worldliness in the church

Well, I don't believe in going to church to be miserable, but I did notice that Paul threw a wet blanket on that party going on in Corinth.

 

He sure did...but folks having sex with relatives or getting drunk at Communion doesn't quiiiiiite correlate with a puppet show, does it?

 

Webdog writes:
"One thing I can't understand is the attitude that entertainment is to be separate from worship. Where is it written that worshipping God is the opposite of entertaining? I love going to church...singing...fellowshipping...praying and studying the Bible. Watching God use others' gifts to bring glory to Him is entertaining! To hear a person who has the ability to play instruments for the glory of the Lord is entertaining! To see a drama that touches the lost, or the hurting, and the prepartation and love of God that goes into it is entertaining! The whole experience of worshipping the Lord IS entertaining! If I find myself enjoying the presence of the Lord, do I stop worshipping?"

I agree. Worshipping is supposed to be joyous. The Hebrews were instructed to rejoice and celebrate when they presented their sacrifices (Duet. 12:12, 14:26). By the time Jesus came on earth, the Pharisees had taken all the rejoicing and celebration out of worshipping God.

 

RE:Worldliness

The various responses on this thread indicate the varied understandings of worldliness and its definition.

I would categorize worldliness as a departure from biblical principles which are to be based on biblical truth. For instance Job said I have made a covenant with my eyes why then should I think on a maid. Job established a biblical truth what we see affects what we think therefore the biblical principle would be to shield our eyes. Worldliness might be construed as in what types of films are acceptable for viewing or what type of magazines are to be found in our homes, and could extend to the kinds of clothing worn by the family and members of the church you get the picture, no pun intended. Some would debate the mixed swimming is okay but based on the above principle would it not be a movement toward worldliness?

Also I would say that biblical truth and its principles are to be the base of all that is done in the believer’s life. But the conveyors of that truth and those principles will vary from culture to culture and from decade to decade. For instance Sunday school is a tool to convey truth and likewise sand castles are a tool to convey truth but to put a bikini clad woman in front of the sand castle display in order to draw a crown would be a violation of biblical principles.

thjplgvp
:type:

 

Worldliness = When the Pastor lets the kids die the hair of him and his deacon. Erbq 101:15

 

Most pastor's hair 'dies' naturally.

 

As a youth pastor, I once said, "you double the size of this youth group this summer, and I'll shave my head into a mohawk, dye it red, and do the announcments in the worship service"

A month later, I had to do it.

It was fun, it gave me a great opportunity for all the church to see what was going on in the youth, and most importantly of all, whatever was getting all those kids there, they were hearing the gospel, and 15 of them were saved that summer. Praise the Lord.

And the hair grew back...the dye faded away.

 

I'm afraid of heights but we had Church in the park a few years back. What a time we had and many of on lookers joined in by the end of service.

Lagardo = I sure hope you spiked that mohawk. I love that effect...

 

I went to a youth event for the summer, similiar to a vbs, but for highschoolers, I believe it was the polarization of what a worldy church is. 2 hours of games, various events, no talk about spiritual things, quick run into a 20 minute message, which the speaker starts out by saying "This will only take 20 minutes guys, so just sit through it." It is like he is saying, " I am required to do this preaching message, I only made it twenty minutes try to bear it, I know its annoying and you could care less about the things of God, but just listen."

I used to go to that church, and the youthgroup really has the same mentality. They do a ton of games and activities, but they are lacking in preaching of the word and teaching. It is like they do not understand the working of the Holy Spirit in saving someone, or something. They think it is up to them to attract them there by games, and keep them at church by entertainment.

I'm still young and ignorant, so I really have no idea if entertainment at church is wrong, I doubt it. I think some church's go too far, and turn their church into a kind of Christian theme park, this is probably what stirs up most of us fundies.

 

OK here is one I have a problem with the christian flag. Hanging on the wall in a church or on a flag pole I dont have a problem with its the Pledge to the flag in service that I have a problem with. It turns a flag into an Idol
Idol
I'DOL, n. [L. idolum; Gr. form or to see.]

1. An image, form or representation, usually of a man or other animal, consecrated as an object of worship; a pagan deity. Idols are usually statues or images, carved out of wood or stone, or formed of metals, particularly silver or gold.

The gods of the nations are idols. Psa 96.

2. An image.

Nor ever idol seemed so much alive.

3. A person loved and honored to adoration. The prince was the idol of the people.

4. Any thing on which we set our affections; that to which we indulge an excessive and sinful attachment.

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. 1 John 5.

An idol is any thing which usurps the place of God in the hearts of his rational creatures.

5. A representation. [Not in use.]

The word consecrated
Consecrated
CONSECRATED, pp. Made sacred by ceremonies or solemn rites; separated from a common to a sacred use; devoted or dedicated to the service and worship of God; made venerable.

By saying the pledge to the flag in service you are taking your eye off of Jesus and placing it on a flag, an image, a symbol, this is idol worship in my view.

 

Getting back to 'sand castles'. Could it be the poster was referring to the wise man (Godly church) building his house upon a rock, but the foolish man (worldly church) building his house upon the sand?

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Matthew 7:25-27

 

Actually no, I was referring to the mega church in my area where the entire platform is one huge sand castle and the 'preacher' stands in front of it and at times races motorcycles in front of it or lets butterflies out of a cage, all in the name of 'preaching the word'. So sad!!

 

I agree. And furthermore, if one insists upon having flags, why do they place the national flag above the Christian flag?

 

Does the entire service consists of releasing butterflies and riding motorcycles?

Some pastors tell jokes in their sermons. Some use illustrations. I know of pastors who thank ladies for providing a lovely pot-luck the week before.

Does a pastor doing these things exclude preaching the word?

I have heard many great instances of preaching God's word that included some very elaborate illustrations, object lessons, etc.

I myself once threw a ceramic eagle across a room. That doesn't mean I didn't preach the word.

 

In adding all these 'object lessons', throwing ceramic eagles and such are we not saying that the scripture, the holy word of God is somehow inadequate to tell the gospel of Christ, that actually it just needs a little help for people to 'get it'?

Paul told Timothy to 'Preach the word'. The bible needs no help with additional email jokes, 'object lessons', flying eagles or such! My God and His word are sufficient for all things! Soli deo gloria!

Has nothing to do with thanking the ladies before he begins his sermon! Thats stretching the point!