Loudness In Churches.

[CC1]

I can't wait until I have time to read this thread as it is a very interesting subject. I just wanted to quickly post that I hope everybody realizes that the decibel level directly reflects the amount of anointing in a service.

It is clear from the accounts in the Gospel about Jesus' ministry that screaming, hollaring and "shouting" (dancing) were a huge part. Who can forget the passages in the Bible about the saints doing the helicopter and falling off the mountain during the Sermon on the mount?

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by CC1

I can't wait until I have time to read this thread as it is a very interesting subject. I just wanted to quickly post that I hope everybody realizes that the decibel level directly reflects the amount of anointing in a service.

It is clear from the accounts in the Gospel about Jesus' ministry that screaming, hollaring and "shouting" (dancing) were a huge part. Who can forget the passages in the Bible about the saints doing the helicopter and falling off the mountain during the Sermon on the mount?

And the ladies closest to Jesus who were wailing away, "oooooOoooOOOoOOOOOOOoOOOOOOooooOooOooooooooooooo"

[Amanah]

and the crowds were waving palm fronds and yelling hosanna, oh wait, that did happen

[acjcpastor]

When I was a younger man, I thought “if it’s too loud, you’re too old” was funny. Now, after 30+ years of working around running jet engines I suffer, and I mean suffer, from moderate hearing loss and a bad case of tinnitus. The continual ringing from day to day is annoying, to say the least. Unfortunately I’ve discovered that anything loud, even cutting the grass with hear protection on, will cause the tinnitus to increase to the point where the ringing becomes unbearable for DAYS. So, I’ve turned into an old fuddy-duddy these days who finds it increasingly distracting when a preacher or conference speaker starts screaming into a microphone, because I know the price he is making me pay for his exuberance.

Now I love to worship, I love music and I love preaching that ministers, but please! High decibels of distortion do not edify the church nor does it “move God.” It’s only going to make the next generation of 50+ year old apostolics need hearing aids and suffer from tinnitus like I do. Those under 30 can laugh at me if you want to, but mark my words, your day is coming.

Paul lays out some pretty good principles in 1 Corinthians 14, particularly verses 32 and 33. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. That means they can control themselves and their screaming For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

When I get excited while preaching at least I have enough common sense to back off on the mic so the people will still clearly understand what I’m trying to say. After all, like Paul teaches, the point is to edify the body. Why anyone would shove that mic into their teeth and continue “preaching” some unintelligent garble is beyond my comprehension. (And I’m not talking about speaking in tongues here.) Sadly, they only reveal their ignorance in thinking that hype equals anointing.

[Scott Hutchinson]

Originally Posted by acjcpastor

When I was a younger man, I thought “if it’s too loud, you’re too old” was funny. Now, after 30+ years of working around running jet engines I suffer, and I mean suffer, from moderate hearing loss and a bad case of tinnitus. The continual ringing from day to day is annoying, to say the least. Unfortunately I’ve discovered that anything loud, even cutting the grass with hear protection on, will cause the tinnitus to increase to the point where the ringing becomes unbearable for DAYS. So, I’ve turned into an old fuddy-duddy these days who finds it increasingly distracting when a preacher or conference speaker starts screaming into a microphone, because I know the price he is making me pay for his exuberance.

Now I love to worship, I love music and I love preaching that ministers, but please! High decibels of distortion do not edify the church nor does it “move God.” It’s only going to make the next generation of 50+ year old apostolics need hearing aids and suffer from tinnitus like I do. Those under 30 can laugh at me if you want to, but mark my words, your day is coming.

Paul lays out some pretty good principles in 1 Corinthians 14, particularly verses 32 and 33. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. That means they can control themselves and their screaming For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

When I get excited while preaching at least I have enough common sense to back off on the mic so the people will still clearly understand what I’m trying to say. After all, like Paul teaches, the point is to edify the body. Why anyone would shove that mic into their teeth and continue “preaching” some unintelligent garble is beyond my comprehension. (And I’m not talking about speaking in tongues here.) Sadly, they only reveal their ignorance in thinking that hype equals anointing.

I think this should be the post for the day.

[RandyWayne]

Amen!

[Angel48]

I find it all very distracting, as a newcomer. Don't get me wrong, when my Pastor gets going, and gets ahold of me, it seems like he is screaming and talking to just me, all at the same time. But the loud praying in pre-service, that just happens to get louder when the Pastor walks thru the doors. The people who are yelling the same thing over, and over. That's distracting, not praying to me. The worship leader on the keyboard, playing over top of the Pastors teaching. Hello? How can he be listening? Is it not for him? It seems to become a battle of who can be the loudest, to gain the most attention from the Pastor, at any given time. That is distracting and impossible to learn anything through.

[Jay]

Originally Posted by Angel48

I find it all very distracting, as a newcomer. Don't get me wrong, when my Pastor gets going, and gets ahold of me, it seems like he is screaming and talking to just me, all at the same time. But the loud praying in pre-service, that just happens to get louder when the Pastor walks thru the doors. The people who are yelling the same thing over, and over. That's distracting, not praying to me. The worship leader on the keyboard, playing over top of the Pastors teaching. Hello? How can he be listening? Is it not for him? It seems to become a battle of who can be the loudest, to gain the most attention from the Pastor, at any given time. That is distracting and impossible to learn anything through.

I have been in prayer rooms where the people pray loudly, and I have no problem with it (the Bible does use terms such as lift up your voice, cry aloud, shout), but if all they are doing is screaming, "JESUS," at the top of their lungs for half an hour, then they need to study prayer and learn that a single word most times does not a single prayer make, no matter how oft repeated.

[Angel48]

Originally Posted by Jay

I have been in prayer rooms where the people pray loudly, and I have no problem with it (the Bible does use terms such as lift up your voice, cry aloud, shout), but if all they are doing is screaming, "JESUS," at the top of their lungs for half an hour, then they need to study prayer and learn that a single word most times does not a single prayer make, no matter how oft repeated.

That is what I mean. "HALLELUJAH" a thousand times is nothing but noise.
And if you're furiously pacing the sanctuary, your thoughts can not be on prayer. They are on avoiding a head on collision. These are the aspects that do not ring true to me. I want to believe in God- but why do so many people feel the need to "fake" it?

[Jay]

Originally Posted by Angel48

That is what I mean. "HALLELUJAH" a thousand times is nothing but noise.
And if you're furiously pacing the sanctuary, your thoughts can not be on prayer. They are on avoiding a head on collision. These are the aspects that do not ring true to me. I want to believe in God- but why do so many people feel the need to "fake" it?

Hey! Watch it about the walking.

I do know what you mean, I sometimes pray best if I walk, and when I get with it, I can walk quickly. However, I also try to keep my mind on God, and surprisingly, as long as there are not too many other walkers, you can actually pray unhindered. I do not try this in large groups over much, or I stick to a small area, it helps with collisions (small children in unattended can still become a traffic hazard).

As for the way other people are praying, do not let their praying (or lack of it) distract you from your praying, and if you are noticing them, you need to redirect your focus (no criticism from me as I have to tell myself that if I am not careful, it takes time and prayer to tune others out). What you can do is learn from them, and people who you know are truly praying. I determined very early that I did not want to be a 3 word wonder saying, "Jesus, Hallelujah, Glory," constantly. I instead attempted to pray like my father or my favorite Sunday School teacher, or the pastor's mother (she can pray). I eventually found my own way, and pray with as much power and passion as I can.