Back in Jesus’ time he used stories (parables) to preach to the people, because that’s what they would listen to and it helped them to understand the message.

I think when we share it’s important that we go down to their level of understanding (and most of the time this will involve their interests or what they do), rather than sticking to our ‘holy thy art’ language. (Taking it to the extreme here to convey my point.)

“Most Christians are happier said than done”.

We always hold back on the joy factor in Church like it’s such a big sin to let it out. Of course we get that being in God’s presence, but God uses the music and etc. to make it fun or etertaining even. I believe God gave the music for instance so people wouldn’t be so uptight and be more relaxed when coming to Him.

So what’s wrong with a Church being etertaining? It would only be wrong if it had no difference with the world’s entertainment and that our message was not getting across. We just need to stay true to our calling. I myself backslid out of Church years ago because it simply bored me to death. I thought it was hypocrisy that these Christians were telling me there was real joy in being one but found myself asking “oh yeah, where?” when inside the Church.

I’m in the Philippines btw. and here, it’s a real battle to combat dead worship or dry and boring services. Everyone seems to ignore or not admit that it’s there or they just try and live with it. Well I say no to that. At my Church, we get stoned alot for using entertainment. How do we fight this deadness if we’re not gonna be more etertaining? When we leaders do what we do at our church youth service(make noise, jump, get holy crazy etc.), it’s not just because we want to entertain the young people, but we ourselves are finding it etertaining to us so that’s why we’re like that.I think a good lesson I saw was that you don’t just do it for them(those you’re reaching out to) but you do it also for yourself, I mean like how you gonna etertain them if you’re not happy yourself? So you’re suppose to get some sort of kick out of it too without being too selfish bout it. I also figured, at least we’d be more convincing when we say there is joy in God’s presence when we look like it. I realy found that people find it more etertaining seeing something real.

I hope whatever I shared made sense because theres sure alot of things I’ve got to say about the matter. I’ll just end by saying I totally agree Ptr. Craig. It shouldn’t matter, but it sure really does look like it.

I really don’t have a problem with the church designing the services to be entertaining, but what is the driving reason behind doing so? Is it because of a perceived competition with, say, the golf course?

I really don’t think we are in competition with anything…well, maybe with our own desires to be good at what we do. I don’t see the golf course as competition, I see it as a mission field. Rather than try to get people to come in off of the golf course with clever marketing tricks and entertainment, why not do what Jesus commissioned us to do and go to the golf course and spread the good news? Better yet, why not teach our people to do the the same?

I guess that it is, possibly, a matter of perspective. I simply don’t see the golf course, or anything else for that matter, as competition for the church. I see these things as a mission field, our mission field. Let’s go and make disciples first, then we can worry about their fellowship and whatnot.

Jesus told parables. Did he do this to be all mysterious? No, he did it because he knew people would listen to stories better than they would straight teaching.

The thing that drew me in and addicted me is the fact that I get the unvarnished and sometimes Ugly truth..(by Ugly I mean I’m a sinner in desperate need of a savior). The messages are delivered in a way that I can understand, absorb and use to make changes.

Fasting as an example. Chris did a fantastic job of helping me understand the purposes of Fasting. I’ve been able to absorb and understand more in the 2 years I’ve been a member than any other time in my life.

I think deep down people know there’s a void in their lives and it’s a Christ shaped void… keep giving them the information they need about that void and they’ll keep wanting more information.

That’s where it is absolutely critical to have leaders on both sides of the lights who consistently point people to Christ and take the focus off themselves. It only takes one “atta boy” for some people to puff up and become proud.

It’s not about entertaining or not entertaining…Jesus entertained with parables and creative teaching. But, Jesus always pointed people back to His heavenly Father. So, the real issue is, are our “entertainers” in the local church pointing people back to the heavenly Father? Sadly, there are way too many church leaders today who are enjoying their own huge success and not giving credit where credit is due.

It’s about a church in the UK that is doing church in a nightclub. People attending are free to drink and eat while the service runs. The Pastor is saying it’s a way to connect with young people in todays world and in current culture. Have a read of the article to get a better description.

Personally, I’m not sure about the whole drinking thing while doing church - not that I have a problem with having a beer. I just think that in today’s society where there are major alcohol problems - ruining lives, families and friends, I wouldn’t want to encourage more of it.

Doing church in a nightclub - sounds interesting - not sure how it would work but sounds interesting! I know of a lot of young adult ministries that go to clubs simply to connect with other young adults, build a relationship with them and hopefully see them connect to God.

Is this entertainment gone to far? Or is it fine? Where do you draw the line? What are your thoughts?

Chris

Agape,
steve
ps: Don’t look now Craig, but you are becoming quite the blogging guru! I’m impressed, brother! :)

The people here in Nashville, TN are accustomed to the most excellent choices avalable for entertainment, hobbies and activities. If we the church completely ignore the expectations people have grown accustomed to we are setting ourselves up to speak to a very empty crowd. I know you, and many of us, believe that the extracurriculars won’t save this generation, but it may gain their attention until they hear the saving Grace that will.

Thanks Brother

Bryan

I find it amusing that there is an imaginary boring vs. entertainment scale that exists in the minds of some Church members. I also find it amusing that within this imaginary scale there are appropriate and inappropriate man made zones in which Churches apparently have the right and authority to operate.

All of us have a fleshly desire to be comfortable. I think we all have a tendency, at times, to force our own agendas on those around us for our own self protecting purposes.

It has been my experience that the majority of criticisms against entertainment in the church have to due with one’s own personal comfort zones. It rarely has much to do with the target audience…

Quite frankly I think that the only people that would have a problem with entertainment in the church are those whose salvation is already secure. Those who aren’t following Christ wouldn’t have a problem with it because they haven’t been properly schooled by church folk that it’s a bad thing.

Here is what he said…

Churches not only have to compete against other churches, they also have to compete with the myriad of other activities that people could be engaging in (instead of going to church).

People are looking for an experience, they want to feel good about where they are and what they are doing and who they are doing it with. When the event is over, they want to have positive reflections about it. This is true about going to church, going out to dinner, hanging with friends, or participating in a social group. If it isn’t fun, interesting or personally enriching or if it doesn’t “feel right”, most people won’t continue the activity.

The Holy Spirit works through people also to compel others to become Christ followers. When we fail to recognize what is going on around us (most churches do), we lose out to more interesting and exciting things people choose to do.

Dave — it was Jim Rayburn who said, “It’s a sin to bore a kid with the Gospel”. Rayburn was the founder of Young Life.

19Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

But by our standards today, some would say, “What he(Jesus) needed to do back then was to rent out the Colosseum, hire a few gladiators, put on a show (aka ‘Medival Times’) then preach the Gospel. Wouldn’t that reach more people??????? Think of the crowds he could draw on a Saturday night!!! (and if only 1 were saved it would be worth it)

Think about it.

Jesus didn’t do that. All he had was the truth. And he didn’t go to Monster.com to get the best and brightest marketing people to run his campaign either. He picked out fishermen, nobodys and even one who was PERSECUTING his own message. These people did not only become loyal, they DIED for his truth. We have to be very careful when we doubt God’s power to bring people to himself through the WORD alone.

Think about it…

If a church service is boring, then something is missing. Let me tell you this: when God shows up, it’s never, ever boring.

Right on!!