Evangelical editor picks a quarrel with his cohorts (claims they have lost their way)

Charlotte Observer ^ | June 6, 2009 | Tim Funk

[NYer]

Televangelist and best-selling author, Joel Osteen, right, and his wife, Victoria, left, celebrate the grand opening of the new home for the Lakewood Church, formerly the Compaq Center, Saturday, July 16, 2005, in Houston. The arena that basketball fans once packed to see the NBA's Houston Rockets is taking on a new role, home to the largest congregation in the nation. It took more than 15 months and $75 million to convert the arena into the new home of the largest and fastest growing congregation in the nation.(AP Photo/Jessica Kourkounis)

[NYer]

He'd prefer his fellow evangelicals join in the recitation of the Apostles Creed or extend a handshake of peace to a pew-mate.

“The liturgy understands that humans need to actively participate and not be spectators,” Smith said.

The above statement caught my eye. He is, of course, absolutely right.

[sweet_diane]

Our PCA church was slipping into the ‘mega church’ state of mind a few years back... I’ll have to check out Smith’s book.

[mrmeangenes]

A friend of mine has been attending a NJ church called “The Water” (or just Water (?) which has a lot of the feel-good stuff,uses big screens, has rock-style music, etc....BUT :
The group is said to be “full Bible” (whatever that means), and goes out of its way to perform good works-year round.

Members actually spend their vacations ministering to the poor, handing out clothing, food, toys, etc.,and generally “acting like Christians”.

They have relatively enormous attendance at their services-which are held in rented premises.

Which is “more Christian” ??

[bboop]

I yearned for the Apostles’ Creed rather than the Mission Statement our church had. A wonderful church it was, and folks there loved the Lord. Maybe there was a cross on the stage, I think. Very simple inside.

We are loving the beauty of the Catholic Church now, and the historicity. (Hate the ditties, tho. I have to go to the early, silent Mass). We learned a lot in the Evangelical Church, left a lot of beloved friends, learned SO MUCH from the preaching. But these things are definitely missing.

[AnAmericanMother]

“Jesus is my boyfriend” songs

LOL! That's what our music director calls them!

Quick, the antidote:

O Sing Joyfully (Batten)

Listen for "blow up the trumpet in the new moon, e'en in the time appointed". A brilliant musical phrase. It almost takes your breath away.

[AnAmericanMother]

Not all Catholic parishes are a musical wasteland.

Click on the post above for an anthem that we sang at communion two weeks ago -- Adrian Batten's "O Sing Joyfully". We sing a lot of the early English Renaissance motets and anthems -- Byrd, Tallis, Batten and the anonymous "Rejoice in the Lord Alway" (not the Purcell 'Bell Anthem' - but we sing that too. Both great, but the anonymous setting is a smaller, more intimate work.)

All the English stuff makes me feel very much at home as a former Anglican, but we also sing Palestrina, and Victoria, and Viadana - Exultate Justi

"We Give the Lie to Bad Catholic Music" ought to be our motto.

[Lee N. Field]

Sounds like a golden age for the evangelical church, right?

Wrong, says Warren Cole Smith,

In his new book Smith argues that many, if not most, evangelical churches have lost their way. Instead of sticking with core biblical principles, rich traditions and church-as-community, he says, they promote feel-goodism, technological fads and church-as-entertainment.

He's not the only one. There's a whole genre of books lately along the same line, by insiders.

Those I've read, published within the last year or two include Michael Horton, Christless Christianity, Julia Duin Quitting Church and David Wells, The Courage to be Protestant.

[mrmeangenes]

Small correction (due to senior moment): The church is called “Liquid Church of NJ”:

http://www.liquidchurch.com/

Sorry ‘bout that !

[Jemian]

AMEN!

[Colonel Kangaroo]

Christianity is a religion that requires study and mental discipline. Paul in 1 Timothy commands diligence in Bible study. But that often does not play well in the anti-intellectual TV age. Too many would rather like to go with the flow, let a preacher do their thinking for them and hope for some message from God while maximizing the emotion and avoiding the mental.

[Marysecretary]

I agree with you. Our church sings worship songs that are anointed and you can feel the presence of God in them (not all but most). They glorify God. We sing hymns as well. Many of our members have outreaches into the community and try to meet needs. They go on short-term missions trips and help orphanages or build needed buildings, send school supplies to Mexico, etc., etc. It grows by the year. We have a Christian School, which is our biggest mission. Our pastors and leadership are Godly men.

[Huber]

Warren is a good friend. He and I used to attend an Episcopal Church together back when that was possible.

[Marysecretary]

Lovely, but it’s a concert choir and most churches don’t sing those beautiful sacred melodies with the kind of ability these choirs do. I do miss the old sacred songs and have tried to sing some of them, or did before I got sick.

[Huber]

Not all Catholic parishes are a musical wasteland.

I read the first line of your post, and I immediately knew that it was from you...

[Marysecretary]

You are blessed to have a group like that. envy, envy...

[NYer]

Which is “more Christian” ??

You begin with the question: 'Why are we here?' We are here to know, love and serve God in this world and be happy with Him forever in the next. In order to love God, one must first know Him. In knowing God, we grow in love for Him and with that love comes a desire to serve Him.

Serving God and doing His will on earth. Worship is not "show time"; it's all about reverence. It's good that the community applies christian principles by ministering to the poor.

[since1868]

I agree with a few points. One thing i disagree is the music,
if we are to get young people into the church we must play the music they like.It does not need to be crude there are some great CCM artists out there.

[netmilsmom]

THAT is how it should be!
Thanks for sharing!

[jokar]

bump

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