Church as a Rock Concert

[rockytopva]

I went to a reputable church that is new, has three Sunday morning services, and very well attended. They also boast salvation by faith and have baptized many converts.

So... I visited! Service notes...

*** The lights turn off
*** Flood lights on the musicians
*** A sound as you would hear in a rock and roll concert
*** The lights remain off with only the light on the pastor during the sermon

I left very disturbed and never returned.

 

[rockytopva]

It has been said...

"Your extremity is God’s opportunity." - Charles Spurgeon - The Spurgeon Library | Man’s Extremity, God’s Opportunity

I believe, though, that our extremity can be God's big headache if we are not careful and understood why the Apostle Paul wrote...

Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.- 2 Corinthians 11:28

People get carried away!

 

[JonC]

I went to one that had a light show and a smoke machine.

 

[DaveXR650]

Reminds me of this.

 

[Silverhair]

Reminds me of this.

The sad part is that what this video shows is what passes for worship in many churches. Entertain me but do nor convict me.

 

[Deacon]

The only time I ever was at a Rock concert was when my daughter and a friend got tickets to see NSinc.
I planned to take them and sit in the car during the concert but needed to use the bathroom.
So I purchased a ticket from a scalper well after the show was supposed to start (for $5!).
Not only did I get a great seat but the start was delayed, I didn't miss a thing.
I even found my daughter and her friend and took them up front with me.
I had to endure sitting among 70,00 screaming teenaged girls.
I stuffed tissues in my ears and only recognized Bye, Bye, Bye at the end.

No church could ever be that bad.

~~~~~~~~

I retired recently and moved about an hour and a half away from my church.
My wife and I began to look for a new home church soon after the move.
Our locale is very rural; churches are abundant but quite varied in their theology.

As we scout out churches we travel down Horseshoe Pike past the communities named Paradise, Churchtown, and Farmersville.
We've been to quite a few churches.
Sermons were generally nice, the music, ...okay (always a mix of soft contemporary and traditional) - nothing of great quality.

So we traveled about 35 minutes away to a small town to visit a church my wife's cousin's son works at.
Sermon's are great.

- AND THE MUSIC...

***A mix of soft contemporary and traditional
***The lights are off
***Flood lights are on the musicians
***Lyrics are shot onto a screen in front.​

- IT IS QUALITY!​

I wouldn't be embarrassed to bring anyone to the service.
The message is clear in word and song.

MISSION COMMUNITY CHURCH DOWNINGTOWN [LINK]

Rob

 

[tyndale1946]

I go to church to entertained by the Lord... Simple service, singing, praying, preaching... No stage performances by the congregation, just primitive worship... I know boring!... But when I leave, my bodies not rocking but my heart, soul and spirit sure is!... On Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand!... "Give me that old time religion!"... Brother Glen

 

[JonC]

The only time I ever was at a Rock concert was when my daughter and a friend got tickets to see NSinc.
I planned to take them and sit in the car during the concert but needed to use the bathroom.
So I purchased a ticket from a scalper well after the show was supposed to start (for $5!).
Not only did I get a great seat but the start was delayed, I didn't miss a thing.
I even found my daughter and her friend and took them up front with me.
I had to endure sitting among 70,00 screaming teenaged girls.
I stuffed tissues in my ears and only recognized Bye, Bye, Bye at the end.

No church could ever be that bad.

~~~~~~~~

I retired recently and moved about an hour and a half away from my church.
My wife and I began to look for a new home church soon after the move.
Our locale is very rural; churches are abundant but quite varied in their theology.

As we scout out churches we travel down Horseshoe Pike past the communities named Paradise, Churchtown, and Farmersville.
We've been to quite a few churches.
Sermons were generally nice, the music, ...okay (always a mix of soft contemporary and traditional) - nothing of great quality.

So we traveled about 35 minutes away to a small town to visit a church my wife's cousin's son works at.
Sermon's are great.

- AND THE MUSIC...

***A mix of soft contemporary and traditional
***The lights are off
***Flood lights are on the musicians
***Lyrics are shot onto a screen in front.​

- IT IS QUALITY!​

I wouldn't be embarrassed to bring anyone to the service.
The message is clear in word and song.

MISSION COMMUNITY CHURCH DOWNINGTOWN [LINK]

Rob

I think the issue boils down to preference.

We use guitars, a keyboard and drums along with a group (usually 3) singers leading worship.

Some woukd consider this entertainment. But that is actually an incitement on their willingness to set aside their preferences to worship.

I have been in upbeat ("rock") services, contemporary services, traditional services.....and anything in between.

When the people of God worship it is to God but also God to the people (the body of Christ ministering to one another).

My preference is contemporary.

 

[rockytopva]

I have visited a contemporary church, in which if you dig, and click three or four links at the bottom of the page,you will find they are Southern Baptist. I did compliment the worship leader that though the music is contemporary, it is reverent, without the feeling of being at a rock and roll concert. Being careful that the following shoe does not fit...

7 Well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. - Matthew 16

 

[Deacon]

Where I live, I’m surrounded by farmland,
generally old order Mennonites and Amish.
They travel by foot or horse drawn buggies to home churches each Sunday.
My retirement community provides the community with a source of work outside of farming.
Locals occasionally have choral groups come to sing during religious holidays.
They sing plainly in beautiful harmony.
I occasionally recognize a hymn and can sing along in my heart.

Various cultures enjoy worship using music that we might call grating and dissonant.
I remember a missionary to PNG telling us that they had to teach their congregation to sing in unison because they originally did not sing together.

Culture plays a big part of how we appreciate music.

Rob

 

[Oseas3]

Acts 17:30-31CSB
30 “Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, GOD now commands all people everywhere to repent,
31 because He has set a Day (Lord's Day, the seventh and last Day, or seventh nd last millennium) when he is going to Judge the WORLD in righteousness by the man He has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

John 1:10-13:
10 He -JESUS - was in the WORLD, and the world was made by Him, and the WORLD knew Him not.
11 He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.
12 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of GOD, even to them that believe on His name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of GOD.

1John 3:1-15KJV
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of GOD: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.
2 Beloved, NOW are we the sons of GOD, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall APPEAR, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.
8 He that committeth sin is of the Devil; for the Devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of GOD was manifested, that He might DESTROY the works of the Devil.
9 Whosoever is born of GOD doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of GOD.
10 In this the children of GOD are manifest, and the children of the Devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of GOD, neither he that loveth not his brother.
11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
12 Not as Cain, who was of that Wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
14 We know that we have passed from DEATH unto LIFE, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in DEATH.
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

The Word is GOD, GOD Himself, self-executing,
Be careful and get ready

 

[Oseas3]

John 11:20-24

20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him: but Mary sat still in the house. (JESUS is coming and is at door, it is midnight, Behold, the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet Him-Matthew 25:6and10.

21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of GOD, GOD will give it thee.

23 JESUS saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

24 Martha saith unto JESUS, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection AT THE LAT DAY. (Seventh and last Day, the Lord's Day, or seventh and last millnnium. This Day arrived)

Be cereful or else get ready

 

[Oseas3]

Daniel 12:1-3

1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time(Matthew 24:14-15&21-23.Take a look): and at that time(THE CURRENT TIME) thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. -->(Who are the light of the world?)

1Thessalonians 4:15-17

15 For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel (MICHAEL), and with the trump of G0D( Revelation 11:15-18): and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the cloud(THE SAME CLOUD THAT APPEARED IN HIS ASCENSION IN THE MOUNT OLIVET- ACTS 1:9-11. Take a look),to meet the Lord in the air(i.e.on High, IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE THIRD HEAVEN THAT WILL BE ESTABLIHED IN THIS CURRENT MILLENNIUM--> Revelation 11:15-18): and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Get ready , the Word is GOD, GOD Himself, self-executing.

 

[JonC]

The more I think of it, the thread title is wrong.

Is using lights and popular styled music "rock music" or is it Chriatians worshipping in truth and spirit rather than adopting a musical style to accommodate tradition?

I can see it both ways, I guess.

Is using traditional hymns putting on airs, or a humanistic, intellectual attempt to reach back to a previous era or worshipping in truth?

Again, I can see it both ways.


I say this because I want to caution my brethren against condemning the worship of other Christians because they don't share the culture.


My son listens to Christian rap. I don't. But he can worship in truth with that music, and be ministered by that music, where I cannot. The opposite is also true. Music that I truly identify with is often music he cannot.

 

[rockytopva]

I was brought up GARBC Baptist and every now and then we would have the Wesleyan Holiness type revival, which would normally last a few days. When I became an adult I joined a movement that is called the Appalachian conference of Pentecostal Holiness, the same denomination Charles Stanley was brought up in.

The first important note here...

1. The Baptist did not believe in backsliding
2. The Methodist would practice it

For me it was very annoying to see the change in church generations.I had a friend who was invited to preach in a Holiness type church and after sitting down some lady comes up to him and says... Your sitting in my pew! My goodness! That is not the Charles Stanley types we seen in earlier generations!

 

[Oseas3]

The more I think of it, the thread title is wrong.

Is using lights and popular styled music "rock music" or is it Chriatians worshipping in truth and spirit rather than adopting a musical style to accommodate tradition?

I can see it both ways, I guess.

Is using traditional hymns putting on airs, or a humanistic, intellectual attempt to reach back to a previous era or worshipping in truth?

Again, I can see it both ways.

I say this because I want to caution my brethren against condemning the worship of other Christians because they don't share the culture.

My son listens to Christian rap. I don't. But he can worship in truth with that music, and be ministered by that music, where I cannot. The opposite is also true. Music that I truly identify with is often music he cannot.

Greetings in Christ JESUS

May the peace of our Lord be with us all

I will sing praise to my GOD as long as I live
Psalms 104:31 & 34
31 The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in His works.
34 My meditation of Him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.

Author: Isaiah 40:1-4
40 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your G0D.

2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins.

3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:


Matthew 25:5
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

JESUS,Keep Me Near the Cross-->The Baptist Hymnal No.280
Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross - YouTube

 

[Oseas3]

I was brought up GARBC Baptist and every now and then we would have the Wesleyan Holiness type revival, which would normally last a few days. When I became an adult I joined a movement that is called the Appalachian conference of Pentecostal Holiness, the same denomination Charles Stanley was brought up in.

The first important note here...

1. The Baptist did not believe in backsliding
2. The Methodist would practice it

For me it was very annoying to see the change in church generations.I had a friend who was invited to preach in a Holiness type church and after sitting down some lady comes up to him and says... Your sitting in my pew! My goodness! That is not the Charles Stanley types we seen in earlier generations!

Recently Updated Posts | Friends Of Jesus (proboards.com)

 

[rockytopva]

Greetings in Christ JESUS

May the peace of our Lord be with us all

I will sing praise to my GOD as long as I live
Psalms 104:31 & 34
31 The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in His works.
34 My meditation of Him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.

Author: Isaiah 40:1-4
40 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your G0D.

2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins.

3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:


Matthew 25:5
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

JESUS,Keep Me Near the Cross-->The Baptist Hymnal No.280
Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross - YouTube

Handle's Messiah is a favorite!

 

[JonC]

Greetings in Christ JESUS

May the peace of our Lord be with us all

I will sing praise to my GOD as long as I live
Psalms 104:31 & 34
31 The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in His works.
34 My meditation of Him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.

Author: Isaiah 40:1-4
40 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your G0D.

2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins.

3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:


Matthew 25:5
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

JESUS,Keep Me Near the Cross-->The Baptist Hymnal No.280
Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross - YouTube

What a beauful reminder to us that a genre being secular does not negate worship.

Also one of my favorites.

 

[Oseas3]

What a beauful reminder to us that a genre being secular does not negate worship.

Also one of my favorites.

Thank you for your kind reply

The wonder is that hymns like this inspired by the Holy Spirit will accompany faithful believers until the end, until we enter the heavenly environment of the third heaven on high place, within the same CLOUD that received JESUS in His ascension(Acts 1:9-11). showed in 2Corinthians 12:2-4 combined with Revelation 11:15-18, Philippians 3:20-21, 1Thessalonians 4:15-17, and Luke 20:35-36:

Songs, doctrines, false testimonies, i.e. the tares, from a mere human perspective, a stumbling block, not from GOD's perspective, produced by those who have apostatized from the faith (1 Timothy 4:1-2), will be burned with everlasting fire from now on.

Service held at the Temple of the Assembly of GOD
-São Paulo-Brazil
Hymn sung in Portuguese language by the Church-Aspiration for communion with GOD
Hymn:-->JESUS,Keep Me Near the Cross-->The Baptist Hymnal No.280

Psalms 2:1-5

1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,

3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

GOD BLESS