Far be it from me to link to or approve of what the Guardian usually writes, however this was the first place I read the story, and it seems to be a straightforward piece of reporting. Perhaps this should be no surprise, as mainstream Christianity apparently becomes more concerned about an emotional response in worship than one based on understanding and the 'next big thing' is all about being contemporary and missional while forgetting the need for sound doctrine and pastoral care.
As the person who first drew my attention to this noted, the vision of demons and flames should have made them think a little harder about what they were welcoming.
*Edit*
Just to add to this, it goes to show how careful we need to be over 'prophesy'. Not that we should assume it's all fake, but that it always needs scrutiny and firm debunking if susceptible in any way. So in the case of this lot, releasing cures for cancer an Alzheimer's - sorry, but they're just making up stuff out of their own head to prey on the dim and gullible.
"mainstream Christianity apparently becomes more concerned about an emotional response in worship than one based on understanding and the 'next big thing' is all about being contemporary and missional while forgetting the need for sound doctrine and pastoral care."
ReplyDeleteI agree. This is one of my concerns too. I think both are needed—that is, there is value in using our "language" when we worship (contemporary), without disconnecting from the past, and there is a need for us to "go out" (missional), but also the need for sound doctrine and pastoral care. The tendency of the church is to swing hard one way or the other, and that's the concern.
I was going to link to this on your previous post, but it's probably better posted here. I thought this satirical article was quite funny and seemed to fit with a couple of things you said in the last two posts: "Outpouring of Holy Spirit Coincides with Key Change" (https://babylonbee.com/news/outpouring-of-holy-spirit-coincides-with-key-change)
Well Marc, any rock guitarist will tell you that A is the most righteous key of all, so I guess that shouldn't be a surprise. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI agree about the need for balance (moderation in all things, including moderation).
I heard at the weekend from friends that have been at another Bicester church for >10 years, that a couple of years ago they caught the 3DM/Missional community/Huddle thing, and the church has lost direction and seems in a mess.
I'm just really struggling with the church/faith thing right now, there seems so little reality to it that I really want to walk away. People making obviously stupid prophetic words up don't help, but OTOH the number of times we've heard otherwise respected, sensible leaders stand up and say that revival is just around the corner makes me wonder if they too were just making stuff up to keep the troops enthused and income up. Probably not (I'm not yet ready to be THAT cynical) but it's food for thought. I wish people who think they have a word would do it in fear and trembling, wanting confirmation from others instead of self-justified confidence.
I also have a really strong sense of AAARRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! when a 'worship' session is all about me and my emotions, using songs that tweak those heart-strings of self- cuddling.
ReplyDeletePart of me wants to make a tongue-in-cheek-but-not-completely comment about you needing a large, open-hearted dose of more traditional or "liturgical" worship. But I won't go there. ;)
ReplyDeleteThe frustrating thing about prophecies of revival being just around the corner, which I've heard quite a few of, both during my years in the Pentecostal church, and at various youth conferences since then, is that they seem to manifest only in more emotion during worship without much, if any, outcome or change in terms day-to-day living. But perhaps those aren't the revivals that are (still?) coming. But I tend to a bit cynical about all that too.
I've noticed your church/faith struggles, Toni. Not that you're hiding them. I've avoided saying something for fear of saying something stupid or unhelpful, but you've been on my mind.
"Part of me wants to make a tongue-in-cheek-but-not-completely comment about you needing a large, open-hearted dose of more traditional or "liturgical" worship. But I won't go there. ;) "
ReplyDeleteI have wondered about that, and it appeals on some levels, but I think it's at least as delusional as the "God is my big cuddly teddy bear who I'll do miracles for in my spare time" worship at the opposite end of the spectrum.
Feel free to say what you think Marc, after all, my ability to say stupid, unhelpful things never stopped me commenting on your blog (or any others). ;)