Posted on 07/26/2013 5:40:33 AM PDT by NYer
The congregation closest to me is barely 20 years old and now has a Sunday attendance of around 160, outgrew their first building six years ago. Mostly converts from Mennonite, Lutheran, and Episcopal with a handful of Roman Catholics.
Don’t get me started about liturgical and “traditional” church. I’m getting more turned off by my pastor and his post-modern manner. Love the people (well, 95% of them), love how “diverse” it is, and the pastor is basically good and nice, but the services are getting more and more techno and all about being modern. And this is “Missouri Synod”. Nothing traditional about it anymore if you come see us.
Updating earlier post:
An interesting column and hopeful in that, as they grow older, some young evangelicals are looking for more substance that they have gotten in their particular churches. I find it also is worth noting that missing are the Protestant churches that are going increasingly secular, and I see a distinction between choosing the Anglican and Episcopal churches over the secularizing Episcopal and other old-line Protestant denominations.
I will take issue with the author’s gratuitous attack on Catholicism and conservative Anglicanism in his statement: “It is to say that children raised in spiritually substantive and faithful homes usually find things like holy water, pilgrimages, popes and ash on their faces an affront to the means for spiritual growth that God has appointed in His Word.”
And as Clemenza & Publicus both pointed out it is the growing secularization and atheism of the world is what all of us who follow Christ are in a struggle with, as well as the forces of Satan.
Some need structure to help them grow spiritually, just as a pole bean needs the pole or after an injury, I needed a knee brace to give my knee/leg the required support to help me recover. And giving your friend support on his way to a firmer faith in Jesus and His Father is the best thing you can do. And pray that your friend will find “satisfaction” and a firm faith.
Read the old testament, judgment even affects the remnant.
For me, I pray for revival and mercy.
Thanks for the ping. I have not heard of this trend before, or seen any evidence of it.
I think the largest trend isn’t from evangelical churches to orthodox churches, but from liberal churches to nothing.
I know what you mean. Shortly after I was baptized, I wanted the ‘contemporary’ services. But a few years later, I started wanting the ‘traditional’ more and more. I don’t know why this is the case, but it is.
I’ve always loved traditional. Yet I didn’t really grow up in church. Just that my mom loved to go to holiday services at good Catholic Churches. I didn’t like it as a kid. Didn’t have to go much at all, though.
When I went to college I started wanting church more. Had a great respect and appreciation for God and Jesus thanks mostly to mom even if she too was lazy. And I had no knowledge of “contemporary”. Was rather appalled when I saw it happening more. Just seems more self-conscious about being hip, but it just seems irreverent to me. Also alienates me because they never offer the music, so we have no idea how we’re supposed to sing. It’s much easier with sheet music.
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