deadlinediva's Blog

Hi, D(I hope you don't mind me calling you that for short),

I have so much to say about the church and the people and leaders in it. But, just can't fit it all in this comment.

I believe cappacino(sp) machines and flat screen video monitors, etc. will not bring people in the church to stay... It might capture their attention for a moment. But, it's how the church is ran and how true-hearted Christian members are that will keep them.

We also must remember who pays for all of these fancy items... The members! So, one good way to turn a guest off, or even see a drop in membership is constantly asking for contributions other than tithe and reasonable offerings. There are many churches good for asking for money, but give very little return on helping individual who truly need help.

Also, Christians have to live up to the representation of Christ. Many do not... non-christians see this, and ask why should they even bother to become a Christian if these very Christians live no different from them? The answer is not telling them that they will have eternal life. That means nothing to them...

My opinion runs deeper than this... I just have to stop here.

You're going to have to elaborate a little more, Flatch...

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." 2 Timothy 4:3,4

Not everyone who reads the above scripture is a Christian.... This is one of the problems with Christianity... Christians may have been saved for years and forget that you have to feed milk to a baby and not meat...

Please make your point while using scripture... You may just bring a soul to Christ...

I said you "may"... not that you would know if God called him/her

Another point, not directed at you, flatch... just a point in general... True, it doesn't matter how you get them there, but it matters that the church is running as intended by Christ... The problem is there are many churches not operating as he has directed... The church can get them, but acting in accordance with scripture is the problem...

Mind you, I understand there is an answer in the scripture for every question... But, the action of man can leave one discouraged. I am one of them, and am pretty much done with the church and most of the people who pronounce themselves saved... I don't know what it will take for me to return... But, from what I'm feeling, it will take an act of God.

As a matter of fact, I am in the process of writing a book about the church and what I've observed and facts I have researched... I'm still researching and fact finding... And I hope to start the actual writing in the upcoming weeks...

While I see a lot to agree with here, I also see a lot to disagree with. I guess the problem that I have with the "attractions" to a church is the fact that people, in general, have lost faith and I feel they will only observe the attractions as long as it peaks their interest. A church needs to move people from within, so if this church is moving large numbers of members to Christ with their attractions, then it is a good thing. But if all they get are a few weeks of an observer's interest, then it is in vain. I, personally, don't think you have to have a church to worship God, but if you are one who must have a dwelling to worship, then it is whatever does the job that is the right thing. Form doesn't matter...the end result does. Would a coffee shop or a flat screen TV draw me to a church? No...the members and ministers could only do that.

Caron, it is funny that you brought this up. Our pastor just preached on this very thing this past Sunday. Our church has over 700 people that attend. We have 3 services on Sunday morning. The first service is called the Heritage service. They sing only hymns, sometimes have special music and the pastor preaches. The second service goes on while Sunday school is going on. It is called the Connection Service and it is geared more towards the younger generation. They have a worship band and play mostly praise and worship music. They serve coffee, tea, hot chocolate etc. The pastor dresses casual, not jeans, but no tie. It is just a more relaxed service, but he preaches the same message. My teenagers attend this service. The last service is called the Celebration service. There are a few Sunday school classes at this time for those who attended the Connection's service. The Celebration service is a mix of hymns, praise & worship music, and the choir. It is pretty formal and it has the largest number in attendance. Again, the pastor preaches the same message. We continue to see our attendance grow in all the services, with new people most every week. We have increased our membership and many people in all services are coming to a better relationship with the Lord or a new found relationship with the Lord (salvation). I do not think that there is anything wrong with changing things up to make it more attractive for people and to reach some people that we would not normally reach. Our pastor preaches God's word each and every Sunday and encourages us to take

In the past decade there has been a tremendous influx of "God Rock".....If it gets 'em at least in there to listen, go for it!

For Decades now the Church has not been the meeting place on Sundays it was.....

You could have a on-the-minute Softball game, food (snack stuff), an occasional cookout, potluck, singing, music, picnics, "meet and greets".....it was really what the Sunday was, kinda like a big Family reunion...everybody was welcome...come sit and talk, gossip. figure your homework out, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Avon, whatever.....

Now, anybody "new" is suspect...too many amps, guitars, computers, PA systems...VANDALISM...

It says bad things that the one open place we always had, at least on Sundays, now MUST be LOCKED TO ALL, for valid reasons...

Damned shame.....gonna take a long time to fix that, if ever!

Alot of these "Community Centers" try to capture that back, but everybody's too scared of drive-by shootings!.....Sure has changed -

Good that you've found a place you've "settled" into"...

Do they still have any functions, as opposed to the occasional Bake Sale or Bazaar?

Lots of Churches now have a couple days a week "open", or Partial staffing Sat and Sunday.....But what can you do when it takes Man AND Wife working 60 hours a week (WITHOUT KIDS) ?.....not alot of Volunteer time anymore...

Best of Luck, though...sounds like you're happy - I'm Glad for you...

Instead of spending the money on wide screens and coffee and doughnuts, spend it on an open house, welcoming all the people in the town to come and be a part of of the Church. Send out the members into the community to invite people to come to Church, don't compell them because you have big tv's and coffee and doughnuts and snacks. Parents nowdays are too busy to go to Church let alone teaching their Children about God. Their God is the golf course, fishing, Walmarting, and the such. Too sorry to get up on Sunday morning, and can't get the kid's up because they have been playing video games all night. Coffee and doughnuts fill the stomachs of man but what is the Church doing to fill their hearts? The Curches are turning into a Social Club instead of a place to worship like it was intended to be.

Sorry you don't agree. You was talking about coffee, doughnuts, and hot choclate. You can talk untill you are blue in the face. I don't feel that Church is a place to eat and drink and be merry. It makes me think that the reason your Church is growing is because of conforming to what man wants, which you listed.

Would you have the same attendance if you did not serve snacks? Maybe, maybe not. I feel what I feel and that's how I feel. If you feel comfortable there go for it, but I wouldn't. I am not resisting change, but I just don't think that a Church is a place to eat and drink. That's my opinion and I have a right to my opinion, don't I? I just don't like that type of atmosphere in the santuary. That is what the fellowship hall is for.

Maybe a pool table and a keg of beer.