Froth and Bubble.

[Gideon300]

My wife and I like to take day trips every now and again. We have our favourite cafes. We try new places from time to time. Usually, we have hot chocolate or cappuccino. They always appear to be full.

Sometimes, the liquid level is much lower than I expect. I feel a little ripped off, but I don't say anything. I'm more inclined to vote with my feet.

I have watched so called worship videos. Vast crowds watching a highly polished band, enthusiastic singers who sing God's praises - supposedly. Too often, it is hyped up emotion. It is a performance designed to make the crowd feel good dressed in religious terminology. The words are repetitive, and lack any real spiritual content. Singing the same words over and over again is "vain repetition". (Matthew 6:7)

It reminds me of being ripped off by the cafe Barista. True worship is the ultimate expression of love for God and appreciation for who He is. God delights in us because worship is an expression of faith and without faith it is impossible to please God. What does God see when He looks past the froth? In too many instances, not much at all.

 

[Seeker47]

My wife and I like to take day trips every now and again. We have our favourite cafes. We try new places from time to time. Usually, we have hot chocolate or cappuccino. They always appear to be full.

Sometimes, the liquid level is much lower than I expect. I feel a little ripped off, but I don't say anything. I'm more inclined to vote with my feet.

I have watched so called worship videos. Vast crowds watching a highly polished band, enthusiastic singers who sing God's praises - supposedly. Too often, it is hyped up emotion. It is a performance designed to make the crowd feel good dressed in religious terminology. The words are repetitive, and lack any real spiritual content. Singing the same words over and over again is "vain repetition". (Matthew 6:7)

It reminds me of being ripped off by the cafe Barista. True worship is the ultimate expression of love for God and appreciation for who He is. God delights in us because worship is an expression of faith and without faith it is impossible to please God. What does God see when He looks past the froth? In too many instances, not much at all.

Do you think the church is only giving the crowd what they want, a watered down Christianity, lots of hope with minimal truth?

I believe music's forte is drawing an emotional response. That's not wrong but is often a dead end. A kingdom won't stand on that.

 

[Lanolin]

I'd feel odd if I knew someone was videoing me worshipping.
I wouldn't want anyone doing that it just feels disrespectful to God. He's the one that is watching us not the cameraman/person.

Why would you want to watch others worship on video anyway?

As for hot chocolate or cappucino, well baristas are trained to froth up the milk in those. I think you can ask for a dark chocolate with no froth or an espresso.

Children can drink something called a 'fluffy' which is just frothed milk.

Really what you need is not to drink milk but to eat solid food, or cheese. Or rry a raw cocoa bean! Or eating coffee grounds. Or maybe just a block of chocolate, thats solid and you need to bite into. So much more satisfying than the powdered watered down version but sometimes you just want something easy. Maybe order a fudge or chocolate milk shake next time.
Don't order anything with ice like a frappe. Those are tasteless and is just crushed up ice.

 

[Gideon300]

Do you think the church is only giving the crowd what they want, a watered down Christianity, lots of hope with minimal truth?

I believe music's forte is drawing an emotional response. That's not wrong but is often a dead end. A kingdom won't stand on that.

Exactly. I play guitar and I know something of music's power. I led a small group many years ago. Some of the believers had come out of Satanism and demon worship. Heavy stuff. One had the ability to see demons. He said that he saw a demon when I was speaking. it left when we began singing. I was reminded of David and Saul, and the effect singing had on the evil spirit that troubled Saul when David sang. I did not know much about spiritual warfare in those days.

Music is also potentially dangerous. It fires up emotion that many mistake for a spiritual experience. I was shocked by the influence of music at one church I attended. I was a member and youth leader for 5 years. The Pastor described it as the "singing church". It was full Pentecostal. Yet it seemed as carnal as the Corinthian church, with much the same problems. For example, people singing "this is the day that the Lord has made and then bitching about the weather."

Many assemblies have replaced preaching truth with a search for experiences. It's like a diet of ice cream and donuts. It's tasty, but has little nourishment.

 

[Lanolin]

I went to a church once that played trance/house music as worship. That freaked me out.

I was invited and my hosts thought it was normal. They were chanting and I thought I was going mad because of the constant repetitions.

But... if you don't like the music in some churches, you can always try a different one unless you live in a small town and there's only ONE church.

I don't see any benefit in railing against churches that do this as they are not likely to change if you not on their church board or anything like that.

 

[Gideon300]

I went to a church once that played trance/house music as worship. That freaked me out.

I was invited and my hosts thought it was normal. They were chanting and I thought I was going mad because of the constant repetitions.

But... if you don't like the music in some churches, you can always try a different one unless you live in a small town and there's only ONE church.

I don't see any benefit in railing against churches that do this as they are not likely to change if you not on their church board or anything like that.

Yes, vote with your feet, unless you can speak to the pastor.​