Church Change???!!!!

[jaxfam6]

Our assistant pastor has been teaching Wed night Bible study on Principles for Building a Revival Church. Well Principle #10 lat night was Connecting With Our Culture.
A message I do not think many would ever expect to hear in an Apostolic/Pentcostal church.
One statement that was made was that; 'the church should be culturally relevant while remaining doctrinally pure.'
Change should have nothing to do with the content of the gospel but with the presentation of the gospel.
We do not have to agree with our culture, but we do have to understand it if we plan to reach it.
What did Paul say in 1 Corinthians 9
19For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
20And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
22To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

Some things are essential, the message, but other things are non-essential, methods.

Just some interesting things I took away from last nights Bible study.

[Jack Shephard]

I agree. Message is the same yet the methods have to change. You can not win a 2008 world with a 1946 mentality. Ain't happening.

[Rico]

The Church should be reinventing itself every generation or so, to remain relevant. This does not, however, mean the Gospel needs to change or be reinvented.

[ChTatum]

What I have been preaching for quite a few years now.

[PMBrown]

Do you think there needs to be a balance in this? How do we seperate the profane from the holy in our services and still remain culturally relavant? Where do we draw a line?

[mizpeh]

Do you think there needs to be a balance in this? How do we seperate the profane from the holy in our services and still remain culturally relavant? Where do we draw a line?

I think drawing the line between the holy and the profane is a good place to start. :gaga

[PMBrown]

I think drawing the line between the holy and the profane is a good place to start. :gaga

In using "profane" I meant how do we keep "worldliness" distinct and seperate from the holy in our services? For example I've seen people use secular songs for religious purposes (example: Gladys Knights "Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me") and bring hard rock into the church (complete with moshing!!) and call that "relevant". The theory is nice, but I suspect the application needs to be worked out better. Seeing such abuses makes me somewhat cautious.

[jaxfam6]

In using "profane" I meant how do we keep "worldliness" distinct and seperate from the holy in our services? For example I've seen people use secular songs for religious purposes (example: Gladys Knights "Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me") and bring hard rock into the church (complete with moshing!!) and call that "relevant". The theory is nice, but I suspect the application needs to be worked out better. Seeing such abuses makes me somewhat cautious.

If it is all done for the glory of God and someone can see Jesus through it all and be saved why would it matter if it came out of the world and was used for GOD's glory, uplifting, and kingdom? I may not like the style or type of music but if someone else does and it speaks to their heart then isn't that relevant enough?

[stmatthew]

If it is all done for the glory of God and someone can see Jesus through it all and be saved why would it matter if it came out of the world and was used for GOD's glory, uplifting, and kingdom? I may not like the style or type of music but if someone else does and it speaks to their heart then isn't that relevant enough?


I think it all goes back to the issue of what is Godly vs what is profane.


I think the lines are becoming more and more blurred as the church attempts to reach out to the world using the worlds interpretation as a key to relevance.

[gloryseeker]

Our assistant pastor has been teaching Wed night Bible study on Principles for Building a Revival Church. Well Principle #10 lat night was Connecting With Our Culture.
A message I do not think many would ever expect to hear in an Apostolic/Pentcostal church.
One statement that was made was that; 'the church should be culturally relevant while remaining doctrinally pure.'
Change should have nothing to do with the content of the gospel but with the presentation of the gospel.
We do not have to agree with our culture, but we do have to understand it if we plan to reach it.
What did Paul say in 1 Corinthians 9
19For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
20And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
22To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

Some things are essential, the message, but other things are non-essential, methods.

Just some interesting things I took away from last nights Bible study.

I guess I'm just out of touch...The words "return to me" ring in my heart. If My people which are called by My name shall humble themselves and pray then...I will heal their land.

In my book if God's people would stop worrying about being relevant and start humbling themselves before the Lord and get the "power" of the Spirit back in the church, the Spirit will draw all men.

But that's just me!

[PMBrown]

I think it all goes back to the issue of what is Godly vs what is profane.


I think the lines are becoming more and more blurred as the church attempts to reach out to the world using the worlds interpretation as a key to relevance.

Amen.

It's part of holiness, which is more than just a dress code.