What Happens When Christians Forget?

LearningToLetGo said:
I find rowdy church service to be... awkward. Anything more than a single instrument is actually a distraction. My preference is a near empty church, where people can light candles and pray quietly without interference.

Modern sermons with full bands and song lists don't do anything for me except make me want to sit right next to the door so I can quietly step out.
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what do you call a rowdy church and a modern sermon
 
Major said:
Yes sir. What you described is the search for excitement and emotionalism in Christianity.

Strickly a personal opinion, the rise of Pentecostalism in the past 100 years has lead a move world wide where people look for and expect to be excited and filled with emotionalism during the worship service.

That emotionalism, and I am referring to a state of mind and being that may be broadly defined as “a tendency to regard things emotionally,” or an “undue indulgence in or display of emotion", has led to "Idolatry!"

What I see in these churches is an outpouring of emotionalism as the people in them are always looking for the next emotional "high".
Those individuals have became a slave to emotionalism which is in fact "Idolatry" as the experience has replaced the worship of God.

Allowing sheer emotion to dominate your thoughts, words, and actions will inevitably lead you to think of yourself before others.

This is only my opinion and everyone is free to reject and or ignore it.
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i share this concern how ever there is a Church of God of prophecy i enjoy listening to on line. i like the music sing a lot of the old southern gospel music . i also enjoy the pastor preaching what times i have listened to him.. straight word no charismatic things just straight up word , in fact its possible i may go visit Sunday night ,, butt w e do have a apostolic church exactly like you described emotionalism baptized in jesus name
 

A church member who had regularly attended services stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting in front of a blazing fire.​

Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace, and waited. The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs.​

After a few minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember, and placed it alone on one side of the hearth. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow, and its fire was gone.​

Soon, it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember, and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately, it began to glow again with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.​

As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with tears running down his cheeks, "Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday."​

 
forgiven61 said:
what do you call a rowdy church and a modern sermon
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A rowdy church is one where everyone is whooping and hollering and carrying on, where music is loud ( and electric) and people feel the need to speak in unison to the preacher's words. In other words, a show.

I prefer quiet and introspective. Don't seek to amuse me, but dialog with me, engage with me.

People today have options so churches compete for bodies. When that happens it becomes a numbers game, nothing more.
 
Major said:
Yes sir. What you described is the search for excitement and emotionalism in Christianity.

Strickly a personal opinion, the rise of Pentecostalism in the past 100 years has lead a move world wide where people look for and expect to be excited and filled with emotionalism during the worship service.

That emotionalism, and I am referring to a state of mind and being that may be broadly defined as “a tendency to regard things emotionally,” or an “undue indulgence in or display of emotion", has led to "Idolatry!"

What I see in these churches is an outpouring of emotionalism as the people in them are always looking for the next emotional "high".
Those individuals have became a slave to emotionalism which is in fact "Idolatry" as the experience has replaced the worship of God.

Allowing sheer emotion to dominate your thoughts, words, and actions will inevitably lead you to think of yourself before others.

This is only my opinion and everyone is free to reject and or ignore it.
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People who become dependent on emotionalism as the basis of their religious experience can never really grow in the faith because they measure their relationship with God by how they feel at the moment. They are unstable and double-minded, as James puts it. There are those who espouse the idea that one's degree of being Spirit-filled is dependent on displays of emotionalism. Unfortunately, this leads to a situation in which their Sunday experience doesn't match their daily walk during the week. My grandma used to call such people "Sunday Christians and weekday devils".
 
I have a question.... DUE to the great abuse caused by these MEGA churches which in my opinion are nothing more than a money-pit of greed. ( and yes that was harsh )... but that is truly how I see these CHARLATANS who dare to pervert the TRUE meaning of CHURCH... and the GOSPEL.

Does anyone see a time where we as Christians will actually come OUT of the world and live like the AMISH people do... meaning... living off the land and with other believers in a self-sustained type of way?? Is that a thing or have I watched too much t.v. ??? HAHA.
 
We are o.k. to be in the world, the important thing is that we don't let the world to get in us. Like a boat out on a lake is fine as long as the lake is on the outside of the boat, but if you start getting the lake inside the boat... it won't be long before you're sunk.
 
BibleLover said:
People who become dependent on emotionalism as the basis of their religious experience can never really grow in the faith because they measure their relationship with God by how they feel at the moment. They are unstable and double-minded, as James puts it. There are those who espouse the idea that one's degree of being Spirit-filled is dependent on displays of emotionalism. Unfortunately, this leads to a situation in which their Sunday experience doesn't match their daily walk during the week. My grandma used to call such people "Sunday Christians and weekday devils".
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Yes sir. When anyone looks for excitement and emotions in their worship of God, they will always be chasing the next high.

I long time ago, I had a doctor of phycology in mu church. We had many talks as I tried to gleam from him the things that would help me minister to the church. In fact we made him the church counselor and he did that for several years.

Now he explained to me something very important. When anyone uses cocaine, especially crack cocaine, that 1st time is the highest they ever get. From that point on, they are chasing that 1st experience but the problem is that it is impossible to get it.

I see that in modern worship services of some churches especially the Mega churches.
 
Major said:
Now he explained to me something very important. When anyone uses cocaine, especially crack cocaine, that 1st time is the highest they ever get. From that point on, they are chasing that 1st experience but the problem is that it is impossible to get it.
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It's called chasing the dragon.
 
Here's a thought. Some people espouse the use of passionate demonstrative methods for sermon delivery. That type of preaching is valid and has it's place under the guidance of the Spirit. This is the exclusive approach by the preachers in the emotionalism congregations.

The First Great Awakening revival started when Jonathon Edwards READ his sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" from his pulpit, and the rest is history.
 
BibleLover said:
People who become dependent on emotionalism as the basis of their religious experience can never really grow in the faith because they measure their relationship with God by how they feel at the moment. They are unstable and double-minded, as James puts it. There are those who espouse the idea that one's degree of being Spirit-filled is dependent on displays of emotionalism. Unfortunately, this leads to a situation in which their Sunday experience doesn't match their daily walk during the week. My grandma used to call such people "Sunday Christians and weekday devils".
Click to expand...
Major said:
Yes sir. When anyone looks for excitement and emotions in their worship of God, they will always be chasing the next high.

I long time ago, I had a doctor of phycology in mu church. We had many talks as I tried to gleam from him the things that would help me minister to the church. In fact we made him the church counselor and he did that for several years.

Now he explained to me something very important. When anyone uses cocaine, especially crack cocaine, that 1st time is the highest they ever get. From that point on, they are chasing that 1st experience but the problem is that it is impossible to get it.

I see that in modern worship services of some churches especially the Mega churches.
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Here's another thought. When people tell me they were anointed by the Holy Spirit because they had an awesome experience of emotionalism in a worship service. The next day or two they forget about it.

 
I must be coming in from the ENTIRE OPPOSITE direction. All my life... I have known NOTHING but constant suffering that manifested itself in "medication RESISTANT" depression. I lived in agony for decades.. and I BEGGED God to take me on a daily basis.
After 4 decades of constant depression... I resigned myself to the fact that illness was my lot in life. I was never angry with God... but I couldn't grab onto the belief that I was deeply LOVED and CHERISHED.

I STILL cannot understand WHAT happened to me that one day at the lake. I HEARD these words... without actually hearing them.. but they were spoken to my SPIRIT. I AM who I say I AM. I AM the GOD of the BIBLE.
Instantly after this.... the depression lifted completely off me and I was FILLED to overflowing with JOY. That was 4 years ago... and the JOY is still with me... as well as a DEEP PEACE that surpasses understanding.

IF I were to get sick AGAIN. ( and that covers EVERY kind of sickness ) I will have understood what it means to have JOY... and I will GLADLY endure having it postponed until I get to heaven.

Long suffering BUILDS a Faith that is unshakeable. I wish the church would TEACH the DOCTRINE of suffering.
It's a tragedy that so many churches teach against it.

I call Sorrow and Suffering sisters. They have a purpose for a SEASON
I now call Joy and Peace... sisters. I believe that once a person has gone through the FIRE of deep sorrow and suffering... they are able to experience JOY unlike many.

MY JOY is not an emotional thing based on how I feel. It comes from a DEEP GRATITUDE towards GOD for SAVING me... for LOVING me... for RESCUING me. It boggles my mind that after all those years.... HE CHOSE to meet me and reveal Himself to me.

I spend ALL day.... ALL DAY.... PRAISING GOD... THANKING GOD.... LAUGHING with GOD... It doesn't get better than that for me.

I think this is why I don't understand a lot of things that people believe. It seems that God worked in my life all backwards and upside down.
 
That is a great point, how the first high is the best and one can chase the memory fruitlessly thereafter.

My first "come to Jesus" moment was exhilarating and unique. I have never replaced it, but not for lack of trying.

In the years since, and especially after my hospitalization, Jesus has become a familiar friend. It's like champagne vs merlot.

I wish everyone the "champagne" moment, but know it's a one-time deal. Don't go chasing waterfalls.
 
LearningToLetGo said:
A rowdy church is one where everyone is whooping and hollering and carrying on, where music is loud ( and electric) and people feel the need to speak in unison to the preacher's words. In other words, a show.

I prefer quiet and introspective. Don't seek to amuse me, but dialog with me, engage with me.

People today have options so churches compete for bodies. When that happens it becomes a numbers game, nothing more.
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that yes i agree this is close to what i was trying to get across. we have choirs and praise bands that turns into entertainment not worship . dont get me wrong if the spirit is moving i dont mind some good ol fashioned shouting hands in the air . even some good ol hearty amens PTL . ive been in them type services where they work the spirit up so they think.. what do you call a modern sermon ?
 
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