Sunday's Coming
18th May 2010 by Jarrod Newton
This clip has been doing the rounds on the internet lately. Some people think it's brilliant, others think it's just Christians criticising other Christians. What's your response?
save. grow. serve.
save - noah rzeminski
Noah Rzeminski from Wollongong tells how his father was not happy with his decision to b... Read more
serve - nadine sorensen
Nadine Sorensen shares how God altered her persepctive while on mission in Kenya... Read more
Got your own story to share? Write to us today!
Comments
It's amazing how predictable 'church services' have become, so much so that we can poke fun at ourselves in video's such as this. I laugh my head off at this but the scary reality is the WHY behind all this, why does this church do a 'mock' video about the way it 'operates church/sunday morning' but then continue to operate/function that way !!???
For a much deeper and more informed response to this video check out the blog of a mate of mine from Brazil, Claudio Oliver, it's called How To Look Good & Still Miss The Point:
http://naruacomdeus.blogspot.com/2010/05/how-to-look-good-and-still-miss-point.html
I have to admit I had a little giggle when the Asian guy with graphic tee and cool glasses came on, because my first thought was "Awwww! It's Kevin!" *Sorry Smitty!*
Sometimes churches need criticism, but I don't think this is the best way to go about it... It does make some good points though. There is more to church than just good lighting, effects and a typically "cool" team on stage. And I do think that there are some churches out there which totally lose sight of why we have church, to worship God anyone?
I also know a friend who regularly attends one the edgy, huge worship churches who walked out on the message because she knew, that despite how emphatic he was on his sermon, it was biblically wrong and unethical.
And really, do you need more than 12 plasma screens for a church service? How important are they? Really?
I think these satirical jabs of jest directed at the church by the church are becoming increasingly common and are quickly losing their comedic value to me. The impression they creators of this satire give off is that they are more intelligent than other churches as they can wittily poke fun at other people's formulaic services whereas in reality they come off looking judgemental and smug. What little kingdom building value these clips have (challenging people to think outside the box etc) is far outweighed by their kingdom dividing value. If you can't be funny without putting somebody down then I don't think it's funny at all.
Great opportunity for discussion Jarrod, thanks!
This.is.rad.
It shows that if there is a formula for church...why?! Worship doesnt need a formula- it doesnt need any contrived worship service- because worship is a way of life.
This is also good because it highlights the emotional 'manipulation' (strong word I know) that can come out of church services. We shouldn't be coaxed into worshiping God, it should happen naturally- in silence, in volume, in movement or in stillness.
x
Lets not get too serious about ourselves folks. For the little outback churches (where God is still working wonders) that do not have any lighting much less a band, this video is in the 'straight over my head' category.
And yes there are many people that need to be coaxed into worshiping God, simply because they don't know how to.
I found the video quite interesting and yet concerned at the same time. The video reminds me of the need to be careful about trying to focre God to move in the structures we put in place.
The Goal of sunday worship is to provide a place where God can move and speak to people and i suppose each church goes about this differently. While i would never want to pull the church down i think it's important to face certain truths about our predictability during sunday worship.
"And yes there are many people that need to be coaxed into worshiping God, simply because they don't know how to."
I dont agree that 'coaxed' is a positive word in this circumstance. I see what you mean but I think a better word would be 'invited' or 'led'...It's the carrot and the stick concept. I would much rather encounter God with invitation than with force. No one needs to be coaxed. It's like we are saying God cannot move people on His own- that we need to help him.