I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH FOR OVER 35 YEARS - HARD TO BELIEVE IT'S BEEN THAT LONG. I AM ALSO A PREACHER'S KID. I HAVE SEEN THE ALL THE BEAUTY AND ALL THE UGLINESS THAT EXIST IN CHURCHES.Because of what I witnessed, I quit attending church for over 8 years. I was disillusioned and disheartened. I would read the bible and realize that something so simple and straightforward was misused time and again by so called "christians". I was too young to be heard and too new to be sure how to express my beliefs. I ran for a long time.
I know that what I will say here will anger some people. THose that are angered need to stop and pray. They need to ask God are they really angry at my words or the truth behind them?
However, I met my spouse and began discussing the bible with him. He was of another denomination who practiced "entertainment driven worship". He had stopped believing in God because he felt strongly that what the bible stated was not what his religion followed. He is a very practical type person who isn't easily fooled. He believed all christians were hipocryts. Needless to say, I felt like one, too. So, we began studying the bible together and reading it, simply as it was written - no adding, no subtracting. We didn't always like what we read and knew we had to give up many things if we wished to reach our ultimate goal - heaven.
20 years and two children later, we are devoted members of a wonderful church that is full of love and obedience. We too fight some large churches in our area that do not adhere to the word. They use the same excuses as the ones I have read on this website and I want to cry with frustration everytime they speak.
Why do I become frustrated? Because, having lived in the "real" world and witnessed the depths of sin - I know when I see and hear it. It is not easy to miss if you really want to find it. However, the Devil is very cunning and Church members provide his biggest source of entertainment and victories. Why waste time on the people out in the real world, they are already lost? No, a smart person would spend their time focusing on the toughest prey. And we all know the Devil is not stupid! By the way, if you are going to affect change in the highest number of people - do you work slowly and steadily or do you hit them with a bang?
So, where is all these "new" worship practices coming from. Unfortunately, my age group (30's - 40's). We were unfulfilled with simple truths and love. We wanted what the "sinner" had - more zest, more feelings, more everything. There had to be more to the experience than what was written in the bible. We were smarter, more educated, more technologically advanced. We knew so MUCH more than the first Christians. So, we began seeking new ways to gain this while still trying to be pure in heart and spirit. Guess what? It can't be done. It's a simple fact of life and nature that you cannot have everything and give up nothing. You loose something in the need to fullfill yourself with more than the simple glory and love of God. You loose your soul!!!
It's funny how the bible gives us such explicit and simple details regarding the Church and yet we can still argue about it. I can't find anywhere in the bible the "new" practices. Believe me, I've tried. I've had friends leave to attend churches like Madison C of C. Most have all come back as they realized they were loosing something very precious.
Those of you spouting your anger on this page about freedom to do as you choose are correct. You do have the freedom to do whatever you wish. God gave us that choice. However, he outlined his will very simply and he explained over and over again that being a Christian was not FUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!. It is hard, it is trying, it is lonely, it is meek, its is the hardest thing anyone can do. You can loose friends, family, jobs, etc. You will pay (in the real world) for following Him. But the rewards are unbelievable.
I wonder if the need to have your way is really that important in the scheme of things? Does raising your hand make you a better Christian? More faithfull? More obedient? Of course not. They didn't then and we don't need to now. Jesus taught that it is better to pray alone in a dark place than to try to prove your Christianity with outward signs. He felt your simple daily behavior should be all the proof you needed. Do you think that may still apply today? Or, are you above his law? Do you feel God's power is to weak to have written a law that withstands the ages? Do you think he was limited in some way? Is what you want more important than what he wants?
Stop and think about how the "new" practices are incorporating behavior from other religions. You don't think something is wrong here? You really think that these other churches have something we don't? Oh, that's right, they have larger numbers of false followers and larger bank accounts.
What I find the saddest isn't that we are becoming liberal - that has happened over and over since the Church began and we always come back to the truth. What I find the saddest is that so called preachers like Lucado, Shelly, and many others have given up the truth for their own glory. I've read their views and as an intelligent adult, find them almost laughable in their attempts to try and find new reasoning. They have to go very far out of the way to get their answers. I can't even begin to understand how supposedly "intelligent" men can come up with the most ignorant reasonings. My six year old has out-reasoned them on some of the basics. But then, the Devil works in many ways.
Baby dedications, women leading singing, songs, and lessons, musical instruments, trying to show your "christianity" with hand raising, etc... are all signs that were addressed by Paul and John. Those churches lost their "lights". So may these.
EMAIL FROM MICHAEL Hello fellow 'concerned-member'!
My name is Michael and I'm a 20 year old.... I used to attend Madison's early service, but I am now fully attending and working with a near by church of Christ,..From what I've read, I seem to agree with all you say on your site. I'm sure you get a lot of negative response from the stand you take. So let this be an encouragement to you from one of the remaining youth of today that doesn't need entertainment to stay 'in church', ... I sure do like the site and I think it does a great job to objectively present the cases on the issues! [please keep your site up]
Since I no longer go to Madison, your site is the only source I have for updates, but I was wondering two things,..
#1..How do you hear the updates? Do you still go there or mainly have connections?#2. I'd also like to send an email of adoration to Ben Jones, Do you happen to have his email? if not that's ok,.. I wish every one there was a little more like him, I ordered a copy of his speech, (the one they say was a hijacking),and I thought it was really well. I just hate that it fell on Hardened hearts...
Well, Keep the faith and have Super day Sir.
Michael