Posted on 12/07/2009 4:27:19 PM PST by SeekAndFind
They bring to mind this quote (see tagline)
Typically I attend Saturday evening Mass, when I go. The families come Sunday morning so there would be more activity along those lines, but not nearly as much as during the seventies.
Sadly, nothing has changed since you left. The old people still want the same worship their grandparents had. The young adults don’t know what they want except that they “need” something. The challenge is getting them recognize that what they need is to give their life over to something greater than themselves and they are a very selfish generation. I’m in my mid-40’s, so I can communicate with both generations and understand what both want.
The whole ReThink Church initiative is sponsored by the UMC, but all the effort is done at the congregation level. The liberals in church leadership are a problem, but ultimately they follow Christ (but in a lefty kind of way where slavery to the communist state is more Christian than capitalism—but that’s a topic in itself!) so I steer things to the right where I can, but recognize the true direction we must go or our church will die, or become ineffective as disciples, in the next decade.
See it happening across the board.
I also have seen many of those who go to the Evangelical churches leave for nothing.
We are living in a post Christian age.
I've noted the merging of churches as well, regardless of reasons for splits etc. many are joining with other other churches, and or building huge congregational churches.
Catholics may relocate and find another Catholic church in the area, but it is not always the case for Protestants, who can move from one denomination to another.
They are more inclined, I think, to judge where they attend by the Pastor or Preacher who speaks ,and if or not from scripture, at least those who seem serious about the things of God.
Unfortunately the contemporary lean in allot of churches has, in my opinion, moved the focus too far away from the centrality of Christ, to programs, events, lights cameras and action. It's become more about the show now rather than the star of the show. Thus people leave “feeling” religious rather than hearing and being moved by the truths being taught, if they are even taught at all.
Even in the Catholic church, some are so caught up in the rituals and such, though might be important to each who practice, and the ‘feeling’ of being religious. That they miss out on the words coming from scriptures being spoken.
I guess to me it just seems like Christ has become the afterthought rather than central to many believers lifes.
The churches today reflect that I think.
Too many interruptions as I did this but trust you get my drift.
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