tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879552692521649812.post899620780854998378..comments2024-01-04T15:56:19.156-05:00Comments on Commandments of Men: Too Big For Their Own BritchesLewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05596138376570543467noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879552692521649812.post-69621711733160358182014-05-11T02:57:45.721-04:002014-05-11T02:57:45.721-04:00As a former Memphian? Bellevue is the literal wors...As a former Memphian? Bellevue is the literal worst. The people who were loudest about how awesome it is were invariably the most despicably rude, bigoted and supercilious people to deal with. We called it Six Flags Over Jesus because it was less a church than a Christian-flavored theme park.Pope Lizbethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00506541826234667585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879552692521649812.post-37100109469597281052011-03-08T18:20:12.234-05:002011-03-08T18:20:12.234-05:00I could not agree more. Even though I've had e...I could not agree more. Even though I've had enough with the small church I'm currently attending, I'm not a fan of the megachurch movement. If church members could find a way to love, forgive, laugh with, and cry with their brothers and sisters while being in a slightly larger church than I'm used to, I'd be more ready to form meaningful relationships with them than I am with my current fellow church members. Right now, I wouldn't dream of sharing my life and my dreams with them -- they disapprove of my attending college and working outside the home (definitely proponents of the patriarchal crowd). However, I'm not ready to give up on small churches yet -- but they need to prove to me that they're more concerned with loving the way Christ loves than having 12 children in jumpers.<br /><br />I do think church music and activities should be done in moderation, however -- once the focus on worshipping God is lost, they cease to be worship of God and become worship of man. This is where I believe megachurches go wrong. Even though I'm at the point where I believe love between Christians is more important than the loudness of the music, don't make me choose :)That Beenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879552692521649812.post-76771702179317000212011-03-08T16:53:20.528-05:002011-03-08T16:53:20.528-05:00A "Holy Odor" ;)A "Holy Odor" ;)Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05596138376570543467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879552692521649812.post-69378172271236953262011-03-08T08:19:34.995-05:002011-03-08T08:19:34.995-05:00The only thing I kept thinking while watching that...The only thing I kept thinking while watching that last video is, "Ew, I hope people didn't have smelly feet that day." Can you imagine the stench spinning around that auditorium with all those socks going around?Erika Martin - Stampin' Mamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15654013636892916062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879552692521649812.post-59916621343696443622011-03-07T19:18:29.537-05:002011-03-07T19:18:29.537-05:00I suppose this is going to be one of those things ...I suppose this is going to be one of those things where everyone will have had different experiences. It's nice, Grace, that you've had a good experience. My experience with big churches just hasn't been that great. I'm not saying all small churches are wonderful. I personally avoid home churches too. :PDarcyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03702441292981376229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879552692521649812.post-2543146951405060832011-03-07T18:39:15.241-05:002011-03-07T18:39:15.241-05:00I attended some mega-churches during my first year...I attended some mega-churches during my first year of college because that's where my friends enjoyed attending. They had plush upholstery, grand halls & staircases, wings for every activity & age group, a coffeeshop, state of the art acoustics, choir & orchestra every Sunday morning, huge screen projections, and cameras everywhere for broadcasting the service. <br /><br />This was around the time that I was becoming more socially conscious. I remember sitting in that larger-than-life sanctuary and wondering how I could be genuinely worshipping here in this extravagance while there were people living in extreme poverty just 5-10 miles across the river. I didn't stay long. On Sunday mornings for worship, I started venturing-- yep, you guessed it-- across the river.Leahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02067229382048242612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879552692521649812.post-84577153689037774122011-03-07T16:56:34.272-05:002011-03-07T16:56:34.272-05:00IMO, both large and small churches can be healthy ...IMO, both large and small churches can be healthy and helpful, as well as dysfunctional and damaging. My husband is on staff at the largest protestant church in our area, yet we have totally had the same kinds of bloopers Darcy described, because it isn't a show (although there is an expectation of excellence; I'm not implying that sloppiness is the status quo). I believe transparency, godliness, accountability, and humility among the leaders is key. <br /><br />The church I'm in now is 1,000+ people, yet it's the healthiest church I've been part of. Relationships, support, and intimacy of smaller groups are available for anyone who chooses to get involved. Anyone who asks has access to a pastor (not always the senior pastor, but whoever is available, and that often includes the senior pastor). Anyone who wishes to is welcome to participate in public ministries, such as choir, from the very gifted to the mentally and physically disabled, those often outcast by performance-oriented churches. <br /><br />Many people don't realize that in any church, regardless of size, the core group (ppl who are involved and do everything) is quite small. Putting the word out that you wish to be involved, or just jumping in, is usually all it takes to get to know those people quite quickly, including staff. I'm sure there are a few celebrity churches where people are kept in the outer court, but in most of the larger churches I know, ppl make assumptions that the church is too big or that they wouldn't be welcomed or that they can't get to know ppl, before they ever attempt to get involved. Usually, lay leaders and staff alike are delighted when someone shows an interest, and welcomes them quickly.<br /><br />That's not to say that mega-churches don't have their share of problems. Large church pastors certainly make mistakes like anyone else. However, my worst experiences personally have been in smaller churches. The pastors of large churches I know (quite a few) are great guys who love Jesus and are doing their best. I don't think one can generalize.<br /><br />I usually love your blog, Lewis, even when I disagree, but on this one my experience has just been different. Oh, and I used to be completely against mega-churches too, until I became part of one. I was pleasantly surprised.<br /><br />GraceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879552692521649812.post-26656966432796507252011-03-07T12:41:00.442-05:002011-03-07T12:41:00.442-05:00Ditto to that Darcy! I have been a few times to me...Ditto to that Darcy! I have been a few times to mega churches with my sister and brother-in-law. I think, Darcy, they tend to attract people who want to go to church WITHOUT becoming a family. I mean... the probably 10 times I've been to 2 different churches, not ONE person came up and introduced themselves to us. Probably because you can't tell if someone is new or not.<br /><br />There is a special row of seats down front (about the size of a small church's) and the rest is bleachers. With so many people (and that many 2 or 3 services per sunday!) it would be very hard to get to know anyone. Even the youth group was 3 times the size of my whole church. o.OJoanna Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03240506825764536504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879552692521649812.post-34497284759884855462011-03-07T11:34:16.910-05:002011-03-07T11:34:16.910-05:00I don't like large churches because, for me, t...I don't like large churches because, for me, the point of "church" is to have a family that you live life with. How can you do that with 1000+ people? And I hate the "production feel" of the whole "service". It seems put on, an act, not real life. Our church is very small and I like the intimacy of it. Everyone is real and our worship is real and we make mistakes (like two people starting in different keys because the guitarist forgot to take his capo off) and everyone laughs and we praise the Lord. Because we aren't performing, we're just doing life and worship together.Darcyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03702441292981376229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879552692521649812.post-90523759599262579812011-03-07T11:01:19.219-05:002011-03-07T11:01:19.219-05:00I won't ever be able to use the baby and bathw...I won't ever be able to use the baby and bathwater phrase again ; )... but in that vein, there are things I like that have come from the mega-churches. I am a hard rock / heavy metal (and even worse) music fan, so contemporary worship is a must for me. I like the social aspect; while it is misused in fundamentalist churches, it is sorely lacking in many mainstream ones, and encouraging church to be more than a Sunday morning pitstop is a good thing. And knowing they will get a full hot breakfast and I will get my coffee is good motivation for getting reluctant teens to church.<br /><br />On the other hand, it becomes a problem when: 1) The pastor or other staff members have too much power, or are in power too long; 2) The trendy stuff costs more money than they have, and needs a constant heavy stream of income to survive; and/or 3) They get too caught up in their "brand," so that everything has to conform to it.<br /><br />Power. Greed. Money. Pride. Probably the biggest stumbling blocks for churches and people leading them.Final Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879552692521649812.post-35446014952585636612011-03-07T10:32:57.687-05:002011-03-07T10:32:57.687-05:00That middle vid - Wow- that guy totally creeps me ...That middle vid - Wow- that guy totally creeps me out!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879552692521649812.post-39596355351939892432011-03-07T09:40:44.404-05:002011-03-07T09:40:44.404-05:00kissing our aesthetics....LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! tha...kissing our aesthetics....LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thank you for this!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6879552692521649812.post-4434935773972927982011-03-07T09:39:17.651-05:002011-03-07T09:39:17.651-05:00I couldn't imagine how that last video could g...I couldn't imagine how that last video could get any crazier and then he started singing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com