A Blast from the Past

[Mike]

Wow. I can't believe it's been almost a year since I felt it was time to step down and take a breather. They've reconstructed my old neighborhood in a most beautiful way!

Julie and I celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary last June, Joshua is away for his first year of college, and we still have our two teenage girls at home. Me and three ladies in the house. I sleep with one eye open. Nuff said.

Our faith walk is in flux these days. We'd been considering leaving our church we had been at for 15 years in most part because the teen and young adult ministries were long since thriving, and I've had the overwhelming fear that teens were becoming more and more detached.

Finding a new church to call home has been a process. There's one we've gone to a few times, and the kids love it. I have concerns. I can get past the loud music where they open with secular songs that somehow tie into the message, and the message from the pastor is fantastic! He pulls no punches, calls out sin where he know many of his flock are struggling, and never strays from scripture. But it seems like the same thing each time. They play a few songs loud, they sing, no one else does. The pastor speaks for 45 minutes, one more loud song. Dismissed.

Is this what Church is these days? I see no worship taking place. It's like a great Bible study sandwiched between a few loud songs. I've always felt church should be a place to gather for worship first and foremost. Glorify Him! We've visited another one that is a start up. They just moved into a vacant business building. The music is loud, but the congregation is encouraged to lift their voices. The message is good, but they seem to emphasize the "seeker" aspect of it. I see church as the place where believers assemble to worship. And they have very little for teens and young adult ministries.

Is it just me or have churches become "shows" rehearsed and refined for the audience? What about w-o-r-s-h-i-p? Can you have thriving youth groups and still assemble for worship? Honest vertical worship?

It seems the mega churches have ushered in a new way that looks more like a rock concert and Bible study mixed together. No worship. Did I mention I Ike actual worship in my worship service?

Times, they are achangin...

Be blessed, CA nutters.

Mike

 

[Eugene]

I'm praying for you brother that you will be led where God wants you. Our trip takes many turns as we are led to have God's best for our lives, and He is never neglect in His love for us. May God bless you and your family in the way in Jesus' name.

 

[jasonc]

good to see you mike.

 

[Willie T]

Interesting. The Bible seems to almost always speak of worship as a combination of falling prostrate, (the actual definition of "worship", as I understand it), and also leaping, shouting, and blasting of horns. But seldom, if ever (I haven't searched, specifically) of hanging our heads and moaning slow songs.

I. personally like the old hymns, done Acapella. (But, I'm almost 70) Yet I wonder if that is something (like so many things) that is relatively new (compared to the original worship) inventions of our manmade religions.

 

[Danus]

Hey Mike! I've been thinking about you, and wondering where you've been. good to see you back. Figured you took a break. Sounds like you're doing well.

Only man in the house uh? Welcome to my world.

On the subject of churches, I know you had that struggle there for a while with your pastor change, as I recall. You may recall I attended a non-denom "rock-n-Roll" church. It was a start up supported by several denominational churches, including the Presbyterian church I had been a part of for many years.

The style of worship did not bother me; rock-ish band, sing if you want. Coffee bar, casual....all that new stuff, but about two years ago, the church took a serious turn on the message it was conveying. Christ was not in it. We where bringing people in, and they still are, but the bigger we grew the less we focused on Christ and the whole of scripture. Sermons where getting to be more and more about advice for living, less about Christ and nothing of the need for salvation.

I had an illfated conversation with the church leaders about my concerns. I was told that salvation is between God and the individual (well Du!) and that the church did not need to encourage or focus on that specifically since the church already encourages people to read the bible. ???? (WHAT?) ......... So, I left. I will not support or be a member of any church that dose not place the gospel at the center of its self.

My old church is a mega church. Same style for the most part, but always focuses on Christ. Christ is the central theme. This new church started out that way as well with plans to grow into a "campus church" with several locations. They are building their third location now, and it's going to deliver the same Christ-less message.

This is where I think we are going these days in many churches, where not just the style is subjecting to the culture, but the message itself is "themed" to the culture and subjecting itself to the culture to attract the culture, get people in the door and grow. They don't want to 'offend" anyone with the Gospel.

So my family and I have been visiting churches for the last two years. We still attend our old mega Presbyterian church every once in a while, but there is a small Presbyterian church with about 250 members just down the road from our neighborhood and we have been attending there most. It's as if God shines a light on it every time I pass by. The pastor preaches from the bible, through the bible. It's traditional, but business casual. It has a band sort of, but no loud music, no crazy lights and stuff; two traditional hymns and three contemporary songs with corporate singing; stand and encouraged.

So, basically it's our church home now. I still allow my girls to attend the youth group at "the other", the rock-n-roll church, as I call it. They actually teach more scripture and theology to the youth there than they do in Sunday services, and small groups. The reason for that is because the kids are a captive audience. You can't offend them with the Gospel.

Any way, good luck with your new church. I hope and pray it's a good spiritual home for you and your family. The only advice I can give you, since I am an experienced church hunter, count the number of times you hear about Jesus Christ in the teachings. I started doing this at my old church, and all churches I visit. Just place a little mark on your bulletin every time you hear the name of Jesus in the service, or teachinig. Try it. If you walk out of there with no marks I grantee there is a problem with the focus of that church. I went for weeks with no marks on my bulletin, none. My new church; I can't count the little marks on my bulletin.

On a side note; I've visited many other good churches. I'm partial to the Presbyterian church for theological reasons (the conservative one) but I have many "hash marks" from many other fine churches I've visited.

 

[Mike]

Thanks for the responses. Just to clarify, I'm not criticizing the lout up-beat music during worship. It's not my preference when I'm trying to get my heart & mind where it needs to be at that time, but I don't think it's necessarily wrong. Heck, I'll go to church and listen to screamo if it means our children will be invested in the worship. Well... maybe not screamo.

Danus, seeing your name and your avatar bring a smile to my face. And as always, your experience and words are worthwhile to read.

No, the main point I had was the movement toward church being a show that's presented rather than something we participate in. At least that's my initial impression of it as we get out and look around. When people tell me about churches they're excited about, they seem to be describing this same experience.

 

[Christ_empowered]

hey, Mike. Welcome back!

I don't know what to say about church worship styles. The religious market place has lots of options, that's for sure. How do you know when its time to leave a church? Did other people+families exit as well?

Anyway....welcome back.

 

[Christ_empowered]

hey, Mike. Welcome back!

I don't know what to say about church worship styles. The religious market place has lots of options, that's for sure. How do you know when its time to leave a church? Did other people+families exit as well?

Anyway....welcome back.

 

[Danus]

I tend to agree. Kind of lazy worship I guess. It's funny; I kind of rather sit there and soak it in. I guess like a show. But, the church I'm at now is corporate style worship, very congregation involved; traditional, and now I find that very refreshing. Just styles, but I do think churches have done this in America for the sake of growing these mega style churches.

Both my last two mega churches made no bones about the approach in this way. Get them in the door and in the seat. Make it as relaxed and as "non-threatening" as possible. I don't have a problem with that, as long as the Gospel is at the center, and I can tell you several churches I've visited like this are missing it. Not all. Not saying all of them, but some. The only problem I've had is the watering down of the Gospel message. It's easy to miss that if you're distracted by "the show", and I see that now.

 

[th1b.taylor]

Good morning Mike. I pray you are not confined, as I am, this morning and you and yours are in church worshipping right now. I have worshipped with several teachers and a half hour of Gospel music this morning on the TV. Like yourself, I'm stressed with where our Church Worship Services are going. I once did a number of Specials but, even in my Specials, I encouraged the members to worship with me.

I am terrified of not worshipping in a God-like manner and, thus, disappointing our LORD. But as I grew old I watched and now I see so many sitting there, unmoved by the spirit of our God. It, just, saddens me to see this in so many people. On our last Pulpit Committee the vote was six to one for the elder pastor that admitted he would be with us no longer than five years, possibly less, and against the Seminary graduated School Teacher that was asking for his first Church.

I was the Elder committee member but God put it on my heart that any Church must care for it's youth and love them to keep them. I prayed for God to change my mind if I was wrong but the day before the final vote, He changed all six of the younger members and we awarded the Teacher his first and he declares it will be his only Church to Pastor.

He is one fine young man with such a heart for God and he loves people. Pastors like him are hard to find but I pray success for you and your ladies.

 

[jasonc]

I think when my church posts if it does the message today about the vision, and I can I will post a link. the man that teaches today is a man of god and well his message work on me. I need to repent of some issues.

 

[reba]