If you just closed your eyes......

He explained himself. That's why I asked for explaination.

 

...and you agreed with it, which is why I ask.

 

I agree that he is right to disagree and sympathize with his reaction. I added to the discussion that the Scripture should order what should and should not be done in the assembly of the saints.

 

Seems like one poster in this thread is just looking for something to nit-pick - best just ignore such!

 

Not nit-picking anything...it's a pretty serious charge to call a church's worship service a "concert" and accuse the leadership therein of some pretty serious stuff just because "it's not how I do church"!

 

You are talking in circles. What do you mean "I agree that he is right to disagree". What from Scripture supports his (and your) "disagreement"?

 

"I went to church, but didn't GET anything out of it."...

Yep, selfish motive..

Listen.. YOU are not supposed to GET stuff.. YOU come to Give.

Selfish pre boomer age Christians have ruined Christianity.

If you didn't like the church.. go to another that fills YOUR needs... since apparently, you are seeking to have YOUR needs met...

 

Well, since I called no names, the shoe must have fit pretty good.

Anyway, I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on the OP.

As I stated earlier, what I gleaned was a worshiper who had to endure (IMNSHO) scads of distractions from a pastoral team that appeared to be more concerned about being "with it", that making sure his message from God (?) was adequately received.

At least one of us, and possibly both of us, are wrong concerning the OP, but I'm bowing out as I see no further purpose in flailing this dead horse.

Oh, incidentally, I certainly did not get the same impression - "it's not how I do church" - that you did. I can see how you may have read that into it, but it did not read that way for me.

 

Usually when we fail to receive the worship it is because we have failed to acheive personal worship outside of our corporate gatherings.

If you didn't like the church go somewhere else. It doesn't honor God to complain about it here.

I rather like this kind of church.

 

You "get out" of church what you have "put in" throughout the week. if you were distracted by the surroundings your heart and mind were not on God. Sorry to be blunt, but I have been there.

Some of the best "church" services I have been in were in a truck stop. We used to have a truck stop ministry that held service every Sunday morning at 8 o'clock in a certain truck stop. The speaker was whoever we had lined up or one of us (preached my first several sermons there), and the same with the singer. We held service for up to two dozen, and sometimes just for the waitresses and cook. We were threatened, and we have had to out-bellow the jukebox (until the owner gave us permission to unplug it during service). It was loud, smoky, and full of people coming and going... but the focus was on God and not the surroundings.

We saw several saved through that ministry, right there in that truck stop. No one was in a suit. No one was in a skirt. No one was even there to worship except us. But Gos was in the midst and that was all that mattered.

yes, today's culture is different. My wife won't walk into the sanctuary unless she has a dress on because that is the way she was raised. I were jeans or slacks, no suit, no tie. I am there to worship God, not impress anyone.

I don't agree with eating int he sanctuary outside of the Lord's Supper, but that is me and the way I was raised. Plus the carpet and upholstery ain't cheap.

Robert Elliot is acredited with saying, "Rule number one is, don't sweat the small stuff. Rule number two is, it's all small stuff." This holds true here. Don't focus on the small stuff, the details. Focus on God and let the details take care of themselves. Don't let yourself be distracted from why you are even in church to begin with.

 

Your surroundings were not condusive for you. Your tastes/preferences are not universal nor should they be. Blending a contemporary atmosphere with solid expository preaching can be a good thing.