What happen....

[kurt73]

Yesterday we had our men's bible study and the subject came up "what happen to the simple message"? "Why is it that everyone has to make this so difficult"?

It really does seem like churches are trying to make things difficult, come up with this magicial message, have the best entertainment, etc. In the past some of the greatest movement in the world was done simple, preaching the simple meesage, praying the simple prayers, etc so why are we making things difficult?

Just curious on what you think....

[RamboPreacher]

it's still simple. but in our current culture, people know more stuff than ever before. for the most part, people don't just want to be told to do this or that, they want to know why. to say because "it's in the Bible", or because my pastor or teacher told me - is not good enough.

Fortunately, God's word is sufficient.

[Dr. Ron]

I agree that while men try to complicate the issue, the message is still the same.

We compete with a different world today than we did 30 years ago.....even 10 years ago. We no longer use "flannel graphs in Sunday School....we have cds, and dvds and all the gadgets .....why? Because that is what kids are accustomed to at home.

Adults are bombarded every day with media messages, music, power point,
.....you name it we use it.....

They are not going someplace to hold a hymnal and sing on of the 21 songs everyone knows out of the 325 in the book It requires different strategy to reach people......then the "simple message" can be preached.

We have to face facts......and there they are......in our faces.

[dolfan]

Yesterday's news coverage locally in newspapers and TV focused on a church in Good Hope, Alabama ---- a rural community to say the least ----which has a billboard on I65 (that I saw on Tuesday) advertising a sermon series called "Great Sex". Oh, boy. The embarassed faces, the angry ones, the supportive ones all on the news, their thoughts all in the papers. Bottom line is that everyone is on a quest for the cutting edge, the newest frontiers. That would be a good thing, I suppose, wouldn't you? At the same time, I understand and echo the sentiments of one father who says he doesn't want to have to explain that billboard to his 8 year old. There are boundaries. Not merely of propriety, but of common sense. There's nothing new under the sun. People have been sexually active since the start of all this, right? And, that sort of deep-down at-the-crux of it all thinking, that sense of "y'know, we already know this" is something that needs to be recognized as these tools of "church growth" are employed in our culture. It isn't in order to be reserved, but it is so that the order of what is good is revealed fully and not obscured by the delivery of the message. Too much stuff is foggy. Pare it back, simplify. The extent of that is a local call. But, surely, there can be a recognition that more than just enough is a drain and not a boost.

[JohnDB]

2Ti 3:1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
2Ti 3:2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,
2Ti 3:4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—
2Ti 3:5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
2Ti 3:6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires,
2Ti 3:7 always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.

This scripture is fulfilled. The power of the Gospel is faith mixed with love.

People know scripture and things like never before. Access to the information is readily available to any who seek answers either by being spoon fed by someone who has done their research (as well as those who only claim to have been thorough) or doing their own research...it is all available.

But...they don't behave in a manner that is consistant with believing any of it. They seem to know it but don't do anything with what they know. I know better than to touch a red hot stove eye because I know that I will get burnt. (the immediate results of my actions have taught me a lesson)

Biblical truth is something that doesn't lend itself to immediate results...and so people don't have the kind of faith that it takes to immediately act upon it. Or people take the information as something to use to gain power, prestige, and position over someone else. (begin to have a form of self-righteousness due to their "knowledge")

This has been true for ages...and it is getting worse.

Pastors meanwhile, are made responsible for attendance and "conversions" and baptism numbers. So they do all that they know or have been suggested to do in order to have the most entertaining services possible. They (masters at keeping their jobs) do whatever it takes to keep people returning to the pews and possibly bringing friends along with them (as well as donations). From time to time they tell the people that they can't be everywhere at one time and for the laity to do some witnessing...which usually only gets them to invite people to their church...so they can see the production. Many large churches have hired professional choreographers to stage their services and manage who does what when, where, and how...down to the music selection itself.

Things have gotten so far from the principle of synagogue...I don't think they ever will return.

[kurt73]

I agree with everyone response. You all have great points. What I see a lot is churches/pastor have great programs, events, etc but slowly forget about the principle or biblical teachings. Maybe it is fear they may lose the poeple they are getting.