Tired of church...

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ijustwanttheTruth

ijustwanttheTruth

Senior Member
#1
Sep 28, 2011
823
8
18
#1
Is it just me? or are the majority of churches nowadays just a big show.

i think i know why unbelievers hate church. i think it all seems really phoney. it seems like a bunch of people performing. it's a formula. the music and the standing and the clapping and the sitting down and the skit and the sermon. it's all the same. where's the power in it?

i went to church this week for the first time in a long time. i have been to so many churches in my life and maybe i'm a little bit on the jaded side. but. here are some of my observations from this service:

the worship is LOUD.
thoughts: ok. why does the music have to be deafening to be powerful? why do we need the drums and the electric guitars and the volume all the way up? Does not God's presence supersede the excitement of a rock concert? why do we need music behind a prayer to emphasize it? can't we ever just shut up and let God show up?

observation number 2. the pastor is loud.
why do so many men feel the need to shout in order for their point to be heard? why do we hire some man and pay him every week in tithes to come up with some sort of inspirational speech? why can't a group of believers merely come together and read from the word and each speak what they hear the spirit of God saying?

in a room that small? we wouldn't even need a sound system. we would be heard just speaking normally. but no. they plug in the microphone and turn up the volume so loud. why?!

and people. PLEASE. church is not a place for your cell phones. turn them off. stop filming in the middle of worship! this is not a video for you to share on fb. this is supposed to be a private relational moment between creator God and His beloved ones. filming is completely inappropriate unless there is some preexisting media outlet that has been agreed upon to share with the world. THIS. IS NOT A SHOW.

why do we need dorky programs and christmas pageants and entertaining clips? if i wanted entertainment, i would turn on my tv! i am SO churched out. can't we ever just put a stop to the noise? can't church just be a place for believers to come and hear from God? why is it such a show? and why are there 23 fake plants on that stage?

are they decorating for me? are they decorating for God?
i am SURE that their motives for these things are good. but the atmosphere it produces is one where i am extremely uncomfortable. 'SOMEBODY SHOUT 'TIMETABLE!''
'turn to your neighbor and give them your best 'unripened fruit' face!'

why? who are you trying to impress? do me a favor and save your Christianese. save your speeches. keep your voice at conversational volume and if you have something to say. just say it normally and let the power be in what God is doing. not in some emotionally manipulative showy performance.

i think i am too intelligent for a typical sunday service. i see right through everything. and unless it's the power and the presence of God....i just cannot be pleased.
 
M

Mink

Guest
#2
#2
Hey! This is a really interesting post for me to read as it contrasts with the place I attend - in some ways, but hits right home in others1

The hymns in my church are sang purely by the congregation and there are no instruments accompanying them at all. Sometimes cheerier than others, as you can imagine. The basis for this is the Spirit leading the worship...It is just one way of looking at it I guess. Sometimes I wish that we did use something to make it more upbeat and 'praise-like' - I guess there is room either way!
As far as the sermons are concerned I agree with you there - sometimes the most powerful word is not the loudest! There is something great about the simplicity which you are looking for.

There are a lot of things that I do like about my church, including the nature of the singing and small discussions about the bible together - but I agree about the amount of show that goes on! As long as we remember that God looks upon the heart, not the outward appearance, we should theoretically be able to cut all that out! I guess we can only start with going about it that way ourselves!
 
B

BarlyGurl

Guest
#3
#3
ijustwanttheTruth said:
Is it just me? or are the majority of churches nowadays just a big show.

i think i know why unbelievers hate church. i think it all seems really phoney. it seems like a bunch of people performing. it's a formula. the music and the standing and the clapping and the sitting down and the skit and the sermon. it's all the same. where's the power in it?

i went to church this week for the first time in a long time. i have been to so many churches in my life and maybe i'm a little bit on the jaded side. but. here are some of my observations from this service:

the worship is LOUD.
thoughts: ok. why does the music have to be deafening to be powerful? why do we need the drums and the electric guitars and the volume all the way up? Does not God's presence supersede the excitement of a rock concert? why do we need music behind a prayer to emphasize it? can't we ever just shut up and let God show up?

observation number 2. the pastor is loud.
why do so many men feel the need to shout in order for their point to be heard? why do we hire some man and pay him every week in tithes to come up with some sort of inspirational speech? why can't a group of believers merely come together and read from the word and each speak what they hear the spirit of God saying?

in a room that small? we wouldn't even need a sound system. we would be heard just speaking normally. but no. they plug in the microphone and turn up the volume so loud. why?!

and people. PLEASE. church is not a place for your cell phones. turn them off. stop filming in the middle of worship! this is not a video for you to share on fb. this is supposed to be a private relational moment between creator God and His beloved ones. filming is completely inappropriate unless there is some preexisting media outlet that has been agreed upon to share with the world. THIS. IS NOT A SHOW.

why do we need dorky programs and christmas pageants and entertaining clips? if i wanted entertainment, i would turn on my tv! i am SO churched out. can't we ever just put a stop to the noise? can't church just be a place for believers to come and hear from God? why is it such a show? and why are there 23 fake plants on that stage?

are they decorating for me? are they decorating for God?
i am SURE that their motives for these things are good. but the atmosphere it produces is one where i am extremely uncomfortable. 'SOMEBODY SHOUT 'TIMETABLE!''
'turn to your neighbor and give them your best 'unripened fruit' face!'

why? who are you trying to impress? do me a favor and save your Christianese. save your speeches. keep your voice at conversational volume and if you have something to say. just say it normally and let the power be in what God is doing. not in some emotionally manipulative showy performance.

i think i am too intelligent for a typical sunday service. i see right through everything. and unless it's the power and the presence of God....i just cannot be pleased.
Click to expand...

I think it's neat that a young person is more interested in the things of God than the corporate church agenda. I would encourage you to visit smaller churches and perhaps investigate other denominations. Keeping in mind... the building and form of service is not the body... it is just a building.
 
K

kenisyes

Guest
#4
#4
ijustwanttheTruth said:
why can't a group of believers merely come together and read from the word and each speak what they hear the spirit of God saying?

in a room that small? we wouldn't even need a sound system. we would be heard just speaking normally.
Click to expand...
We can and we do. Every week. And everyone who does is growing in Jesus by leaps and bounds. Find people who are sincere like you, and try it. You'll find Heb. 10:25 and I Cor. 12-14 in due course, and learn how to use it.
 
J

jb

Senior Member
#5
Feb 27, 2010
4,940
589
113
#5
On quite a few occasions I have attended different churches (mainline denominations/independant (pentecostal)) and there has been little or no Presence of God, quite often a lot of noise but NO Presence and I must admit it is really disappointing (also, any message preached in these Churches is generally anything but edifying), because I come out of the meeting/service spiritually drained, instead of feeling spiritually energised by God, the Holy Spirit...

When a Church experiences this kind of drought of God's Presence it will (generally) always be because the Christians in that Church are prayerless...

I don't bother going back to such Churches.

Yahweh Shalom
 
Stephen63

Stephen63

Banned
#6
Aug 15, 2009
9,745
179
0
#6
jb said:
On quite a few occasions I have attended different churches (mainline denominations/independant (pentecostal)) and there has been little or no Presence of God, quite often a lot of noise but NO Presence and I must admit it is really disappointing (also, any message preached in these Churches is generally anything but edifying), because I come out of the meeting/service spiritually drained, instead of feeling spiritually energised by God, the Holy Spirit...

When a Church experiences this kind of drought of God's Presence it will (generally) always be because the Christians in that Church are prayerless...

I don't bother going back to such Churches.

Yahweh Shalom
Click to expand...
I can tell you that as a pastor of the Pentecostal church myself, I see exactly what you're saying. It seems as though the anointing is drying up, the presence of God is almost nonexistent, and it's being replaced with rock concert praise and worship and a sermon by a man who got his notes on the Internet. Power is being replaced by eloquence and professionalism. Anointing is being replaced by loudness and arrogance. Shining for Jesus is being replaced by bragging on our church/denomination/beliefs.
I believe what we are witnessing is the end times prophecy of the falling away of the church in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 . When we get to the place where our revival services are like this, just how close are we?
 
ijustwanttheTruth

ijustwanttheTruth

Senior Member
#7
Sep 28, 2011
823
8
18
#7
it's true. i think the church is sleeping and we are complacent. and that the end is near.
i just want it to be a simple service where honest people stop playing games and wait quietly for God to show up. i don't want to go to church anymore as it is. it is very depressing.

<3 and loud. did i mention loud? it's all too loud.
 
Searching4Truth

Searching4Truth

Senior Member
#8
Jul 25, 2012
1,904
24
0
#8
Why don't you start a church and show them how it's done?
 
ijustwanttheTruth

ijustwanttheTruth

Senior Member
#9
Sep 28, 2011
823
8
18
#9
i should. (my message is too short and must contain at least 10 characters)
 
1

1still_waters

Guest
#10
#10
It seems like a big show, because a good show is what gets people in the seats, and keeps them in the seats.

If you want to fill the seats with people, then you fill them with a show.
If you want people filled with God, then you toss the show away, and fill them with God, as you care NOTHING about the amount of folks in the seats.

It ultimately comes down to the priorities of the church.
 
S

simplyme_bekah

Guest
#11
#11
you know don't let the devils influence among the children of God keep you out of church hon. Remember he walks around looking to devour. remember that we are all only just human. I haven't found a church and I know that I am missing so much good fellowship and worship. There are always problems in life no matter where you are at but I truly believe with all of my heart that if God is there then it is worth every struggle that must be overcome. Don't let the devil lead you astray. The good far outweigh the bad in a church. Feel the truth of those words in your soul.
 
T

Trax

Guest
#13
#13
ijustwanttheTruth said:
Is it just me? or are the majority of churches nowadays just a big show.

i think i know why unbelievers hate church. i think it all seems really phoney. it seems like a bunch of people performing. it's a formula. the music and the standing and the clapping and the sitting down and the skit and the sermon. it's all the same. where's the power in it?

i went to church this week for the first time in a long time. i have been to so many churches in my life and maybe i'm a little bit on the jaded side. but. here are some of my observations from this service:

the worship is LOUD.
thoughts: ok. why does the music have to be deafening to be powerful? why do we need the drums and the electric guitars and the volume all the way up? Does not God's presence supersede the excitement of a rock concert? why do we need music behind a prayer to emphasize it? can't we ever just shut up and let God show up?

observation number 2. the pastor is loud.
why do so many men feel the need to shout in order for their point to be heard? why do we hire some man and pay him every week in tithes to come up with some sort of inspirational speech? why can't a group of believers merely come together and read from the word and each speak what they hear the spirit of God saying?

in a room that small? we wouldn't even need a sound system. we would be heard just speaking normally. but no. they plug in the microphone and turn up the volume so loud. why?!

and people. PLEASE. church is not a place for your cell phones. turn them off. stop filming in the middle of worship! this is not a video for you to share on fb. this is supposed to be a private relational moment between creator God and His beloved ones. filming is completely inappropriate unless there is some preexisting media outlet that has been agreed upon to share with the world. THIS. IS NOT A SHOW.

why do we need dorky programs and christmas pageants and entertaining clips? if i wanted entertainment, i would turn on my tv! i am SO churched out. can't we ever just put a stop to the noise? can't church just be a place for believers to come and hear from God? why is it such a show? and why are there 23 fake plants on that stage?

are they decorating for me? are they decorating for God?
i am SURE that their motives for these things are good. but the atmosphere it produces is one where i am extremely uncomfortable. 'SOMEBODY SHOUT 'TIMETABLE!''
'turn to your neighbor and give them your best 'unripened fruit' face!'

why? who are you trying to impress? do me a favor and save your Christianese. save your speeches. keep your voice at conversational volume and if you have something to say. just say it normally and let the power be in what God is doing. not in some emotionally manipulative showy performance.

i think i am too intelligent for a typical sunday service. i see right through everything. and unless it's the power and the presence of God....i just cannot be pleased.
Click to expand...

Did Jesus save you to be served or to serve? You are not going to answer for what anyone does, but
yourself. First thing, you don't know their heart. Are they doing anything sinful or are they doing
things that goes against your opinion? Are they preaching Christ and the Bible or just a feel
good philosophy? Now, my advice to you is be careful. If you got a problem with
Christ church, you got a problem with Him. Now, there are a lot of "so-called" assemblies, that are
not of God, and people need to stay away from it. Musical instruments, loud talk, pageants,
decorations, it reads like your opinion is getting rubbed the wrong way rather than it not being
Biblical. In fact, musical instruments, getting loud, singing loud, is how praise is done. Worship
is quiet, praise is loud.

Psa 149:1-5 Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of
saints. (2) Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. (3) Let
them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. (4) For
the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. (5) Let the saints be
joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.

Psa 150:1-6 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
(2) Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. (3) Praise him with
the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. (4) Praise him with the timbrel and
dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. (5) Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise
him upon the high sounding cymbals. (6) Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye
the LORD.

If what they preach is from the Bible and preach Christ Jesus, and you don't like it that loud, find
a more quiet atmosphere, that preaches from the Bible and preaches Christ. As far as the place you described, they sound like that know how to praise God.
 
Stephen63

Stephen63

Banned
#15
Aug 15, 2009
9,745
179
0
#15
ijustwanttheTruth said:
no. church is clearly not the place for me.
Click to expand...
Hebrews 10:22-2522 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

There is so much more to church than praise and worship and a sermon. Verse 25 tells us not to forsake going to church. Why? Most of the answers are here in these verses. God made us His church, the body of Christ. Because we are His body, each part of the body needs the other in order to function. For instance, if we are to provoke our brothers and sisters on to love and good works, we have to be where they're at. That is our responsibility as a Christian. God expects that. We have to assemble together so that we can exhort one another. And by the way, while some believe it, CC chat is not a church service. As wonderful as the people are here, not a single one of them can be right by your side when you need a shoulder to lean on. Not only that, but there's others that may need your shoulder. So, yeah, it is the place for you.
 
J

Jordache

Guest
#16
#16
Reading this is a mite bit disturbing. Why do we place such a distinction on what is praise and what is worship? Why do we judge something as nit from God because its a style we're;familiar with? Its not about the volume of the music or the sermon. The heart is judged. I am most comfortable with very intimate rock style worship that is loud but not excessively. But in a setting where they worship with loud music, I'm for it. I do worship in the main service. I lead in a youth group. The youth will make your chest vibrate. But as Christians we worship in spirit and truth... not at anything above or below a certain number of decibles, not when the solos are great or horrible, and not when the musical style is to our liking. I certainly agree that Christianity has become commercialized, but its also bout you and God . God can show up in any sermon or worship set he chooses. Either learn to worship in something you aren't fond of, or move on.
 
ijustwanttheTruth

ijustwanttheTruth

Senior Member
#17
Sep 28, 2011
823
8
18
#17
i'm not judging it based on style. i'm saying. there's a lot of noise and preset programs. and not a lot of God. it's a dumbed down spoon-fed gospel for the masses. and it's lacking power, presence, and significance. that's all i'm saying. i'm just poking a finger at what church has become. which is a concert.
 
Last edited:
Searching4Truth

Searching4Truth

Senior Member
#18
Jul 25, 2012
1,904
24
0
#18
Stop trying to explain yourself and do something about it.
 
ijustwanttheTruth

ijustwanttheTruth

Senior Member
#19
Sep 28, 2011
823
8
18
#19
right now? i honestly don't think there is anything for me to do besides stay at home and listen to sermons on my computer.
 
J

Jordache

Guest
#20
#20
Sermons on your computer is not churchyard. We were called to community not just sermons. To sit at your computer is to forsake assembly.
 
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