Letter from Ingrid

Wow...what a judgemental legalist!

She has no problem bashing contemporary song writers...but openly pushes for the "old time" hymns. That's hypocritical.

I wonder how she would take wearing robes and sandals to church!

 

Is this really how she feels, or is she trying to make a point about others?

 

This just makes me sad.

 

Let her find a good IBF church and she should be very happy. But, I have my doubts. There will even be something there that she doesn't like. Folks like this couldn't be satisfied if Jesus himself showed up to preach. He'd probably offend her with his love of the unlovely and hanging out in places that "Christians" shouldn't be.

 

As much as this author claims to put the focus on God, there are a lot of "I don't want"s in the text.

 

Well, I can't answer all her concerns, but can address two or three of them.

One, find a "church" where the "Worship Leader" or "Song Leader" is a man who wears a suit. Preferably, 'stiffly', at that! That way the lady will see someone who is "dressing up for worship", probably will not be considered "vampy" and will likely not "flaunt (his) wares at every (female) in view...".

Finally, when attending worship services, sit on the front row (or pew), preferalby as near the center as possible. That way that lady will not be distracted by "Chuck and Sue take turns massaging each others necks during the sermon...". Etc., Etc.!

Oh yeah, the main distraction will probably then be the lady, as she turns around looking to see who is distracting others, where every one can see her, instead!

Or maybe, she can be the perfect model for other attendees, and not get distracted, while always watching and listening to the Pastor preach the sermon.

But for some strange reason, I wouldn't want to "bet the farm" on this last part.

Ed

 

I don't know Ingrid but I also share her frustration. Some of the behavior she complains of is just plain rude. As for the proper attire for church, I look at it this way. If you were invited to the White House for an evening with the President, would you wear sandals, blue jeans, etc.? No, I thought not. So if you put on your very best to visit the President, shouldn't you at least do as much to honor the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?

 

Nope. Besides, I highly doubt that you wear a tux to church.

 

Thanks!:thumbs:

 

I think Ingrid walked into a rock and roll concert by mistake.

 

IF it were a black tie event...I'd wear a tuxedo. Do you wear a tux to church? I mean, if we are going to abide by the worlds standards of "very best", nothing less than tuxedos and evening gowns should be worn in church!

 

If she doesn't like her church, she should leave, and not be a stumblingblock to others... there are plenty churches that cater to her legalistic desires...

But I have a feeling that she is so caught up in what she wants that no church will please her.

Focus on God, people... NOT on people, styles, etc...

You go to church to WORSHIP.

 

:applause:

 

I'd say her letter, posted from sliceoflaodicea.com would definitely qualify as a "Slice of Laodicea." It's all about Ingrid!

That makes me think about a poem I read a few weeks back in preparation for a sermon on worship. It's Ingrid and so many others wrapped into one:

I had a little tea party one afternoon at three;
'Twas very small, three guests in all, just I, Myself and Me.
Myself ate up the sandwiches, while I drank up the tea,
'Twas also I who ate the pie and passed the cake to Me.

 

...

She ought to do what I did at Dr Rogers church. We had all that goin' on so I just came into the service 30 minutes later. I sang my hymns on the way! Heard great sermons! And the Sunday school classes weren't nearly such "performances" and I enjoyed the fellowship there.

I can understand there's not a lot of "spirit and truth" worship in music ministries anymore. I think todays writers are empty of real Christian experience, need the job, and so "do like the angels" who also have no earthly experience to sing about. They just write down "Holy, holy, holy" or "Praise Him, Praise Him, Praise Him" and call it "worship" or "praise" sheet music and sell it to 10,000 contemporary churches for a $10 royalty.

skypair

 

Reactionary post self-edited. Your opinion, skypair. Don't lump all of "today's writers" together with quite so broad a brush. You may end up eating crow.

 

I agree. I agree.


Wait ! Oh, my goodness !! Is that you skypair ?

Did I just agree with you ?

Oh, no, no,no !!!

I take it back. I take it back !:laugh: :laugh: :wavey:

 

I think that whenever we question the authenticity of someone else’s experience we are setting ourselves up as judgmental failures. Only God can look upon the heart. While skypair’s comments might be true about some songs and some writers to generalize and pronounce judgment by association is always a recipe for failure.

Skypair, I would encourage you to listen to or read more of today’s music. If you don’t like sound of the music then go online and read some of the lyrics.

The bottom line is that Ingrid needs to find a new church and Skypair, if you can’t support your church I would suggest you find a new one. There are lots of different churches out there. If there is something you truly don’t like about yours perhaps God is trying to nudge you into a new ministry somewhere else. I am not fool enough to believe everyone needs to attend my church and while there are churches and ministries that I disagree with and would never be a part of; I am also not fool enough not to realize that God is using them.

Where is our obligatory priesthood of the believer post?

 

Do you really think God cares what we wear? What if sandals was all one had to wear, should they daty home and not go to church? Did Jesus not seek out to poorest to teach too?