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Every now and again as I am flipping through my TV stations I come across those Christian stations. Being a black man I often stop at this station called The Word Network, as it promotes black Christian programs. Now I know that no other people on earth can do church better than black people, as we are generally very charismatic and flashy. Sitting here watching some of these shows, I notice a strong "worldly" influence upon what I am watching.
I was always led to believe the church was to be the leader and the world the follower. What I see instead is a desperate [black] church trying to keep up with the world and attract a younger generation. I see Christian rap videos with just about all the same elements that I see in, say, gangster rap. The lyrics are very neutral and left to open interpretation. In these videos are the latest dance moves, girls dressed in skimpy clothing and guys "blinged" out riding around in nice cars.
Then there are the ministers. What I often see is a business seminar with lots of entertainment leading up to the speaker. There are ministers working up sweat doing a lot of yelling and saying very little to a crowd feeding off of his emotion. They are often decked down in the finest threads and the messages are often about money and well-being and how to get God to "bless" you with both. A pan of the audience usually shows lots of women dressed to the hilt which I suspect is one of the reasons Sunday morning is looked forward to.
I've observed the white church also, notably the mega churches. They might still be a little more reserved than the black churches in their style of worship, but a little eye-opening nonetheless. Again I see an attempt to keep up with the world around it with a strong direction toward anything that will either draw or keep young people. Rock of Ages on a pipe organ is not going to cut it. It has to be pimped up. On the one side you have a Benny Hinn in white, fine suits and carefully prepared hair and on the other you have some guy in Lakeland, Florida with piercing all over the place and a walking canvas of tatoos.
Yes I know, win the lost at all cost they tell me but looks like a desperate attempt to make the church look more like the world so that the line is blurred enough that potential converts won't recognize a difference.
Yes I know, win the lost at all cost they tell me but looks like a desperate attempt to make the church look more like the world so that the line is blurred enough that potential converts won't recognize a difference.
I agree. You made some good points. I don't know that many who are doing this are even aware of what is going on. God bless.
Very nice post when you talk about the megachurches and their pastors. When worship becomes entertainment then the focus is moved from praising God to pleasing the "audience." If I want hip hop music, I'll listen to real hip hop. If I want rock music, I'll listen to real rock music. If I want theater, I'll go to a real theater, etc. Worship, in my view, is about Word and Sacrament not sappy praise songs and mind numbing self help sermons.
This time, your observations are (unfortunately) right on, yydanay! You seem to have a good idea what makes up the "world", what makes up a "Christian" and how many people attempt to combine the two.. when in fact this is a losing battle. You can't go forwards and backwards at the same time.
Every now and again as I am flipping through my TV stations I come across those Christian stations. Being a black man I often stop at this station called The Word Network, as it promotes black Christian programs. Now I know that no other people on earth can do church better than black people, as we are generally very charismatic and flashy. Sitting here watching some of these shows, I notice a strong "worldly" influence upon what I am watching.
I was always led to believe the church was to be the leader and the world the follower. What I see instead is a desperate [black] church trying to keep up with the world and attract a younger generation. I see Christian rap videos with just about all the same elements that I see in, say, gangster rap. The lyrics are very neutral and left to open interpretation. In these videos are the latest dance moves, girls dressed in skimpy clothing and guys "blinged" out riding around in nice cars.
Then there are the ministers. What I often see is a business seminar with lots of entertainment leading up to the speaker. There are ministers working up sweat doing a lot of yelling and saying very little to a crowd feeding off of his emotion. They are often decked down in the finest threads and the messages are often about money and well-being and how to get God to "bless" you with both. A pan of the audience usually shows lots of women dressed to the hilt which I suspect is one of the reasons Sunday morning is looked forward to.
I've observed the white church also, notably the mega churches. They might still be a little more reserved than the black churches in their style of worship, but a little eye-opening nonetheless. Again I see an attempt to keep up with the world around it with a strong direction toward anything that will either draw or keep young people. Rock of Ages on a pipe organ is not going to cut it. It has to be pimped up. On the one side you have a Benny Hinn in white, fine suits and carefully prepared hair and on the other you have some guy in Lakeland, Florida with piercing all over the place and a walking canvas of tatoos.
Yes I know, win the lost at all cost they tell me but looks like a desperate attempt to make the church look more like the world so that the line is blurred enough that potential converts won't recognize a difference.
Your thoughts?
Well, you have a point. But the flip side of this is........the FLDS Texas types with no jewelry, no make-up, antique clothes, terrible controling treatment of women and children, living like there are no modern conveniences and think all of the other "people" of the world are evil.
Many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and do many wonderful works etc. ........................and I will say to them, be gone from me, I never knew you, ye that worketh iniquity.
If you love God, you keep His commandments, if you don't.
You become a televangelist droid and lead the masses astray, scatter the sheep, and sell doves.
QUOTE=yydanay515;4497686]Every now and again as I am flipping through my TV stations I come across those Christian stations. Being a black man I often stop at this station called The Word Network, as it promotes black Christian programs. Now I know that no other people on earth can do church better than black people, as we are generally very charismatic and flashy. Sitting here watching some of these shows, I notice a strong "worldly" influence upon what I am watching.
I was always led to believe the church was to be the leader and the world the follower. What I see instead is a desperate [black] church trying to keep up with the world and attract a younger generation. I see Christian rap videos with just about all the same elements that I see in, say, gangster rap. The lyrics are very neutral and left to open interpretation. In these videos are the latest dance moves, girls dressed in skimpy clothing and guys "blinged" out riding around in nice cars.
Then there are the ministers. What I often see is a business seminar with lots of entertainment leading up to the speaker. There are ministers working up sweat doing a lot of yelling and saying very little to a crowd feeding off of his emotion. They are often decked down in the finest threads and the messages are often about money and well-being and how to get God to "bless" you with both. A pan of the audience usually shows lots of women dressed to the hilt which I suspect is one of the reasons Sunday morning is looked forward to.
I've observed the white church also, notably the mega churches. They might still be a little more reserved than the black churches in their style of worship, but a little eye-opening nonetheless. Again I see an attempt to keep up with the world around it with a strong direction toward anything that will either draw or keep young people. Rock of Ages on a pipe organ is not going to cut it. It has to be pimped up. On the one side you have a Benny Hinn in white, fine suits and carefully prepared hair and on the other you have some guy in Lakeland, Florida with piercing all over the place and a walking canvas of tatoos.
Yes I know, win the lost at all cost they tell me but looks like a desperate attempt to make the church look more like the world so that the line is blurred enough that potential converts won't recognize a difference.
Your thoughts?
[/quote]
"Be Ye Holy, for I am Holy" says the Lord..
Anything else is just extra....................
It should be about Jesus, not about outward appearances and emotions.
It's hard to be salt and light to a world that's looking for something genuine
Another important part if Love",, if the church does not have this no matter what the ethnic background is; it's not worth getting dressed and going.
As far as television ministry, if it does not line up with the word of God;
It's just another social event.
You may want to pray for them, instead...
My $.02 cents
God Bless You
Its all window dressing.........I went to my aunts mega church and it was all so perfect. The sermon sounded right, the ushers were little ready soilders, The prayer teams all spiffed and ready for your needs, the music on key.......I never felt so empty and sad in my life.
I think the mega churches lose some of the uniqueness of worship in different parts of the country. My husband and I went to Florida last year and we were walking down the hall and heard some music we play at church. We stood outside the meeting room enjoying the music. Some people came out and invited us in and it was a black church "rocking on". We had the best time and it was so great to see people praising the Lord and enjoying their worship. Our group is certainly not uptight but many "white" churches seem to care more what they wear then really praising the Lord.
Some of the mega-churches have become big business. I'm sure tired of prosperity preaching..."God wants you to be rich" Yuk! I don't think it is a good witness for them to have car after car and spend money without a care in the world, when there are so many needs in this world. God wants us to look outside of church and care for those in need. We need to be a witness and light in this fallen world.
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You seem to have a good idea what makes up the "world", what makes up a "Christian" and how many people attempt to combine the two.. when in fact this is a losing battle. You can't go forwards and backwards at the same time.
Easy
Our group is certainly not uptight but many "white" churches seem to care more what they wear then really praising the Lord. 
