Posted on 09/07/2020 9:32:54 PM PDT by ReformationFan
I remember when Christians used to actually believe in Christianity. Those were the days. (Some still do, but their numbers are shrinking.)
Back then, you could still visit an average (Protestant) church and hear a pastor actually teach real doctrine and share authentic insights. You could hear his thoughts on how to live an upright Christian life, or on why bad things might happen to good people, or how Christian marriages might be improved. And you could hear it all supported by actual Bible passages.
After the sermon, you could hear the congregation sing hymns affirming the importance of obedience, humility, faith, courage, or some other Christian virtue. They were something, the old hymns: bold, clear, impactful, sometimes even militant, like "Onward, Christian Soldiers" or "God of Our Fathers, Whose Almighty Hand", or particularly thoughtful, like "How Great Thou Art".
Things are different now. Wander into a typical Christian church these days, and, far from hearing a sermon challenging you to live an upright life, you're more likely to hear an unsuccessful attempt at a Jeff Foxworthy-style stand-up comedy routine, Hallmark-style stories of dubious veracity, and utterly vacuous "praise songs" which all sound like U2 album rejects from 1986. (They even feature the thumping eighth-note bass parts, echo-drenched guitar, and melodramatic vocal performances.)
(Excerpt) Read more at steynonline.com ...
1 Praise the Lord.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
There is some great worship music on youtube from JSM in Louisiana.
I just love listening to a lot of their songs. They have to use an enclosure because it might thunder the audience too much. I’ll post a song that I really like.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIbVn67tjCA
(some may want to enjoy the whole song - which is great - the last half of the song really picks up the pace - about 5:17 or so, I really enjoy listening to that brother in Christ play his guitar)
[6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.]
Well, amen to that. So I will also say:
Praise the Lord.
I don’t rightly know.
Very timely exhortation that MUST be heard and acted upon!
Repost - fixing the time where the brother plays his guitar before the song really picks up - and posting another worship song (LONG)
There is some great worship music on youtube from JSM in Louisiana.
I just love listening to a lot of their songs. They have to use an enclosure because it might thunder the audience too much. Ill post a song that I really like.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIbVn67tjCA
(some may want to enjoy the whole song - which is great - the last half of the song really picks up the pace - about 4:55 or so, I really enjoy listening to that brother in Christ play his guitar)
Blood-Bought Church
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCdtE6VzR5o
And one of my absolute favorites - “Right Now” featuring Randy Knapps
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Viw5l9BQgLQ
I wholeheartedly agree. We dress our best when we go to weddings, funerals, business meetings, court, etc.........because it shows respect. That was the rationale decades ago for dressing up for church. Everyone should be welcomed, if they come to church dressed in their own personal best. We’ve abandoned the wisdom of our forefathers, in an attempt to be all-inclusive.
We Call On You I play it every day. Elvis Presley Gospel Vol 6.
The corpus of the New Testament is the best attested text from antiquity. There are copying errors in many manuscripts, but the vast majority are easily resolved. There are only two major problem passages: The longer ending of Mark's gospel and the pericope of the woman caught in adultery in John's gospel. Dan Wallace explains both here.
I am convinced that I can bet my life on the Word of God. The hard part is obeying what I read.
+1
My priest at an old parish put the onus on church leadership as well as the congregation. He told an anecdote about a teenager who came into the confessional and told the priest, "Father, last week I found myself in a situation where I was sitting behind a gorgeous young lady wearing a short skirt, and a low cut top. I couldn't keep my eyes off of her, and found myself filled with lust."
The priest replied, "Well my son, those are natural feelings, especially for a young man of your age, but you have to learn to discipline yourself and remove yourself from those situations when you find yourself in such circumstances. Where were you that you couldn't just get up and leave?"
The boy replied, "I was at 10 o'Clock Mass, Father."
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