Churches that look like social clubs.

[Marcelo]

In my early thirties, before I got baptized, I used to attend a "nice" evangelical church. There were many "interesting" activities that made up for the boring sermon.

By God's mercy, a few years later I was invited to attend a real Christian church and then I realized that the previous one was a social club rather than a church.

Is it OK to lure people into church with dinners, raffles and bingos? Is it OK for churches to entertain people more than they teach the true word of God?

 

[Willie-T]

I suspect what you see as a "real Christian church", others might see as a funeral parlor. LOL

 

[Marcelo]

So, a live church, in their opinion, must have raffles and bingos? LOL

 

[zone]

In my early thirties, before I got baptized, I used to attend a "nice" evangelical church. There were many "interesting" activities that made up for the boring sermon.

By God's mercy, a few years later I was invited to attend a real Christian church and then I realized that the previous one was a social club rather than a church.

Is it OK to lure people into church with dinners, raffles and bingos? Is it OK for churches to entertain people more than they teach the true word of God?

yes, I attended a nice little orthodox Baptist chapel for awhile.
then some ppl from the US came and "planted" a seeker-driven mega-church.
it was all set up for entertainment.
the foundation was the Rick Warren package

 

[Dino246]

Methinks you know the answer to your question already, Marcelo.

A church congregation can promote fellowship through such activities (especially meals together). I probably wouldn't have much to do with a church that focused on such things though, to the diminishment of good teaching, being a blessing to the community and lifting up the Name of the Lord.

 

[Locutus]

I can't wait till I'm old enough to play bingo....

 

[BeyondET]

Jesus made wine to keep the party going why not...

 

[Locutus]

That's right we is all invited to the wedding, best wine last..

 

[Willie-T]

So, a live church, in their opinion, must have raffles and bingos? LOL

Do some reading in Acts about how they all hung out together, and "had ALL things in common." They shared their lives.... not just doing "Holy stuff" at a building during the appointed hour.... NOR just partying all the time.

If we think living with one another consists of only one of those, rejecting the other, (from EITHER perspective) then we just might need to look at the life we think Jesus called us to.

 

[Locutus]

I'm not sharing my bingo winnings...

 

[Willie-T]

Jesus made wine to keep the party going why not...

908 bottles of the stuff, too. (Yes, I actually did the math.)

 

[BeyondET]

[video=youtube;fHt8hDTymlY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHt8hDTymlY[/video]

 

[Locutus]

Mennonites do the best pot lucks...all that borscht

 

[Willie-T]

Mennonites do the best pot lucks...all that borscht

I have a friend who is a Mennonite preacher and a published Theologian...... and do dat boy ever like to eat!

 

[BeyondET]

908 bottles of the stuff, too. (Yes, I actually did the math.)

Indeed I doubt the guy in charge of the wedding had any worries about running out of wine for quite a few more wedding parties. lol

 

[notuptome]

2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Lost souls attend church and are still denied the truth.

If the men in the pulpits trusted God to honor His word and build His church they would not give in to modern society but would remain separated unto the Lord and preach the gospel without fear or favor of men.

Go ahead and follow every wind of doctrine it only leads to double mindedness.

Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[lastofall]

"Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise." (John 2:16)

"Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves." (Mark 11:17)

 

[trofimus]

In my early thirties, before I got baptized, I used to attend a "nice" evangelical church. There were many "interesting" activities that made up for the boring sermon.

By God's mercy, a few years later I was invited to attend a real Christian church and then I realized that the previous one was a social club rather than a church.

Is it OK to lure people into church with dinners, raffles and bingos? Is it OK for churches to entertain people more than they teach the true word of God?

No, it is not OK. Church is not for entertainment. I would leave such church too.

 

[stonesoffire]

In my early thirties, before I got baptized, I used to attend a "nice" evangelical church. There were many "interesting" activities that made up for the boring sermon.

By God's mercy, a few years later I was invited to attend a real Christian church and then I realized that the previous one was a social club rather than a church.

Is it OK to lure people into church with dinners, raffles and bingos? Is it OK for churches to entertain people more than they teach the true word of God?

After reading the thread from grafted branch, I went to Jude first. And I think your post is actually what Jude is addressing. When others can enter our fellowships and bring deceitfulness with them, and the secrets of hearts are no longer being exposed by discernment of spirit....we have Jude, prophesying what was to come....and now has.

Not all are this way.

 

[Magenta]

Church may not be for entertainment, but it is for fellowship. However, if the revealed written Word of God and the living risen Word of God is not front and center, whatever you might call such a collection of people is built on shifting sand and not the Rock of our salvation.