Reason for Church Services

[n david]

Originally Posted by Esaias

We are told to "Go", to take the gospel OUT THERE into the world. The church isn't "for" believers, it IS the believers.

Yes, the church is the body of Christ, I'm talking more about the services.

Originally Posted by Esaias

Part of our problem has been the idea that our gatherings are for evangelism. Thus the church becomes devoted to "attraction" of people instead of proclamation of the gospel. And thus we turn the church into a franchise trying to sell a better Jesus than the other McChurches in town. Instead of witnessing we satisfy ourselves with "inviting people to church". We focus on flowers in the foyer and pads on the pews and dressing up the building to appeal to folks. We design our music NOT to please our holy God but to allure people and "move" people. We preach less of God's Truth and more of our pop psychology to make folks feel good about coming to OUR precious little corner of the religious market. Why? So we can get the most people to come, and get 'em coming back, and build our great big fancy kingdom, and so we can feel good about ourselves even though we hardly ever speak to our neighbors (let alone witness to them).

I'm all for evangelistic meetings. But "build it and they will come" is a line from Hollywood, not holy Scripture. When our worship is designed to entice the lost into loving our God (and us ...) it will sooner or later get off track and perveted into marketing gimmicks.

I agree we shouldn't get caught up in trying to out-church other churches. Again, thinking back on growing up, there was just the Gospel preached and opportunity for sinners to receive salvation. No gimmicks or programs. This was well before video projectors and special stage lighting.

Originally Posted by Esaias

As the TEMPLE of God our purpose is service to God. We should be more outward directed in our evangelism. Sinners see us for what we've become: Jesus salesmen peddlin our particular brand of religion... no different than anyone else.

That preacher you mentioned, he's got it all wrong though, think that's obvious.

But regardless, what did they do in scripture? Does our model match theirs? If not, why not?

It is important to be reaching out daily in personal evangelism. But our services should also allow for the visitors and sinners who come to a service looking for salvation specifically because it's a church.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by n david

Yes, the church is the body of Christ, I'm talking more about the services.


I agree we shouldn't get caught up in trying to out-church other churches. Again, thinking back on growing up, there was just the Gospel preached and opportunity for sinners to receive salvation. No gimmicks or programs. This was well before video projectors and special stage lighting.


It is important to be reaching out daily in personal evangelism. But our services should also allow for the visitors and sinners who come to a service looking for salvation specifically because it's a church.

For an institutional church setting, yes services need to make an effort to reach visitors, absolutely.

I don't think it really matters much these days tho. We are infected as a movement with a sales-marketing-find the latest gimmick-outdo the competition mindset. Probably because we don't have enough Holy Ghost in our meetings to begin with so we gotta "make up the difference"...

You know, all this dissatisfaction has got to lead somewhere... revival, hopefully...

[shazeep]

post 21 was a gem, E

Originally Posted by Esaias

I don't think it really matters much these days tho. We are infected as a movement with a sales-marketing-find the latest gimmick-outdo the competition mindset. Probably because we don't have enough Holy Ghost in our meetings to begin with so we gotta "make up the difference"...

it is hard to deny that the Spirit is moving from the church, and one must personally consider if they are being called to follow it. The history of belief in One God is a history of Diaspora; congregations of believers blasted apart--basically forced out to put their new-found beliefs into action.

Imagine heading out into the sunset without a purse or spare shirt. This is not some mythical story, meant to convey a moral principle. This is the Spirit in action. As unimaginable as it might seem for most people reading this--and sorry, because this is going to mess a few people up--the very best thing you could do for your soul would be to follow them.

The "fact" that it is completely ridiculous, given your current lifestyle and commitments, is...simply not reality; it is what is keeping you from reality. Commit to shedding commitments and going within a month, or a year. It doesn't matter who you are. The Spirit will guide you. You will not die, although you are going to wish you were dead a lot--just ask Jonah et al. Just slog on with as much grace as you can muster, and find the joy of the Lord along the way. It is enough.