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statistically speaking

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by nodak, Jan 30, 2010.

  1. nodak

    nodak Active Member
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    I don't want to hijack some other threads where folks who care deeply about the salvation of the lost are basically saying you don't care if you still do things in a traditional manner at church.

    I ran across this interesting "happening" a while back at church. A pastor was quoting from a Barna survey (don't know which one but might can find it later) claiming that church needed to go to contemporary format/music/casual dress/revamp the building to look like a mall because "only about a third of unchurched people under age 40 will come to a traditional church."

    Ok, maybe he has a point--no, wait, he is putting the survey stats up on the screen. Showed that for those for whom worship style is a biggie in that age group (which was the minority) around 35% wanted traditional. Next biggest group wanted all the contemporary stuff--that was 16%.

    That completely refuted what he was telling us.

    Maybe we should drop the idea either side in the larger (not just music) worship war "don't care about the lost."

    Might be time to give each other grace.

    And remember local church autonomy.
     
  2. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Or maybe we can rely on the word of God and the Holy Ghost instead of what the church looks like for the foundation of evangelism.
     
  3. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

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    I'll amen you on that.
     
  4. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    82.4% of all statistics are made up on the spot...;)

    I don't want to get in the middle of a church thing over changing styles and formats. Our context is different from yours so I don't know all the details.

    I will say that Barna's stats are often myopic but have good stuff once you get in the middle of them and look around. There needs to be disclaimers all over the place, but then again guys often like to use statistics without qualifying them.

    What I've found in reaching unchurched people, the style of worship doesn't matter nearly as much as the hearts of people worshipping.

    You can change your style all the time, but if you don't have biblically authentic community you'll never keep the people you reach. :)
     
  5. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Amen, Amen, and Amen!:applause:
     
  6. Peggy

    Peggy New Member

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    Why not have two services if possible - one contemporary and one traditonal?
     
  7. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    I totally agree with PreachinJesus - it's not the format so much as the Word.

    It's OK to do contemporary music and have a more modern facility. Some will prefer that.

    It's OK to do traditional music and have a more traditional facility. Some will prefer that.

    There is no one perfect church that everyone will like. I know those who prefer a larger church for what it has to offer to help their family learn and grow in the Lord as well as for how many opportunities there are for the congregants to minster. I know others who MUCH prefer a smaller church for the intimacy and such that a smaller church offers. There is nothing wrong with either one and it's OK to have multiple churches in an area that offer different styles. What is NOT good is to be in competition but instead to be there to support each other. Our church partners with other Bible churches in the area for many things including just even the pastors getting together to learn together, pray together and at times, minster to each other. We don't partner with those who have beliefs different than ours but there are numerous solid churches near us who we are happy to partner with. We just hope the community goes to ONE of them - doesn't matter if it's us or another. Just get 'em saved!
     
  8. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    There are many churches. If you don't prefer the style of one that ministers to another, find one that is more to your liking. It's not like there is only one church assembly.
     
  9. Tom Butler

    Tom Butler New Member

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    I have been involved in church music since 1953. Most of that time as a minister of music/choir director. I am a strong advocate for worshipful, joyous music in a worship service.

    But if you want to bring a lost person under the sound of the gospel, bring him to hear the preacher. God is pleased to save through preaching. God may use a song or tune to touch the heart of a lost person, but give me preaching any day.

    Any personal witnessing we do, we won't take a songbook with us. We'll take a Bible.

    We can debate over the kinds of music to use in a service, but let's not pretend that the kind we choose says anything about our concern for souls.
     
  10. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Maybe we should avoid being ministered to by style and stick to worshiping God. Church is not about you, it is about God.
     
  11. paul wassona

    paul wassona New Member

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    If we're led of the Spirit we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. If they're going to be won to Christ it's going to take bible preaching saturated with prayer. Because, if you win them with a hotdog, you'll lose them over a hamburger. God is conforming the church into the image of his Son, not as the minds of the fleshly imagine him to be. We're not to be conformed to the world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds in Christ Jesus.
     
  12. Jon-Marc

    Jon-Marc New Member

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    Exactly! Service to God is not about what we get out of it but what God gets out of our service to Him. I tend to forget that myself and think about what I'm not getting out of it.
     
  13. David Michael Harris

    David Michael Harris Active Member

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    Holy Ghost? Is God dead? :)
     
  14. nodak

    nodak Active Member
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    Sounds like most that responded agree that the style of the building, the clothes worn by the attenders, and the style of music have really nothing to do with how evangelistic the church is.

    And I personally, and this is just my opinion, believe all of us often confuse our personal preferences with "what God wants."

    And we do the same with our convictions. For example, given my background of family folks doing honky tonky music in bars and seeing what it led to, I won't attend the music portion of church if it sounds honkytonk because FOR ME it is a stumbling block.

    That doesn't mean it is a stumbling block for you or that you cannot enjoy it. Just means I cannot.

    But I must admit I get flustrated "up to here" when someone tells me doing things the traditional way means "not caring about the lost." Maybe it just means ministering to a different subset of the lost, or having a different understanding of God's marching orders.

    Anyrate, just musing.
     
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