Is anybody else a little weary of this...?

[Guest]

I agree, Brody. I don't discount every new thing that is out there. But I got a "Vineyard" magazine, telling what is on sale and what not. There were music CD covers in there...I remember one of them was a picture of a snake constricting a man's arm. Then there's the "Christian" group P.O.D. , good grief. I can't tell them apart from any other worldly hard rock band.
That business is about a 3 parts world to 1 part God mix it seems.

[Guest]

I was thinking of this very subject this morning.


This passage comes to mind:

Mat 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

[Guest]

I think it stops when revival comes—probably no sooner.

I agree, but do you think it is a possibilty that the ones who are enjoying this mixture of Chritianity/worldiness, will miss out on the essence of the revival?
In other words, I feel that revival will only happen to those who are seeking it. And the ones who are added to the church during that period will reject mixing Christianity/worldliness from the beggining. Thus never falling prey to the scheme of things. Although I am speculating at this point, I don't think I am that far off.

Also, I should point out that I don't think every Christian who reads these materials and listens to the current stuff in Christ name are lost. I just think it is a very bad testimony to unbelievers.
Also, I am in no position to judge anyone when it comes to music, I still listen to band's that are not Christian. It is hard to find good guitar music that is Christian, that is to say that I find most of the guys I enjoy to listen to, that challenge me on my instrument, are not Disciples of Christ.
I hope to change that one day.

[Guest]

T.k. mentioned a sermon by Paul Washer, I have that sermon also and for quite some time my wife and I have had a sad feeling that the church in America is going to be found lacking when Christ comes. It's really sad that we have become what we are in America as Christians. Unfortunately it dosen't stop at the bookstore. Our churches are in a sad state of repair. So then , what do we do to help correct the problem? Cause it is up to us to be the watchmen isn't it? Lets be praying and asking God for His help and guidance.[/quote]

[Guest]

I actually like POD. My teenage son (and most teenagers I know) won't listen to the majority of music that's marketed to Christian teens because it's usually a lame, homogenized imitation of what's currently popular in the "secular" market. POD, on the other hand, seems pretty authentic.

It seems to me that Christian artists are the ones who should be on the cutting edge. But the cutting edge isn't a safe place.

Jesus hung out with tax collectors and prostitutes, lepers and Samaritans. His demonstration of the Father's love was gritty, authentic, relentless and very controversial. We've settled for safe, clean, polite and sequestered.

To me, what's "worldly" is the glut of Christian "product" that we're flooded with. Christian exercise DVD's and ScriptureMints (I'm not joking) and plush toys and T-shirts that mimic popular marketing campaigns but "Christianize" them (A Breadcrumb & Fish?), thus reducing the majesty of the Gospel to hackneyed ad slogans. I wonder sometimes where those T-shirts are made and do the factory workers benefit in any way - such as better wages - for making "Christian" clothing? We have "Christian" romance novels and "Christian" comic books and "live" worship CD's that have had all the energy and passion sucked out of them. And we can pay for it all using our "Christian" credit card! What's next, "Christian" porn?
(Note: I'm being highly sarcastic here... I think...)

A lot of this looks more to me like the god of consumerism than the God of Life.

But alas, I ranteth too much...

A couple of years ago I took my son's church youth group to a popular Christian youth event that travels around the country. Afterwards we discussed it and the kids voiced their discomfort with the level of marketing that took place. You had to pass through a veritable gaunlet of booths selling T-shirts and hats and junk jewelry just to get into the auditorium (they were also pretty turned off by the incessant alter calls, but that's another issue). My group wanted something authentic and they were somewhat disappointed.

The only thing (imho) that will stop it is if Western Christians come up with a better way of expressing their faith than through consumerism.

[Guest]

Sorry, Mort, I don't really know alot of POD and jumped the gun on judgement of them possibly. I'd heard "Rock the Party" which did not inpire worship or awe of God in the least and I remember their album cover are which resmbled Dio or something. But I'll take your word for their authenticity. They just aren't my cup of tea.

[Guest]

AW Tozer wrote this over 50 years ago. what would he say now??

We may as well face it: the whole level of spirituality among us is low. We have measured ourselves by ourselves until the incentive to seek higher plateaus in the things of the Spirit is all but gone. Large and influential sections of the world of fundamental Christianity have gone overboard for practices wholly unscriptural, altogether unjustifiable in the light of historic Christian truth and deeply damaging to the inner life of the individual Christian. They have imitated the world, sought popular favor, manufactured delights to substitute for the joy of the Lord and produced a cheap and synthetic power to substitute for the power of the Holy Ghost. The glowworm has taken the place of the bush that burned and scintillating personalities now answer to the fire that fell at Pentecost.

TK

[Guest]

Is it me or is this getting consistently worse and worse? Anyone watch "Christian T.V" lately?

After watching a few minutes of Christian TV, I concluded that there is no such thing as Christian TV. Maybe I'm just too harsh...

Now that we're on the subject, my attention was recently turned to the "Refuel Bible," as the cover contains the splash and dash of a Les Paul guitar. The Bible-magazine informs me that if I become a Christian, I can have girls, cash, and cars; but not in that order. I always need more cash.

Adorning the inside confines on the magazine, it has little call-outs that teach our youth about deep intellectually stimulating principles about God; like not chewing with our mouth open, and not belching.



http://www.av1611.org/kjv/refuel.html

[Guest]

Deep calls to deep....

TK

[Guest]

And shallow calls to shallow...