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This - this is my critical look at the modern church concept. If you think that what I'm about to say will offend you - then don't read:
On Easter Sunday I went to New Life Church with my sister and her husband. We have several kids between us - my four, her three.
Upon arrival - we had to check the children in. Meaning - there was a reception area with a desk, the receptionist used a computer to log our children into the system, print off a name tag, and give the parents a 'pick up ID tag' - when service is over and you collect your kids they verify your ID tag before they let your children go with you.
Then, the young children were separated and sent to their own service in another building (hence the need for the ID tags).
In the next room - I suppose we could call this the foyer - there was a coffee shop called 'The Blends' - you could buy breakfast/coffee/etc if you wanted to.
The next room was the chapel - in this particular church it was a converted warehouse (use to be a furniture depot). There was a stage set up with a series of projectors and the equipment for a live band to perform. There was an array of cushioned foldable seats for pews.
Service:
Consisted of watching a testimonial video, first, with people from the region who converted to the church.
Followed by several modern songs performed by the live band - with 'sing a long' words via projector.
Then there was a brief sermon during which the minister preached a small bit from the bible, made jokes about traditional church and other denominations.
The band performed while they did silent prayer.
A small 'send off' message and then it was over.
Everyone was encouraged to leave quickly so the next service could begin soon after.
So - my criticism comes as this:
The commercialism:
The coffee shop is for church profit. Other traditional churches, if they provide these things, tend to have a kitchen of sorts with free coffee that the members provide, maybe food of some sort in a small measure. It's a complimentary thing that goes into the communal sense of the church itself.
The band, itself, produces music albums - which you can buy either in the church or at iTunes.
The service conveyor belt - just before service began at 10:00 - there was another service at 9:00. Following the end of the 10:00 service was another at 11:00. . . Three church services back to back with five-minutes in between for the service members to 'clear out, move on' so there would be new for the next round.
Aside that - each service is mass-planned. In the region there are several churches of this type. A central 'office' produces the 'outline' for the service, the basic concept and focus of the sermon, and the entertainment components. The minister then adds his personal touch to the sermon so long as he stays within the guidelines set.
My critical view: There is little worship and connection in a church of this nature - it's designed to satisfy one's need to 'plug in once a week' rather than to 'get together and discuss, explore and expand religious knowledge' - In the desire for church-profit, to be entertained, the church has abandoned traditional concepts without the want to tend to the true religious needs of the followers.
What disturbed me most was the commercialism - A coffee shop, I"m sure the profit went all to the church - and music produced by the church itself? What was it that Jesus said about using his place of worship for profit?
Oh yes - he said this:
Mathew 21:12-13:
On Easter Sunday I went to New Life Church with my sister and her husband. We have several kids between us - my four, her three.
Upon arrival - we had to check the children in. Meaning - there was a reception area with a desk, the receptionist used a computer to log our children into the system, print off a name tag, and give the parents a 'pick up ID tag' - when service is over and you collect your kids they verify your ID tag before they let your children go with you.
Then, the young children were separated and sent to their own service in another building (hence the need for the ID tags).
In the next room - I suppose we could call this the foyer - there was a coffee shop called 'The Blends' - you could buy breakfast/coffee/etc if you wanted to.
The next room was the chapel - in this particular church it was a converted warehouse (use to be a furniture depot). There was a stage set up with a series of projectors and the equipment for a live band to perform. There was an array of cushioned foldable seats for pews.
Service:
Consisted of watching a testimonial video, first, with people from the region who converted to the church.
Followed by several modern songs performed by the live band - with 'sing a long' words via projector.
Then there was a brief sermon during which the minister preached a small bit from the bible, made jokes about traditional church and other denominations.
The band performed while they did silent prayer.
A small 'send off' message and then it was over.
Everyone was encouraged to leave quickly so the next service could begin soon after.
So - my criticism comes as this:
The commercialism:
The coffee shop is for church profit. Other traditional churches, if they provide these things, tend to have a kitchen of sorts with free coffee that the members provide, maybe food of some sort in a small measure. It's a complimentary thing that goes into the communal sense of the church itself.
The band, itself, produces music albums - which you can buy either in the church or at iTunes.
The service conveyor belt - just before service began at 10:00 - there was another service at 9:00. Following the end of the 10:00 service was another at 11:00. . . Three church services back to back with five-minutes in between for the service members to 'clear out, move on' so there would be new for the next round.
Aside that - each service is mass-planned. In the region there are several churches of this type. A central 'office' produces the 'outline' for the service, the basic concept and focus of the sermon, and the entertainment components. The minister then adds his personal touch to the sermon so long as he stays within the guidelines set.
My critical view: There is little worship and connection in a church of this nature - it's designed to satisfy one's need to 'plug in once a week' rather than to 'get together and discuss, explore and expand religious knowledge' - In the desire for church-profit, to be entertained, the church has abandoned traditional concepts without the want to tend to the true religious needs of the followers.
What disturbed me most was the commercialism - A coffee shop, I"m sure the profit went all to the church - and music produced by the church itself? What was it that Jesus said about using his place of worship for profit?
Oh yes - he said this:
Mathew 21:12-13:
12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”
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