QUOTE(RAF_Ogg @ Jan 29 2007, 02:16 PM) [snapback]100141[/snapback]
There is no sin in paper mache.
As long as its done to Christs Glory,,,,
I agree, Its not the building,,,its not the statue, its the message thats preached that matters.
(field goal LOL)
Basically mega churches are a bad idea. Anyone interested should check Spirit Led vs. Purpose Driven by Berit KJos
http://www.newswithviews.com/BeritKjos/kjos20.htmRick Warrens books and programs are a hodge podge of humanism, modern psychology and business practices. The emphasis is not upon growing the church in the grace and knowledge of the word, but rather growing the church numbers for the purpose of reaping a greater harvest of tithes and offerings. Marketing hype is used to attract the sheep (or should I say goats) into the fold.
Have a look at Spurgeon "Feeding the sheep or amusing the goats" to show how the church compromises the gospel in order to attract the world into the church. see
http://www.biblebelievers.net/Apostasy/kjcfeed.htmWe have the disgusting situation now where Community churches are springing up all over the place with self appointed pastors with dubious theological training starting up their own church enterprises trying to build the church into another Saddleback or Hillsong. These community churches are extremely autocratic and abuse members who resist their methods. Read
http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/04/4-purpose-resisters.htm for a description of how the emerging church handles resistors to transitioning change.
Now we have the traditional churches which are hollowed out shells after the community churches and mega churches have sucked them dry. How have they done this. By providing a rich spiritual heritage which can be tracked back the founding church fathers. No, but by upbeat music, hype, youth programs, cafe style small groups, christian-easy. Some of these churches are like night clubs. On a beautiful sunny Sunday morning you enter the church which is all blacked out with shades over the windows. The floodlights and spotlights highlight the band which is pumping with shoop-shoop sound. The audience goes from heightened excitement to almost catatonic sleep as the pastor jumps around trying to arouse some interest in his feeble and bland fifteen minute sermon. Then when the sermon is over and the music starts again the crowd jumps to their feet, hands waving, tears tumbling down their fervent faces. As they file out after the service they walk past the book stand a turn to the left and they will be in the bookstore with the programs, cd's videos, books galore. If they turn to the right they will find the coffee shop.
Can anyone imagine anything further from the church described in the NT.
I pray that everyone here will not be duped but will return to their quiet, traditional churches.
Jer 6:16 Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. 17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.Surely we live in a perilous age of apostasy. Who will listen? Who will turn back to the old paths? Very few as they rush blindly into trendy new ways which will ultimately lead them into apostasy and the abandonment of all that is Holy.
