A quote from
NO COMPROMISENO. 2047DELIVERED ON LORD’S-DAY MORNING,OCTOBER 7TH, 1888,BY C. H. SPURGEON,“The new plan is to assimilate the church to the world, and so include a larger area within its bounds. By semi-dramatic performances they make houses of prayer to approximate to the theater; they turn their services into musical displays, and their sermons into political harangues or philosophical essays — in fact, they exchange the temple for the theater, and turn the ministers of God into actors, whose business it is to amuse men. Is it not so, that the Lord’s-day is becoming more and more a day of recreation or of idleness, and the Lord’s house either a joss-house full of idols, or a political club, where there is more enthusiasm for a party than zeal for God?”AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE, NEWINGTON
Does This Fit Today's Churches
Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by gb93433, Dec 6, 2008.
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True of many churches in all ages. By the way, Mr. Spurgeon was quite the entertainer himself. Ever read about his extra-church and inter-church antics? Like joking about a member of his church name Pig. "A guinea pig, no doubt..." Hint that Mr. Pig donated a guinea....a particular currency in England.
When he didn't get his demands for windows that opened in the sanctuary, he went around with a cane and smashed the windows for ventilation.
We all have our quirks and personalities.
Cheers,
Jim -
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There are literally 100's of books about Spurgeon......his life, his thinking, his habits.........some things are true and supported as such, and others are falacious........Like the one about him smoking cigars and claiming "he smoked to teh glory of God." It was true that he smoked cigars, but he never did say the other.
Cheers,
Jim -
Unfortunately, this is all too true. Too many "Christians" want to be entertained instead of seeking God's will in their lives. Too many gospel singers are no longer ministering through song; they are entertainers. They sing silly songs that have no meaning just for the purpose of giving people what they want and not what they need.
Too many preachers and teachers are doing the same thing. They preach "God is good and loves everybody!" They are told they can't preach against sin--particularly homosexuality since it is now an accepted "alternate lifestyle." Bible studies are too often empty and devoid of any real meat of the word. I am often bored in many Bible studies, because their knowledge is no greater or even less than mine; I'm no Bible scholar. :jesus: -
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I visited a "mega" in SoCal (name withheld but the nearby mountain looks like a saddleback) and found that they had 45 minutes of preaching in every service, even though they had CCM songs and other drama, big screens, and a non-church atmosphere, etc.
Some churches get a bad rap by those ignorant of what really happens. I've been to some more "traditional" churches where the pastor acted like a buffoon, screaming, kicking the pulpit and making a mockery of God's Word. Those types are far worse imho. -
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I met him a few years ago and found him to be humble and very warm. -
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Face it. Many if not most people go to church to be entertained. They like pastors who are comics. Recall that when the homosexuals recently invaded a church the pastor had to tell the people it was not part of the program.
I have heard of one church in Knoxville Tenn. where the pastor had himself drawn up over the congregation to simulate the ascension of Jesus Christ, another in Knoxville where the pastor simulated a call from his mother on a cell phone during the sermon.
The portrayal of the crucifixion is common in Baptist churches around easter. It is blasphemous for anyone to imitate the suffering of Jesus Christ on the cross: Perfect righteousness taking upon Himself the sins of the world.