big churches

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mcap

Guest
#1
Sorry if this is the wrong forum.I heard Ray Comfort talking the other day and he said that big churches with big bands and light shows were not teaching by the Bible,they were sugar-coating everything so as not to make anyone mad.He also said sloping floors should not be allowed(can't figure that one out).
I belong to a fairly large church in Virginia Beach.A band usually plays for 20 minutes and during this time there are lights that go off and on.Our pastor is from Australia,and he by no means sugar coats anything.He pretty much tells it like it is and says if you don't like it there are other churches around.
Do any of you guys belong to a church like this?Do you think that the size of a church or that they have a band play take away from the intended experience?
 
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lil-rush

Guest
#2
In general, there is nothing wrong with big churches. As long as they are doctrinally sound and not corrupt one cannot criticize them. I personally prefer smaller churches, because it easier to bound with the congregation.

As for the type of band at a church, that is really based on the people who attend. If you have a group of 50 year old+ southern Baptist people you're not going to want to play metal during praise and worship. Likewise if you have a group of teens who listen to Christian metal you're not going to want to play all hymns during praise and worship. Is either one less praise worthy? No. It all depends on the state of one's heart whether something is praise worthy or not.
 
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posie

Guest
#3
Hi i think a church is what you make it, sometimes in a bigger church it is harder to make friends but really the question is do you go to church for god or other reasons.
 
Jan 9, 2009
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#4
I use to go to a church that is bigger than what I go to now. I quit going there because I felt the pastor's sermons weren't spiritually inspired anymore. A lot of the time he would talk about how much his church has grown and how much they have in the church's budget. Which seemed to me to detract from the Lord's word. I now go to a smaller church that is more spiritual and am happier there.
I've also met some other's who use to go to the other church but left for the same reasons, among others.
 
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1still_waters

Guest
#5
It's not wise to follow hard and fast generalities about anything. Let alone big churches. I personally have a lil rant about big churches, but I know it's not wise to categorize all big churches under the same negative umbrella.
 
Jan 8, 2009
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#6
On one end of the scale you have tiny little churches that shrink in size every year and the average age of the person going is 75+. They wonder why they're shrinking and maybe it's because they only play old music or no music at all and think of themself as a shining light on the hill and expect everyone to be magically drawn into their church just because they think they are so good. On the other end of the scale is big churches that are not big because of the Gospel being preached or evangelism but because of smart marketing strategies and social programs etc. Most people in the church may not even know God, they just like the music, they like being entertained, they like the social programs. These are generalisations of course. I guess a really good church would be somewhere in the middle between these two extremes. I think a really good local church size is about between 10 and 200, (for practical reasons), with a wide range of age from very young to very old.
 
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luke15chick

Guest
#7
I think the real question mcap is do you feel the church you attend follow's God's word and do you feel like the people who attend there are people who you can trust and discuss spiritual matters. Is there at least one person there at your church, who if you are struggling with a sin they would be a person to confide in? These are the matters I look at when choosing a church. I know I am young, but the church I grew up was an excellent example of all these things I am mentioning and since then I have been looking for a church that excels in these standards. The largest chruch I ever attended had 400 people, sizes like those to me feel more close and intimate as far as growing close to someone, but it is your comfort level that matters. Do you feel God in your church when you are there?
 
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lil-rush

Guest
#8
I think the real question mcap is do you feel the church you attend follow's God's word and do you feel like the people who attend there are people who you can trust and discuss spiritual matters. Is there at least one person there at your church, who if you are struggling with a sin they would be a person to confide in? These are the matters I look at when choosing a church. I know I am young, but the church I grew up was an excellent example of all these things I am mentioning and since then I have been looking for a church that excels in these standards. The largest chruch I ever attended had 400 people, sizes like those to me feel more close and intimate as far as growing close to someone, but it is your comfort level that matters. Do you feel God in your church when you are there?
qft.

I think this pretty much sums it up. Whatever the size of the church, it is the hearts of the congregation that matter.
 

iwant2serve

Senior Member
Apr 12, 2009
513
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#9
There are a lot that can be said on both sides of the spectrum. I prefer in between sized churches. The reason for that is that most (not all) small churches are family based and that stirs up problems with non family menbers. There are things that can be done and places to work in but the jelousey has to be delt with. On the other hand most (not all) large churches have less movement of the Holy Spirit because of 2 to 3 morning services. If they only have one service the recording clock is running. That brings on the herd them in herd them out, we have to stop now because we have another service to start. Or the other is we have to stop because we are running out of time (i.e. recording time). I am not saying one is better that the other but it all depends on what you want out of church. Just make sure what ever church you go to is Bible based and Spirit filled.
 
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sweetie36

Guest
#10
Iwant2serve is correct..
Sometimes in Big Churches they have cliques.....
I went to a small church before and its wasnt to bad.. but alot of people stop going. not sure why.
 
May 21, 2009
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#11
Sorry if this is the wrong forum.I heard Ray Comfort talking the other day and he said that big churches with big bands and light shows were not teaching by the Bible,they were sugar-coating everything so as not to make anyone mad.He also said sloping floors should not be allowed(can't figure that one out).
I belong to a fairly large church in Virginia Beach.A band usually plays for 20 minutes and during this time there are lights that go off and on.Our pastor is from Australia,and he by no means sugar coats anything.He pretty much tells it like it is and says if you don't like it there are other churches around.
Do any of you guys belong to a church like this?Do you think that the size of a church or that they have a band play take away from the intended experience?
As long as God is the head of the church. Music goes with worship of God. The floor slooping so people can see what's wrong with That. Some people just want to complain about everything. Yes there are bad pastors that sugar coat. There in any size church.