That explains these "venues:"
Two of the above venues are in tents. Just like the circus.
The "mood" I look for in a church in coming into the presence of a Holy God. it's not about me, but Him.
Posted on 03/09/2007 3:53:04 PM PST by Terriergal
Caring for our church property is one way we show respect toward God. However, there is a consumerism mentality in our society that makes it "all about me" rather than worship. If the preaching is real, genuine, deep it should be worth the trouble to find a place to park! Even if they don't have a cupholder for my morning latte as one local seeker church has.
These people need to get on their knees!
= = =
. . . along with those so EAGER to throw rocks at them.
That explains these "venues:"
Two of the above venues are in tents. Just like the circus.
The "mood" I look for in a church in coming into the presence of a Holy God. it's not about me, but Him.
I sure am glad that Christ didn't find that suffering on the Cross for my sins inconvenient and uncomfortable.
I seem to remember that Christ chastised Martha for having the wrong focus, Luke 10:
38Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
40But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
I thought that was the Holy Spirit's job. why are you so quick to give glory to Warren?
But since you brought it up, it is amazing how little the Saddleback Website mentions Christ but rather the comfort and felt needs of the crowd. Their website might as well be pitching Oprah or Dr Phil.
1. Lighting
Lighting has a profound effect on people's moods. Inadequate lighting dampens the spirit of a service.
2. Sound
Invest in the best sound system you can afford. If you're trying to cut costs, do it in some other area. Don't skimp here.
3. Seating
Both the comfort and the arrangement of your seating dramatically affect the mood of any service.
4. Temperature
As a pastor who has preached for years in un-air-conditioned gyms and unheated tents, I say this with the utmost conviction: The temperature can destroy the best planned service in a matter of minutes
5. Clean, safe nurseries
If you want to reach young families, you've got to have sanitized and safe nurseries.
6. Clean restrooms
Visitors may forget your sermon but the memory of a foul smelling restroom lingers on ... and on ... and on! You can tell a lot about the morale of a church by checking out the quality of the restrooms.
Can't really disagree with much here except for the seating. The "personal space/comfort" is not necessary. Wooden pews or even sitting on the floor in a missionary location suffice.
Good post.
What's sad is how much time and effort he clearly spends on this stuff. If only he spent that much time picking the scripture citations he used in Purpose Driven Life.
Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. Rom 14-4
Hmmmm. Doesn't this sound familiar? More like Disneyland more than a church?
How ever did Christianity ever grow in the conditions of the early church? No air conditioning, mood lighting, staging, comfort. It's a miracle that people responded to the message of grace given that level of discomfort.
:-)
I concur. My eyebrows began to rise when I saw his recent involvement in overseas associations with politics.
If this essay is indeed by him as it appears to be, then by his fruits we know him. IMHO, he doesn't have faith in Christ, but instead associates worldly religion and morality with Christianity.
IMHO, his entire premise in this essay is disproven simply by looking at our Lord an Savior Christ Jesus as He approached the Cross. Our Lord was consumed in worship of the Father, yet every distraction and interruption imaginable to those about Him were directed at Him without effect.
On the contrary, the most beautiful churches are some of the oldest ones. The idea that beautiful architecture is more inspiring than the spare bedroom of my old mobile home is not all that controversial.
Rick Warren could tell people that they'd feel better if they ate nutritious meals and got plenty of exercise and the bitter people would still find a problem with it.
The poster above who suggested they should all sit on a bed of nails to prove how religious they are was right.
Fellowship with God through faith in Christ is independent of physical or soulish environment. Lacking this understanding, a person in the pulpit has less than little to offer a flock.
Where's my latte?!!
According to Rick, the Lord is not "able to make him stand" - not without proper A/C, seating, lighting, sound reproduction, sanitation, even the very shape of the room itself. He even quotes a mangled paraphrase of Titus 2:10 at the end of the article, saying that we are commanded to "make the teaching about God our Savior attractive." Rick does not give credit to God for his church's growth - he gives that credit to his janitors, among others...
Every classroom was vacuumed twice every Sunday – once at the beginning of the day and once after we'd finished using the rooms. It was hard work but part of the price of growth.
I've seen people walk two hours to get to church in Mexico.
You definitely have a point. And many of the churches in Africa, India, South America, China are the fastest growing of our day.
It just so happens that our facility committee has worked on many of the things listed for my small home parish. (And we have full houses at all four Masses.)
However, what this article FAILED to address was the credibility of the pastor. Isn't the pastor mentioned in this article losing membership at his church?? Hmmmm -- so that would mean that the most important thing is the MESSAGE!
It's going to apply here one day as well. The seeker sensitive movement is not preparing people for that.
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