Sunday Morning Church Services-personal thoughts

self | 8/13/23 | self

[EliRoom8]

I think we have exhausted this topic. It wasn't serendipity that prompted my departure from the contemporary church. It was a deep regard for the "hallow-ness" of God's name/honor and the feathery-light/vapid sermons emanating from the pulpit.

It is conceivable that the same Hebrew 10 arguments could have been martialed for the 1000 years of Dark Ages during which the Roman Catholics held sway.

[EliRoom8]

That being said, I much admire John MacArthur, a five point Calvinist, who almost alone among non-charismatic evangelicals, stood strongly against the attempts by California authorities to shutter his church. Another very strong Calvinist is the Reformed Baptist Voddie Baucham, who is a fierce and articulate opponent of the gospel of "what's happening now".

I admire both men as well. MacArthur was a lion when it came to facing down the elites that run California, but I am miles away from his Calvinism. I love how you described Voddie as "articulate opponent of the gospel of "what's happening now."

I did not know much of what was mentioned in the beginning part of your post and appreciate your comments.

Regarding Grace Community Church I am thrilled that they have much of their Congregational singing posted on YouTube.

Enjoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFJtq1Be3zo

[EliRoom8]

Postscript:
I have never given up wanting a church that has a free grace outlook, congregational singing, and genuine reverence for the Lord in its approach to worship. It has been a long and fruitless search; but I am most sensitive to the tsk-tsk-ing I receive.

[Albion Wilde]

Methodist?

My first thought, too.

The Wesleys are spinning in their graves.

[oldvirginian]

Seems they’ve been growing quickly.
There are about 22 within 50 miles of Lynchburg, Virginia and half of those are in rural areas.

[Persevero]

There was still a solid church in the “1000 years of dark ages,” even if arguably the Roman pope had more and more bad influence over the centuries. There was never a time of total takeover by Rome.

I believe that it wasn’t serendipity; I just am trying to communicate that a regard for the “hallow-ness” of God’s name/honor includes submitting to His Word in the area of the ordained church, with elders set up as He prescribes, and meeting, and fellowshipping, and partaking of the elements, and all the other things.

I am sure you realize I am not trying to say that irreverence or vapid sermons are somehow ok. They aren’t. But we have to combine these truths. We must be reverent; holy; preach the Word with unction; yet we must not forsake, we must persevere with one another, we must submit to elders/bishops as duly ordained, we must collect for and minister to the poor, we must take communion, etc.

All the things. Impossible to do perfectly I freely admit. But I have to believe that there is ministry for you in the church and that the church would benefit from your ministry.

[EliRoom8]

A well-considered response, but — get real — finding a faithful assembly in those days was impossible. Let alone the travel and persecution. No, I don’t buy it.

[Wallace T.]

I am not familiar with the situation in Virginia but the conservative cause was hurt by the antics of Jerry Falwell, Jr. Additionally, we must recognize that rural America, even MAGA counties, are not invulnerable to cultural decay. Look at the police overreach in Marion County, Kansas, a county that Trump won in 2020 by a nearly 3:1 margin. Hardly NYC, Baltimore, or Atlanta. The police and sheriff raided the local newspaper and seized records apparently because the authorities were angry at their reporting. So it is not surprising that rural areas have weak Baptist congregations.

[DennisR]

Join the club! 👍🏻👍🏻

[joesbucks]

Could have if there was a parallel.

[caww]

I was so blessed to have strong Bible believing Preacher/Teachers as a new Christian and throughout the years some amazing Pastors who knew the scriptures as well as application to the world. They understood where the battles were and the Message of Salvation we all needed to know and undertand. .....today it’s such a far cry from that and difficult to find such Preachers.

[oldvirginian]

From what I saw on the map a lot of the transfers to CBF are from small country churches with an ageing congregation and small ability to pay a pastor. My mom’s church is down to 15 regulars on Sundays. These churches I think are the ones being led astray by the CBF adherents, “go with us! Watch your churches fill up again!”

[Responsibility2nd]

I'm going to play Devil's Advocate.

You say at least one-third of those in attendance was pre-teen and teen girls and boys.

I say he was following Paul's example as he was trying to relate to them.

 

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

 

New International Version

 

 

Paul’s Use of His Freedom

¹⁹ Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. ²⁰ To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. ²¹ To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. ²³ I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

 

If the pastor had done old fashion preaching, would he have not lost the attention of this one-third? I agree with you that today's worship services are weak and little better than entertainment to the masses, but who knows? Maybe by "all means possible" (including Disney references) he might save some.

[CFW]

“I say he was following Paul’s example as he was trying to relate to them.”

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Endorsing Disney is not “relating” to them. It’s endorsing evil. Pastors are supposed to lead sinners to Christ instead of confirming the sin.

[Big Red Badger]

👍