Comments on: Why Low Expectations Cheat Our Church Members

By: Michael

Michael — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 05:37:32 +0000

Brian, If the gospel was so easy to explain that a child could understand it, there wouldn’t be preachers. I think many people whom believe in religion now days need to read Emerson’s “The Divinity School Address” and take critical thinking into their practices. Preachers do not represent “truth” but only their perceived ideological notions of what they believe to be truth. In fact, children are children, whether they play board games or exercise or read novels in their spare time, the pressure of school, work, and devotion to a deity can become wearisome as well as contradictory to each other. To work for something other than God then would be to fall further away from him. If there was such a strong belief in Christ then we would probably be living as the Indians, instead we murdered them and took their land. Sorry I just don’t understand the importance of this, its just a little crazy to me. I am sure Mr. Wax himself is a sinner, and I believe there are bigger sins to be worried about than playing board games. Maybe, rape, prostitution, world hunger, just to name a few.

By: w w

w w — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:56:54 +0000

Thanks for the challenge. In sermon two weeks ago, we were told to understand how hard it is for the music director to schedule twenty minutes of various song styles to please all the different personalities of the congregation, so that the person sitting next to us “gets” how to worship. I saw another article that used the term “Worship-tainment”.

Why have churches become so culture catered? In this media saturated, low attention-span society, would it be too much to ask for Pastors to ‘Be still and know that He is God’ by teaching people how to stop, quietly pray and give God some reverence and thanks for Jesus during communion?

By: Arnie Gentile

Arnie Gentile — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:41:39 +0000

Thanks you for your challenge. I am afraid that you hit the mark all too accurately. I often wonder what would happen if we simply expected a new Christian to read through the Bible and expected him to understand it. I suspect many more would rise to the challenge than we might think. Your illustrations are very helpful in making your point. I invite you and your readers to visit the Christian Apologetics Blog at http://www.mychristianapologetics.com/

Blessings,

Arnie Gentile

By: Tammy Waldrop

Tammy Waldrop — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:01:22 +0000

As a composer and a lover of well-crafted music of any kind, I also see this trend of “comfortableness” in the majority of church music today. The idea that singing repetitive text, insipid melodic motifs, and words without musical notation are what “the masses want” is a travesty against the glorious gift of music to us. I used to enjoy the music in church, used to be inspired by the quality of the melodic line and the depth of the text, but now I just endure that part of the service. I’m not advocating dumping all praise and worship songs and going back to hymns – I am longing to hear music that’s well-crafted both musically and textually. Music is not about personal “taste,” rather it’s about discovering this powerful gift of God.

By: Dave Carrol

Dave Carrol — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:42:08 +0000

Excellent article. Right now our church is focusing on “Worship and Work”. Our philosophy has always been that “every member is a minister” but we’re headed into a season where we’re going to be putting it into real action.

By: Trevin Wax

Trevin Wax — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:44:13 +0000

Carrie,

That’s a good point. Accountability is what we need. Unfortunately, some people really don’t want to be held accountable or to hold others accountable. Yet a life of discipleship needs to have this aspect.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:55:33 +0000

I think the breakdown is in discipleship and accountability. If you and your friend are a fan of Lost, you might ask, “Did you see Lost last night? Blah, blah, blah.” Honestly, I can’t tell you the last time someone asked me, “Did you read your Bible yesterday? What have you been seeking the Lord for in prayer?” Just a thought. . .

By: Edgar Foster

Edgar Foster — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:29:31 +0000

It’s about time! Thank you for a thoughtful, but simple presentation of the concept of Christian responsibility. We have truly become a collection of wimps. God help us garner the faith and strength of the truth and “quit (ourselves) like men!”

By: joey

joey — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:33:48 +0000

Donald Miller’s new book adds an interesting perspective to this idea. He says that we are all a part of a story and what makes a story good is that we face conflict willingly because conflict is part of the journey. We must have an end in mind (which Christians do) and we must engage conflict willingly if it furthers our “story”.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:10:45 +0000

Brian – funny

When I go into Starbucks, I still can’t order correctly.

I still say large or medium and with milk or whatever.

There needs to be an instruction manual at the door.

(sorry a little off topic,)
-Chuck