Re: Re: Did The Martyrs Die So We Can Be Entertained At Today's Seeker Friendly Mega Church?
| Posted On: 07/10/05 09:06:06 PM |
Age 47, MS |
Absolutely. We need to be metaphorically spreading the net outside the boat and not just shouting "Hoorah for our side". It gets messy sometimes, but it's what we need to be doing along with our believers meetings responsibilities. Thanks.
Sincerely,
William McWhirter
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Re: Did The Martyrs Die So We Can Be Entertained At Today's Seeker Friendly Mega Church?
| Posted On: 07/09/05 03:02:48 PM |
Age 46, IN |
I don't think the "so that" part is answerable by those still living. I suspect a martyr has a radically different "world-view in the presence of The Lamb of God." Anything not done in faith isn't pleasing to God. I had a hard time getting church members to come to an open basketball night where many unchurched men regularly played ball pretty intensely. The new gym was scuffed up a bit. I had to admonish and kick some players out. Yet, I gave devotions half way through. Many appreciated the safe environment. One young man received Christ in the year-and-a-half we played and attended church with his little girl and wife he wanted to divorce. They are still together. Many men requested prayer.
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Re: Did The Martyrs Die So We Can Be Entertained At Today's Seeker Friendly Mega Church?
| Posted On: 07/08/05 09:57:10 PM |
Age 62, VA |
The REAL Church has ALWAYS been seeker-friendly, and it still IS TODAY. Otherwise, there would be no Christians at all. However, it doesn't have to promote itself as being seeker-friendly. It just needs to be a place where the Holy Spirit is present and at work. As Billy Graham said, if the Holy Spirit left the Church in the USA today, 90% of the congregations would never notice any difference.
Today's "seeker-friendly" congregations however, might have a tad more subliminal manipulation, as opposed to the very overt manipulation of those many congregations over the decades that have followed the practices of Charles Finney, who thought that he, himself, was the Holy Spirit.
With so much error in the Church-at-large in western civilization today, is there no wonder then why the Church is growing like wildfire in third-world nations, and in the southern hemisphere, while it continues to barely hold it's own in the USA, and is diminishing rapidly in other western nations!!
I'm tired of manipulative denominations who take upon themselves the role of the Holy Spirit; but I'm also tired of the six or eight mainline-USA non-Bible-believing denominations that are really nothing more than Sunday morning social clubs. The message to both groups: You know who you are!
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Re: Re: Did The Martyrs Die So We Can Be Entertained At Today's Seeker Friendly Mega Church?
| Posted On: 07/08/05 01:00:18 PM |
Age 67, LA |
Christians need the fellowship of the Body of Christ. Mega churches are the size they are because they meet needs. People go where they are fed and loved! How many 'lost' have been 'saved' while sharing a cup of coffee with a loving, caring Believer?
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Re: Did The Martyrs Die So We Can Be Entertained At Today's Seeker Friendly Mega Church?
| Posted On: 07/08/05 09:15:36 AM |
Age 66, VA |
An excellent article, and, alas, so very true. And it's not just evangelical megachurches -- two-thousand-year-old denominations like Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy in America have succumbed to post-modernism and trite secularism. The state of Christianity in the USA is a sad one,indeed.
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Re: Did The Martyrs Die So We Can Be Entertained At Today's Seeker Friendly Mega Church?
| Posted On: 07/07/05 06:28:53 PM |
Age 54, ON |
Bible says that by the foolishness of preaching people would be saved ..... not by the foolishness of disc jockey music and the foxtrot.
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Re: Did The Martyrs Die So We Can Be Entertained At Today's Seeker Friendly Mega Church?
| Posted On: 07/07/05 06:08:43 PM |
Age 45, ON |
"I believe that lack of efficient personal work is one of the failures of the Church today. The people of the Church are like squirrels in a cage. Lots of activity, but accomplishing nothing. It doesn't require a Christian life to sell oyster soup or run a bazaar or a rummage sale." - Billy Sunday
Or to run dances either.
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Re: Did The Martyrs Die So We Can Be Entertained At Today's Seeker Friendly Mega Church?
| Posted On: 07/07/05 03:53:20 PM |
Age 29, IL |
May I sincerely ask a question to the folks who are frustrated by these churches "not preaching the Gospel?" What is it exactly that they are doing wrong and what your churches are doing right? This article brings up the ignorance of many Americans with regards to the plight of Christians world (and time) wide, but I'm not sure where the criticism of the mega-church fits in. My church has 30 members. We have Bible studies. We also have cook-outs. Is the problem with the fact that the church held a dance? Is it dancing that is anti-gospel? Please don't read any sarcastic tone into this. I just don't necassarily see a church social function being anti-gospel. I don't imagine they are grinding on the pulpit Sunday mornings. I'm sure the music at the dances are by artists who sing unto the Lord. Maybe I'm in the wrong forum here, but I just haven't figured out why everyone is so mad.
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Re: Re: Did The Martyrs Die So We Can Be Entertained At Today's Seeker Friendly Mega Church?
| Posted On: 07/07/05 03:18:28 PM |
Age 33, AL |
Most of the mainline denominational churches are dying because they are not preaching the true gospel anymore either (Gay bishops and endorsing same-sex relationships come to mind). And the ones that are aren't drawing people in because people don't want to hear the truth. Why go to a church that tells you of your sin and need to repent before a Holy God when you can go to the megachurch down the street and hear a bublegum sermon? The culture does not dictate the relevance of the gospel. It is the same yesterday, today and forever.
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Re: Did The Martyrs Die So We Can Be Entertained At Today's Seeker Friendly Mega Church?
| Posted On: 07/07/05 02:03:58 PM |
Age 49, WA |
Thank you for writing this article. In the last 10 to 15 years, I've become increasingly aware how so many churches have gone so far away from basic doctrine and the reason for their existence, that they're nothing more than social clubs. In light of how dumbed down churches have become in preaching the Gospel, it's no wonder that they're turning into something that's no different than the world and just a big social club. I really wish there were more ministers out there that had the courage to actually preach and teach the Gospel, instead of worrying about offending someone. Seems to me they're more worried about offending people instead of offending God.
Alice
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Re: Did The Martyrs Die So We Can Be Entertained At Today's Seeker Friendly Mega Church?
| Posted On: 07/07/05 12:34:30 PM |
Age 65, OK |
Seeker Churches may dance and party and still be evangelical, but they may not alter or compromise the gospel. Jesus said John the Baptist came living alone in the desert, eating off the land -- and many called him weird. Jesus came and lived in cities, went to feasts, drank wine, aided sinners -- and people called him a glutton, winebibber, and fried of sinners. However, BOTH OF THEM PREACHED GOD'S TRUTH. Their method was different but their message was the true gospel. Today's popular seeker churches often emphasize materialism, friendship with the world, demanding riches and ease right now. Many don't talk about sin and guilt, or certainly not sacrificing to follow Jesus. If any church of any size preaches another gospel, it is not a true church. By the way, the celebration dances in Jewish culture of the Old Testament were not similar to the popular dances and parties of today. The joy of the Lord is not the same as the enjoyment of holding your significant other in your arms and swaying to pulsating music. "If anyone is in Christ, the old has passed away, all is new, and all is of God." "Come out from among them a be separate, do not touch that which is unclean, and I will receive you and be a Father to you." "Friendship with the world is enmity with God." "If anyone, even an angel from heaven, preaches any other gospel, that one is cursed."
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Re: Did The Martyrs Die So We Can Be Entertained At Today's Seeker Friendly Mega Church?
| Posted On: 07/07/05 12:18:50 PM |
Age 29, IL |
So, we criticize churches in America (where we are free to worship...For freedom Christ has set us free!)for "catering to bored singles." When another article here talks about how relationship building in the church is a sure-fire way to protect from backsliding. What's the issue? Do your churches have pot-lucks, cookouts, softball games, anything else fun? I don't much care for mega-churches, and I agree we should thank God for the martyrs and be as bold in our faith as they were...but we Americans are, in fact, free. While some of us are gifted by the Spirit to be missionaries...not everyone is. Some of us need to stay on the home-front and disciple people here. And yes, occaisionally enjoy and build relationships at "fun" events.
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Re: Did The Martyrs Die So We Can Be Entertained At Today's Seeker Friendly Mega Church?
| Posted On: 07/07/05 11:48:46 AM |
Age 72, MS |
My Dear:
You are right on the 'money'. Stay the course---please.
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Re: Did The Martyrs Die So We Can Be Entertained At Today's Seeker Friendly Mega Church?
| Posted On: 07/07/05 11:41:04 AM |
Age 45, WI |
Not only did the martyrs die for our faith but....JUSUS DIED TO PURCHASE MY SOUL! should I live in grief and then turn to guilt when I read an unbalanced article trying to hand me a bag of guilt for rejoicing (see Pauls letters to the Phillipians and Ephesians)? NO! Should I live in such a way that honors and respects our Lord Jesus and rejoice in the victory that He has purchased for me (us) on the cross? YES! I have one thing to say to 'sour-puss' Christians...get ye behind me Satan! Lay that 'crud' at the foot of the cross and REJOICE!!! Victory is ours in Christ Jesus!!!
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Re: Did The Martyrs Die So We Can Be Entertained At Today's Seeker Friendly Mega Church?
| Posted On: 07/07/05 11:20:57 AM |
Age 47, TN |
This was excellent! I totally agree. No wonder church attendance numbers are down. People go to church and get the same thing they are already getting in the world. Why should they go to church? It seems our churches are more interested in entertaining than evangelizing and disciplining. When we get back to the message of the pure Gospel and the price that Christ paid, you will see attendance go up. Christ did not entertain, but people followed him by the thousands simply because of His message.
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Re: Did The Martyrs Die So We Can Be Entertained At Today's Seeker Friendly Mega Church?
| Posted On: 07/07/05 11:15:58 AM |
Age 58, MS |
We need to be reminded often in our day that "Burdens are lifted at Calvary", not on the dance floor or at any other "feel good" event. If we do not call the lost world to the foot of the cross, we have no message of hope and any help and encouragement offered through any other message is temporary and empty. We only off them laughter on the way to hell instead of eternal joy that comes with a life committed to a holy God.
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Re: Re: Did The Martyrs Die So We Can Be Entertained At Today's Seeker Friendly Mega Church?
| Posted On: 07/07/05 11:08:40 AM |
Age 29, TX |
Why pray for persecution in America? Why not pray for revival instead? Are we ever instructed to pray for persecution in the Scriptures?
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Re: Did The Martyrs Die So We Can Be Entertained At Today's Seeker Friendly Mega Church?
| Posted On: 07/07/05 10:50:31 AM |
Age 29, TX |
In Jeremiah 31 we read that God's people will dance once again. "Again I will build you and you will be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! Again you will take up your tambourines, And go forth to the dances of the merrymakers." Jeremiah indicates that dancing is a sign of right relationship with God. Be careful before you condemn something the Scriptures indicate belongs among the activities of God's people!
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Re: Did The Martyrs Die So We Can Be Entertained At Today's Seeker Friendly Mega Church?
| Posted On: 07/07/05 10:39:15 AM |
Age 54, NH |
My heart is saddened as I read this article. Jesus in Mark 9:40 said "for whoever is not against us is for us." The martyrs died for their devotion to our Lord Jesus Christ. I minister in a small 210 year old church in New England, and I serve my Lord Jesus Christ. Never-the-less I celebrate the witness of any church that seeks to win people by being salt and light. Please, guard against division in the Body. Let us each pray for one another and allow our light to burn brightly. If God has called you to be a martyr, then with Latimer "light that candle" with boldness and courage. Followers of Christ have been warned about looking at each other and complaining about the mission assignments. (John 21:19-25)
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Re: Did The Martyrs Die So We Can Be Entertained At Today's Seeker Friendly Mega Church?
| Posted On: 07/07/05 10:25:53 AM |
Age 31, GA |
Ingrid, I honestly think you have issues with folks in the "Bible belt". While I will agree with the premise of your article, I feel that you should really remove the plank of the Mega-Churches from your own eye before you begin to remove the speck out of the eyes of folks from the "Bible belt". In fact, most of the Mega-Churches that I know of are outside of the "Bible belt". A vast Majority of Churches in the South (lets call it what it is, okay?) are small, rural, Bible preaching and believing fellowships of brothers and sisters in Christ. Please, prior to jumping on your stump, get your facts straight.
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