parking lot.
Hand out firecrackers and matches
I mean, come on. If you really want to get men there using marketing tactics.... How non creative can they be?
Quote of the day award.
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.