My Church the nightclub

[EricH]

It is just this sort of 'entertainment' which began to make me 'uncomfortable' with the normal Charismatic worship at my former church.

Every service, HUGE amounts of time were directed toward making everybody 'feel' like worshipping; then actual worship began. It seems to me that directing all this energy and attention horizontally, if you will (out toward US), was NOT what church was for. Rather all the energy and attention needs to be focused on the worship of GOD (upward, if you please!).

I found that Liturgy does this best.

It is a real pity when the Church feels it must 'become relevant' and buys into all the latest "entertainment kitsch" for the sake of 'growth.' This indicates a church unsure of the importance of the moral reason for its existence.

What is everyone's scriptural objection to this?

[chicagoburbite]

I bet there were people who were just as shocked about the first electric organ played in church. *Gasp* Some early hymns were thought to be the equal to "bar/tavern" songs because of the upbeat tempo *snicker* Those are probably the ones that make some young people yawn now.

Worship styles change over time, just like our church buildings (thank the Lord for air conditioning!). We add new things to minister to the kids (think crayons, markers, clay, physical activities to help them memorize scripture).. things that weren't used much when I was growing up in Sunday school, but I see many many kids coming to Christ and having a much deeper relationship with Christ than I did.

Progress isn't always bad

Bless you Brother! Praise God that you care about the health of your church!

[Floatingaxe]

Hey there guys and gals!

Well the service last sunday was brilliant and the guest speaker (who was from north africa) was such a blessing! It was just what I needed, except for one thing.

We are "upgrading" our Church at the mo and this will mean that a gallery will be built upstairs for more seats and a new sound system will be put in to make things better sounding and of course............louder.

Now dont get me wrong, I love lively music and I listen to alot of "ccm" and loud music at home but when it comes to praise and worship I believe in respecting God and while it can be loud and joyful it shouldnt get out of hand. The newest toy that was bought was inteligent lighting. Its the lights that you would see at a large concert or at a club. They spin and shoot all these coulors onto the stage. Impressive but it could not have been more inapropriate.

I just dont know anymore. I LOVE loud music but I am struggling to honestly praise God when the front of the Church is lit up like a sycadelic christmas tree.

Any thoughts?

Sean

I say, what is the difference between intelligent lighting and amplified sound? Both are modern. Both are enhancements of music. Why use any lighting as far as that goes, have church in the dark.

[elkieDannsa' Air An Drochaid]

Hey there guys and gals!

Well the service last sunday was brilliant and the guest speaker (who was from north africa) was such a blessing! It was just what I needed, except for one thing.

We are "upgrading" our Church at the mo and this will mean that a gallery will be built upstairs for more seats and a new sound system will be put in to make things better sounding and of course............louder.

Now dont get me wrong, I love lively music and I listen to alot of "ccm" and loud music at home but when it comes to praise and worship I believe in respecting God and while it can be loud and joyful it shouldnt get out of hand. The newest toy that was bought was inteligent lighting. Its the lights that you would see at a large concert or at a club. They spin and shoot all these coulors onto the stage. Impressive but it could not have been more inapropriate.

I just dont know anymore. I LOVE loud music but I am struggling to honestly praise God when the front of the Church is lit up like a sycadelic christmas tree.

Any thoughts?

Sean

Perhaps write a note to the church pastor about how you feel about this and how it may reflect to others who may come to your church or members whom might feel that same way. Maybe the church could have an open discussion on how everyone is feeling about this, I doubt you are the only one feeling this way.

God Bless,

elkie

[Guest yod]

I believe that leaving is the worst, most un-Christlike, thing you could do.

The only question that is important with regards to going or staying is this one:

Do you have confidence in the leadership of your community and their ability/humility to hear from the Holy Spirit?

If you say "yes" then they will be humble enough to listen to yours objections, fears, worries about the glitzy lighting. If they give an answer that is unsatisfactory (to biblical principles) then you take it to more people and keep going up the chain. Leaving would be not only cowardly, it would abandon the rest of the saints if this is a real concern.

Maybe the problem is that you aren't comfortable with it? That isn't necessarily a bad thing for the Kingdom and, in that case, it's a matter of humbling yourself to receieve a new thing from the Lord.

But if you say "no" to that question then I have to wonder why you go there in the first place?

[jgarden]

Hey there guys and gals!

Well the service last sunday was brilliant and the guest speaker (who was from north africa) was such a blessing! It was just what I needed, except for one thing.

We are "upgrading" our Church at the mo and this will mean that a gallery will be built upstairs for more seats and a new sound system will be put in to make things better sounding and of course............louder.

Now dont get me wrong, I love lively music and I listen to alot of "ccm" and loud music at home but when it comes to praise and worship I believe in respecting God and while it can be loud and joyful it shouldnt get out of hand. The newest toy that was bought was inteligent lighting. Its the lights that you would see at a large concert or at a club. They spin and shoot all these coulors onto the stage. Impressive but it could not have been more inapropriate.

I just dont know anymore. I LOVE loud music but I am struggling to honestly praise God when the front of the Church is lit up like a sycadelic christmas tree.

Any thoughts?

Sean

If you read about the early church, worship was less structured and Christians took a much more active role.

The average Christian today has long since abdicated this role to the "professionals" who are doing our worshipping for us - while the congregation sits passively in the pews waiting to be entertained.

Christian worship should not be a "spectator sport."

Edited March 28, 2007 by jgarden

[Guest]

Hey there guys and gals!

Well the service last Sunday was brilliant and the guest speaker (who was from north Africa) was such a blessing! It was just what I needed, except for one thing.

We are "upgrading" our Church at the mo and this will mean that a gallery will be built upstairs for more seats and a new sound system will be put in to make things better sounding and of course............louder.

Now don't get me wrong, I love lively music and I listen to a lot of "ccm" and loud music at home but when it comes to praise and worship I believe in respecting God and while it can be loud and joyful it shouldn't get out of hand. The newest toy that was bought was intelligent lighting. Its the lights that you would see at a large concert or at a club. They spin and shoot all these colors onto the stage. Impressive but it could not have been more inappropriate.

I just don't know anymore. I LOVE loud music but I am struggling to honestly praise God when the front of the Church is lit up like a psychedelic Christmas tree.

Any thoughts?

Sean

How about that little Church down the street and around the corner?

[luv2prayzhymn]

Dear Sean,

I too, was just going to keep silent on this one... but because of our "experience" I have to say something. My husband and I got saved in and attended our home church for 11 1/2 years. Our church was flourishing and growing (because the HOLY SPIRIT was DRAWING people to come and hear the Word preached. After a few years we had pretty much stayed at the same number of congregants... then one day things started to change... the music and lighting first!!! After that the way things were done, new building, way our pastors preached (watered down messages, dress casually, more "worldly" music,).... I could go on and on but I would just like to say that you are discerning the downward turn of your church... we've been there, the Holy Spirit started to show us things that just didn't line up with scripture and how God says things are to be done... Have you ever heard of "purpose driven"? Would almost gaurantee thats where your leadership is headed... We prayed and sought God, we "TRIED" to have a Christ-like conversation with our pastor about our concerns and feelings, only to be told that if we didn't like the direction the church was headed that "maybe we would be happier somewhere else". Just, by the way, as Rick Warren told them to say... To the one who asks about scriptural objectiions to the concerns.... NOTHING is to take the place of the Holy Spirit, He alone can DRAW someone to want to come to Jesus. You can offer all the lighting, loud music, etc. but stop offering it and go back to traditional church as it has been, and you will lose the crowds.... I will be praying for you my friend, may God grant you discernment and wisdom to know how to handle the situation.... God Bless ya'll

[Iryssa]

I haven't read this whole thread, but I will say this:

How your church handles its money is a BIG issue. I can understand the need for amplification and modernization of sound equipment and suchlike...but take a look at the motivation: are they getting the BEST, most expensive equipment, just because it's the best?

Or are they shopping around, looking for good prices on this stuff, and spending what they can afford on something that will fit the needs of the congregation but not go beyond what would be used in everyday situations? I think the latter is just fine...the former, though? What's the POINT of spending the money to get the BEST, just because it's the best, when something less would fit the congregation's needs just as well?

I can tell you that most of the congregation would just get a glazed look on their faces if you try to explain the technical specs on the best stuff, and I can pretty much guarantee that they'd never miss it if they'd never had it. It'll dazzle people, sure...that is, until they get the church's yearly budget review in their mailboxes and go "why on earth did this new equipment cost so much?!"

Just my two cents.

[Idaho Christian]

When a church blesses Him, and are doing it right, it grows!

That could apply to those super mega jumbo churches though. I find something honestly wrong with those kinds of 'churches' and don't feel like they're as blessed as they may seem.

With all the false prophets and deceit that we have today, we really need to be cautious about these sort of things. Not to go off into another direction, I just thought I'd intervene with my thoughts.