Posted on 09/23/2006 5:59:13 PM PDT by hiho hiho
cult of personality.
I know SO MANY people who (women in particular) who attend a church because of the preacher. Their comments are usually along the lines of "He is just SO GOOD."
It is possible that the guy just is a really good Bible teacher. Anything wrong with that?
bump
That is a very deep analogy. Unfortunately, many people will not comprehend it. But it is good!
Not more righteous no, but more appropriate yes. It's not just a matter of different times. There was all kinds of music in the 16th century that was more akin to what rock is today--dancing, exhuberant music with drums and stringed instruments. But that stuff wasn't used in churches back then--because they thought (and rightly I think) that it wasn't appropriate.
Likewise...do you think Christ and the Apostles were using the "popular" music of the time liturgically? Bust out the harps and the cymbals and drums and play the music that was typically heard on the stage or in the theater? No, they were singing psalms, and using chants as old as the hills--probably similarly to the way that Jewish folks continue to chant today.
Can rock n' roll be Godly and devout? Of course! But does it give the kind of sacred, quiet and prayerful atmosphere that belongs in church? Or is it more conducive to jumping around and emotionalism?
I can respect your preference, as long as you respect the preference of others (which you don't).
Yes, those smiling faces can work wonders ... look at Clinton ... many women were wooed by HIM.
I think you may wish to look further into the church subversion and power moves of Warrenism.
The Gaines guy sounds like he's on a power trip. I don't see anything that he's doing that can be directly traced back to Saddleback Church or Rick Warren.
It comes down to what's right and what's wrong. Not just preference. Not everybody can be right. What's wrong with that?
Uh, yeah.
Organ right. Guitar wrong.
How can anyone argue with your theology?
"Organ, right; guitar, wrong" is too simplistic. There is some beautiful guitar music.
What we have for church musicians in general are those who haven't aspired for the higher levels- they prefer to emulate rock stars.
I think we should allow a lot more than what we do.
Yesterday, a man sat down in front of me in a Harley Davidson t-shirt, tatoos down each arm and skull/crossbones rings on each finger.
My kids looked at me trying not to laugh.
Well, guess who got saved?
If your church is growing and people are drawn to your church because of your organ music, then I guess you may have a point.
If not, then we may have found a reason why.
Hmmmm. I could not find the word, "Liturgical" in the Bible, even in the King James Version. http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/?search=liturgical&version1=9&searchtype=all
Way too much importance is placed upon music. If rock style music is the only way churches think they can evangelize - there's something wrong.
My church in Grants Pass is a former Baptist church that is now a Warren-type "praise and worship" church where thewy applaud after every few songs, and sing silly, simplistic songs like "God is a friend of mine, He calls me friend," and other songs that say nothing but "We love Him" without ev er mentioning who "Him" is...you could be singing about Zoraster or Allah!
In fact yesterday they played the first song in a Parliament, George Clinton HORRIBLE Funk rithym, completely bizarre and weird.
BUT, when Mark started preaching, WOW! He talked about divorce, and how it's wrong for Chritians to divorce, and how modern American Chrstians think it's more important to feel happy than to live according to Biblical principles, and how, if a Chrstian divorces his or her spouse, except for adultery, and marries another, is commiting adultery according to the Bible.
Then, at the prayer at the end of the sermon, Mark prayed that all who have divorced un-Biblically to marry another repent of their adultery.
You could hear people crying throughout the congregation...it was really moving.
So, even though I dislike the silly, simplistic songs, and the Hawaiian shorts and flip-flops, and the goofy applauding after every song like we are watching Friday Night Football with Jesus who just scored a touchdown, I'm staying here because the sermons are so powerful.
Ed
Try the Greek: leitourgia/leitourgikos, etc. Sometimes it's translated as "ministry" or some such. Here are some references.
From Greek it went to Latin whence it came into English liturgy/liturgical. Perfectly biblical word.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.