The Wrong Focus

[Nick]

We got a flyer in the mail today from a local charismatic church about their Christmas services. Apart from the big heading "Carols By Candlelight" there was no message of anything Christian about the service. In fact they listed what's at the service. Among others there was:

• petting zoo
• pony rides
• jumping castle

Now I went to this church about eight years ago for about a year, and know that it's got a great support network and their heart's in the right place, but it seriously needs to look at what it focuses on. I'm not ranting about charismatic churches; but this one really does focus on a good time, and sermons that are relevant instead of Biblically sound nor Bible-related. Too much focus on the music being a concert.

But enough of me nailing the church down the road. I was thinking what are others' ideas or examples of churches that in their opinion miss the point or focus on perhaps a good thing, but in a way that is not helpful.

 

[Free]

We got a flyer in the mail today from a local charismatic church about their Christmas services. Apart from the big heading "Carols By Candlelight" there was no message of anything Christian about the service. In fact they listed what's at the service. Among others there was:

• petting zoo
• pony rides
• jumping castle

Now I went to this church about eight years ago for about a year, and know that it's got a great support network and their heart's in the right place, but it seriously needs to look at what it focuses on. I'm not ranting about charismatic churches; but this one really does focus on a good time, and sermons that are relevant instead of Biblically sound nor Bible-related. Too much focus on the music being a concert.

But enough of me nailing the church down the road. I was thinking what are others' ideas or examples of churches that in their opinion miss the point or focus on perhaps a good thing, but in a way that is not helpful.

That about sums up most, of not all, charasmatic churches I've been to and it has spread to many other Evangelical churches as well. It's about putting on a good show and getting good numbers. I have found that the charasmatic churches are often biblically unsound because it's about the experience, even to the point where the experience can interpret Scripture and do away with reason.

 

[reba]

kinda like the gifts are more important then the giver


Being a Pentecostal PK i grew up watching Dad fight that very thing...

At some point he just told the "higher ups" i ain't doing it ..... He was so good at cleaning up little churches they left him alone...

 

[WIP]

I usually feel much the same way and often refer to this as the "feel good gospel." There is some advantage to this activity because it draws people but it is only a spiritual advantage if the gospel is preached and at the center of their purpose rather than a hopeful side benefit.

 

[jasoncran]

my pastor and many of the churches(we are pentacostal) dont like the denomation and try not to tithe to it.

 

[iLOVE]

Growth, wisdom, and understanding comes into a christian spirit many different ways. The Holy Spirit is speaking to you to move forward. The Holy Spirit wants to open the next door into your relationship with Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is thristy. The Holy Spirit roots want to grow inside you. Water it!

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

There are good sides to charismatic churches as well.
I was a member of one for 11 years until I moved away.

They have a very lively praise and worship with music and dance and it certainly does draw people into the church.
But the pastor also gives a solid sermon every week that obviously convicts people as it also draws people out of the church.

I have never seen so many people get saved as I have in this church.
His sermon always leads up to a very inviting altar call to give your life to Jesus.

At this church I received the gift of the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues.
With that I also received the gifts of prophesy, wisdom, and a very powerful gift of prayer.
I have always used these gifts to help build up the body of Christ.

I find that most people shy away from charismatic churches due to disbelief.
I think the enemy will do anything to put that disbelief before you so as to prevent you from having the power that these gifts will give you.

If the church down the street isn't doing it right, I'd go look for another one.

 

[Claudya]

I don't know much about charismatic churches in general (we don't have so many of them here) or that one Nick is speaking about in particular.

But my church has a student and young people service every sunday night, and some of the flyers for it announce music and food rather than theology, sermon and God. They're not denying that it's gonna be a church service, they just put the focus on seemingly unimportant side issues.
The reason for that is that they want to reach non-christians (the largest denomination in Germany is actually agnosticism ) and some of those think of church service as something terribly boring and dated. So they wouldn't ever attend one, unless you make the service look like... something else.

Especially on christmas a lot of people go to church that normally wouldn't and that don't have a very close relationship to God. If you can entice those people to come to a church and enjoy themselves, they might come back of more of the nice atmosphere, coffee, or pony rides... and will sooner or later hear the core message of christianity.
If you advertise with sound theology they might not come at all, because of whatever reason kept them from going to church in the first place.
Those pony rides and jumping castles can lower their tresholds to get in touch with christianity at all.
So maybe that's not a bad idea for reaching the non-believers.

 

[Nick]

There are good sides to charismatic churches as well.
I was a member of one for 11 years until I moved away.

They have a very lively praise and worship with music and dance and it certainly does draw people into the church.
But the pastor also gives a solid sermon every week that obviously convicts people as it also draws people out of the church.

I have never seen so many people get saved as I have in this church.
His sermon always leads up to a very inviting altar call to give your life to Jesus.

At this church I received the gift of the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues.
With that I also received the gifts of prophesy, wisdom, and a very powerful gift of prayer.
I have always used these gifts to help build up the body of Christ.

I find that most people shy away from charismatic churches due to disbelief.
I think the enemy will do anything to put that disbelief before you so as to prevent you from having the power that these gifts will give you.

If the church down the street isn't doing it right, I'd go look for another one.

From what I've heard and experienced about charismatic churches, a lot of them put a lot more weight on the experience, and the sermon isn't solud Biblically. It's sad because as you say, they seem to draw lots of people in.

 

[reba]

Like every other group, people are in, there is some good and some not so good...

 

[Nick]

Like every other group, people are in, there is some good and some not so good...

Very true :yes

And all grouls have strengths and weaknesses.

 

[Claudya]

From what I've heard and experienced about charismatic churches, a lot of them put a lot more weight on the experience, and the sermon isn't solud Biblically. It's sad because as you say, they seem to draw lots of people in.

Jesus himself put a lot of focus on the experience. All the healing and casting out demons and turning water to wine did not save anyone's soul. But it opens people's hearts for the message that saves souls. Of course Jesus did teach God's message too. But a lot of His work was experience based. He had to get the attention of the simple non-intellectual people.
Not everyone has the cognitive capacity or educational background, and some are just too lazy to use their brains to understand a theological sermon. But everyone likes a good show, and everyone longs to feel God's presence. Jesus knew that and used experience as a gate opener. Why shouldn't today's churches do so, too?
(Besides that, I don't think sermons to be a good way of learning of God's will anyway. Bible study in groups or solo, maybe with help of secondary literature, is much better for learning. Church service is for singing and meeting people. ;))