Jesus wasnt a drug addict

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Last night (Good Friday) I attended a service at our local & affluent Non Denominational Church. The service started with a few songs (accompaniment with Piano, one with a solo Violin) then scripture reading, song, scripture reading, song/solo....you get the idea.

Then its time for preacher to provide a sermon.
It starts off with Jesus wasn't a drug addict, then an explanation of how a roman soldier attempted to give Jesus something for his pain on the cross & He refused it. Thus the summation that we should love Christ because he didnt take drugs to deaden the pain. This was followed next with the statement that Jesus loved his mother so much that he instructed John to provide for her. "Jesus loved his mom & provided for her so we should love Christ because he provided for Mary."

This sermon to me was not what I would have thought a Pastor would give....particularly on Good Friday. After all, hey I'm not a drug addict & I provided income to my mom throughout her life but I dont expect all humans on the planet to love & honor me!!!! What the heck, I thought.....why is this pastor not seizing the opportunity to tell people (who had come out at night to honor Jesus) just what really happened, why Jesus suffered & died in the 1st place & what significance it has for mankind.

The service had the ordinance of communion, followed by more singing, more scripture, then more singing. But I could not feel that whole time I sat there that they had missed the mark. I just didn't get the whole service & I left confused & dejected. What do you think, should this Pastor have preached about the cross & the sacrifice made & the bloods salvic abilities.....or am I just expecting too much?

 

[Thomas Helwys]

Last night (Good Friday) I attended a service at our local & affluent Non Denominational Church. The service started with a few songs (accompaniment with Piano, one with a solo Violin) then scripture reading, song, scripture reading, song/solo....you get the idea.

Then its time for preacher to provide a sermon.
It starts off with Jesus wasn't a drug addict, then an explanation of how a roman soldier attempted to give Jesus something for his pain on the cross & He refused it. Thus the summation that we should love Christ because he didnt take drugs to deaden the pain. This was followed next with the statement that Jesus loved his mother so much that he instructed John to provide for her. "Jesus loved his mom & provided for her so we should love Christ because he provided for Mary."

This sermon to me was not what I would have thought a Pastor would give....particularly on Good Friday. After all, hey I'm not a drug addict & I provided income to my mom throughout her life but I dont expect all humans on the planet to love & honor me!!!! What the heck, I thought.....why is this pastor not seizing the opportunity to tell people (who had come out at night to honor Jesus) just what really happened, why Jesus suffered & died in the 1st place & what significance it has for mankind.

The service had the ordinance of communion, followed by more singing, more scripture, then more singing. But I could not feel that whole time I sat there that they had missed the mark. I just didn't get the whole service & I left confused & dejected. What do you think, should this Pastor have preached about the cross & the sacrifice made & the bloods salvic abilities.....or am I just expecting too much?

No, you're not expecting too much. Sounds to me like the pastor is an idiot.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

No, you're not expecting too much. Sounds to me like the pastor is an idiot.

Thanks for the reality check. Now here is the sad thing, this church--lead by this very man, is really the only game in the area, thus he is the, ommm, how would you say it....."The best of the worst"

I walked out of there last night saying to my self, 'wow, this is really wrong'.....but the others, and maybe this is a ongoing condition of these affluent and unpersecuted churches of the North, that they must have abandoned the life of the cross and pursued the comfortable & happy lives that are of this world. I find that for the most part, the Christians of the South have a much better focus with understanding of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. I just dont know why that is.

 

[Thomas Helwys]

Thanks for the reality check. Now here is the sad thing, this church--lead by this very man, is really the only game in the area, thus he is the, ommm, how would you say it....."The best of the worst"

I walked out of there last night saying to my self, 'wow, this is really wrong'.....but the others, and maybe this is a ongoing condition of these affluent and unpersecuted churches of the North, that they must have abandoned the life of the cross and pursued the comfortable & happy lives that are of this world. I find that for the most part, the Christians of the South have a much better focus with understanding of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. I just dont know why that is.

Maybe because secular progressivism hasn't permeated the South to the extent that it has the Northeast and Pacific coast.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Maybe because secular progressivism hasn't permeated the South to the extent that it has the Northeast and Pacific coast.

But these are supposedly religious people!?! I knew a Presbyterian Pastor, must be dead 20 years now, who appeared to be dejected about something to the point it showed on his face & on his body, so in an effort to comfort him I asked him, "whats up Bob." He gave me a great big sigh & proclaimed in a strange way, "Affluen-zia"!

Wonder if that might be the correct diagnosis?

 

[annsni]

Our service was as follows:

Dinner (we don't have a church building but meet in a hotel so we met at a family's home - all 45 of us)

Coming together and singing.

Reading of Scripture.

Song.

Reading of Scripture.

Song

Reading of Scripture.

Song

Prayer

Communion

Prayer


I really think that Good Friday warrants a straight reading of the Scriptural account of the crucifixion and resurrection and that is pretty much all you need as a message. It is powerful enough in itself.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Our service was as follows:

Dinner (we don't have a church building but meet in a hotel so we met at a family's home - all 45 of us)

Coming together and singing.

Reading of Scripture.

Song.

Reading of Scripture.

Song

Reading of Scripture.

Song

Prayer

Communion

Prayer


I really think that Good Friday warrants a straight reading of the Scriptural account of the crucifixion and resurrection and that is pretty much all you need as a message. It is powerful enough in itself.

So you didnt have a sermon. We did & it was really a bomb as far as I was concerned. If your going to do a sermon, make it powerful & meaningful....something you can walk away with that meant something in your head & heart. Of course they didnt meet for dinner either so I was hungry by 930 PM.

 

[Thomas Helwys]

But these are supposedly religious people!?! I knew a Presbyterian Pastor, must be dead 20 years now, who appeared to be dejected about something to the point it showed on his face & on his body, so in an effort to comfort him I asked him, "whats up Bob." He gave me a great big sigh & proclaimed in a strange way, "Affluen-zia"!

Wonder if that might be the correct diagnosis?

Maybe so. I wouldn't be surprised if that was part of it.

 

[annsni]

So you didnt have a sermon. We did & it was really a bomb as far as I was concerned. If your going to do a sermon, make it powerful & meaningful....something you can walk away with that meant something in your head & heart. Of course they didnt meet for dinner either so I was hungry by 930 PM.

Nope. No sermon. Scripture was perfect and sufficient for the occasion.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Nope. No sermon. Scripture was perfect and sufficient for the occasion.

I wish they had done that Ann! Instead they dragged the service out for over 2 hours. Or else, prepare a rousing & edifying sermon & forget all the singing.