This thread is on things that go on in church, or in a church service that distract from worship or service.
For example:
The worship "service" by definition is a place of not only worship but service. Recognizing that each member of the assembly can and should contribute as they have been gifted by the Holy Spirit and appointed to the task to be expressed with their whole heart. (Colossians 3).
Such service should be expected and viewed by others as reasonable, holy, and a sacrifice acceptable to God. (Romans 12).
And the service is a divine appointment in which the believer may know strength from God in the service. (1 Timothy).
Yet, most assemblies have become so "performance" oriented, that folks would clap and even give a standing ovation for "mere service."
To me clapping in a service in response to some "presentation" of talent is an offense of worship and of service.
Another example:
The casual chatter that folks engage in rather than preparing their hearts by quiet meditation. I attended a church in which the stage band was banging out so loud, folks were shouting in the isles.
Such are an offense of worship and service and have no place in the presence of Christ.
What might you consider a distraction from worship and service?
Why?
Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by agedman, Dec 10, 2015.
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Iconoclast Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
worldly conversation before and after service.
chronically late persons
children crying ,whining , talking during sermon -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
What is offensive to me is a dead church. A church where there is no energy, no life, no response of enthusiasm to the worship of God. I want to see people who sing with energy to God and a response from others to that song of worship to God that appreciates and takes great joy in what has happened. There are times we should be in quiet preparation and other times when we should be expressive of the emotions God has given us to use to worship Him.
I want to see preaching by someone who is passionate about God's word with all the emotion that is swirling around in him because of God, our salvation, freedom and victory in Christ. I also want to see an emotional response from those who are receiving that word of God. Emotions brought about because of the goodness, the greatness, the power and majesty of God.
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But some mistake "singing with energy" and look for "an emotional response" as some evidence that God is at work.
I very much like that statements you made:
"I also want to see an emotional response from those who are receiving that word of God. Emotions brought about because of the goodness, the greatness, the power and majesty of God."
This is God working in the midst, changing, aligning, and assessing each believer.
Too often, though, the typical modern church has some kind of ministry team that stirs up the people rather than the Word of God. -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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IF there is not just the grounding in Scriptures, but the exaltation of Scriptures, the placing of Scriptures as the total focus of every aspect (even the announcements) then the worship service is second class at best.
One should not expect the emotion driven, puffed up, song service and media presentations to prepare the hearts of folks to worship.
Not a single aspect of worship should focus upon someone (especially the presenter) as to be praised - all praise and honor belong to God. -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Even the announcements? Look, there are things in the service that includes taking care of day to day things. Saying that those are somehow an imposition on true worship is just not provable. What may distract you may not be an issue for any number of other people. I think we need to be careful not to assign motives on people based on what we like or dislike personally.
Just because someone does not like they way people respond to some kinds of singing in the church does not prove that those people engaged in that type of singing that the one person does not like are not truly worshiping God nor can they. We need to be very careful of assigning motives in that fashion. -
Announcing Fred and Wanda had a baby is important IF there is prayer offered at that time for the couple to raise the child in the Lord.
Announcing tryout for choir doesn't belong.
Announcing dinner on the ground doesn't belong, unless it includes prayer that no one gets sick from Aunt Sally's chicken salad. :)
There are those who would dispute that worship can be found outside of some narrow assignment.
This is why the focus must be singular. The Scriptures.
Not upon performance, people, things, events, or even the time.
When a people praise each other for something done that should be considered "reasonable service" the focus is far from Scriptures. That isn't a judgment of motives, it is exposing the truth. -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Psa_150:4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! -
What better way to demonstrate the focus of worship!
Was there ANY mention of the performers being praised?
Was there ANY glory given to the performers or the performance?
Such has no place in the worship of God.
It is HIS and the believers should not regard service in which HE has produced in both talent and strength as something to receive praise.
Rather, let a solemn "amen" be whispered in prayer of agreement of that which is presented which is Scriptural. -
1) Those fancy wrist watches that go off at noon and folks wearing them don't have the good sense to:
- Leave them at home in the first place or
- Turn off the alarm before church or
- Stop the alarm once it goes off :rolleyes:
3) Hearing aids that die and whistle through the service Biggrin -
I always wondered why the offering plate. I suppose there is a history behind it, but I don’t know what that could be. In a way, it seems odd to me.
Another thing, which is probably a bit more broad than you are looking for (sorry) is why churches outsource leadership. Perhaps this is not common across the board, but everywhere I’ve been churches looked outside (most of the time out of state) for a pastor, assistant pastor, youth pastor, etc. It seems to me that a discipling church would produce its own leadership.
Anyway, those are my two why’s… -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
There are a number of reasons for the "outsourcing of leadership. It certainly was part of the early history of the American church when the many rural churches used circuit preachers. Often young men grow up and recognize the call of God but so often that call ends up going to another church. Maybe they are right, maybe they aren't. -
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Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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wicked old me, I guess, I do NOT go to church to "worship". I go preaching services.
The singing, the praying, the preaching all proclaim Christ (or should.) Let me get one whiff some song leader decided last week what emotion he wanted me to feel and I am out of there.
Now, very often God does break in and I can get quite emotional.
But that is very different from some cheerleader amping it up. -
tyndale1946 Well-Known MemberSite Supporter