We were recently traveling. It was a Sunday morning and we were looking for a coffee shop. We love to visit coffee shops when we travel. We discovered as we walked up that the coffee shop shared space with a church. The sign outside the church read- movie with a message and along with that free popcorn and soda. I just rolled my eyes at my husband. We ordered our coffee and sat at an outdoor table waiting while The loud speakers were blaring outside. Then it began. The announcement was find your seat and look up at the big screen and listen for an important message. Then I heard in that deep celebrity pastor style— the important message was- “the most obedient thing you can do is tithe and starting today for the next 12 weeks we are challenging all of you to trust God and commit to being obedient to give ten percent of your income to God.” I looked at my husband and said. THAT is the most important message? I was so irritated and all I could think of was what about the person who may have been struggling all week. You never know the struggles of people who walk through the doors on a Sunday morning. Thankfully they turned the outdoor speakers off and We drank our coffee and promptly left.
Prosperity gospel, church gimmicks. I’m so tired of it all.
Mary, I just want to thank you. As I have read some of your posts, it has given me a renewed appreciation and love for my small, full of Life and relationship, Church. The Holy Spirit is present and I miss it when I go elsewhere. I say this not to boast but to encourage you that your message is also cheerleading those who are trying to keep the focus on what is True. We can so easily and imperceptibly move in the wrong direction and land with a ‘safe’, lukewarm service. Seeing where you can end up is motivating to pray for what you have. God bless you and your ministry.
This is an important word. So many churches seem to have lost sight of what is truly important. The model no longer looks anything like what we see in the early church. It’s replaced by marketing, performance and growth metrics. And it unfortunately appeals to so many who are caught in the dazzling superficiality so rampant today. Aesthetic and vibes are big business, and have infected the church. It’s so sad.
The Lord wants our Obedience to his commandments, not our dedication to a pastor and his agenda. I recently had a discussion about church service with my son- what worship really is because Jesus clearly tied our love for him to the love of God and others that is rooted in the 10 commandments, but it seems like his casual pastor is constantly trying to get people busy doing something. I told him his primary responsibility right now is to his family, especially teaching his small children to know the Lord.
I find it odd that a Sunday church service that’s supposed to be restful gets filled with business that should be reserved for a separate business meeting and that the clanging cymbals and sexual scandals of Paul’s day seem to be on steroids.
Loving your neighbor should be as simple as common sense, but the modern church has turned it into a busyness business project that mostly consists of throwing toxic charity dollars around.
Is God still with us, or has the Glory cloud left the building once again?
We were recently traveling. It was a Sunday morning and we were looking for a coffee shop. We love to visit coffee shops when we travel. We discovered as we walked up that the coffee shop shared space with a church. The sign outside the church read- movie with a message and along with that free popcorn and soda. I just rolled my eyes at my husband. We ordered our coffee and sat at an outdoor table waiting while The loud speakers were blaring outside. Then it began. The announcement was find your seat and look up at the big screen and listen for an important message. Then I heard in that deep celebrity pastor style— the important message was- “the most obedient thing you can do is tithe and starting today for the next 12 weeks we are challenging all of you to trust God and commit to being obedient to give ten percent of your income to God.” I looked at my husband and said. THAT is the most important message? I was so irritated and all I could think of was what about the person who may have been struggling all week. You never know the struggles of people who walk through the doors on a Sunday morning. Thankfully they turned the outdoor speakers off and We drank our coffee and promptly left.
Prosperity gospel, church gimmicks. I’m so tired of it all.
I share your fatigue. So frustrating.
Mary, I just want to thank you. As I have read some of your posts, it has given me a renewed appreciation and love for my small, full of Life and relationship, Church. The Holy Spirit is present and I miss it when I go elsewhere. I say this not to boast but to encourage you that your message is also cheerleading those who are trying to keep the focus on what is True. We can so easily and imperceptibly move in the wrong direction and land with a ‘safe’, lukewarm service. Seeing where you can end up is motivating to pray for what you have. God bless you and your ministry.
That's so very encouraging. I'm experiencing that as well. I love my new church.
This is an important word. So many churches seem to have lost sight of what is truly important. The model no longer looks anything like what we see in the early church. It’s replaced by marketing, performance and growth metrics. And it unfortunately appeals to so many who are caught in the dazzling superficiality so rampant today. Aesthetic and vibes are big business, and have infected the church. It’s so sad.
I agree. I am grieved by it.
The Lord wants our Obedience to his commandments, not our dedication to a pastor and his agenda. I recently had a discussion about church service with my son- what worship really is because Jesus clearly tied our love for him to the love of God and others that is rooted in the 10 commandments, but it seems like his casual pastor is constantly trying to get people busy doing something. I told him his primary responsibility right now is to his family, especially teaching his small children to know the Lord.
I find it odd that a Sunday church service that’s supposed to be restful gets filled with business that should be reserved for a separate business meeting and that the clanging cymbals and sexual scandals of Paul’s day seem to be on steroids.
Loving your neighbor should be as simple as common sense, but the modern church has turned it into a busyness business project that mostly consists of throwing toxic charity dollars around.
Is God still with us, or has the Glory cloud left the building once again?