photo by Lee Kindness
Frank Gouchnour's comments;
There is an idea that is gaining more and more acceptance among Churches, even among old line fundamental denominations. That is the concept that we should compete with the vast entertainment industry dominated by evil influences and worldliness for the attention of the lost we are trying to reach. In other words do the song and dance and and peanuts and popcorn and lure the reluctant sinners into the church building in order to slip the Gospel in. I think this dishonors God and casts dispersions on the power of the ungarnished Word to do the job. That same idea is what is destroying our educational system. Teachers seldom teach anymore. They just put on videos and let the kids absorb education by proxy through the computer games. This method fails to build discipline or good study habits. I believe that one result is that the attention span of the average kid is getting shorter and is contributing to ADD. Many of the churches are following suit by expanding the "worship" service using rock bands and by lessening the doctrinal content and length of the teaching. We may get more people in but are they the fruit of the Gospel or are they just enjoying the free food and entertainment?
In the parable of the sower Jesus taught about the seed that fell in among the thorns and the word was choked by the weeds. One of the weeds that was doing the choking in this parable was "pleasures of this life"
Luk_8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
Frank Gouchnour's comments;
There is an idea that is gaining more and more acceptance among Churches, even among old line fundamental denominations. That is the concept that we should compete with the vast entertainment industry dominated by evil influences and worldliness for the attention of the lost we are trying to reach. In other words do the song and dance and and peanuts and popcorn and lure the reluctant sinners into the church building in order to slip the Gospel in. I think this dishonors God and casts dispersions on the power of the ungarnished Word to do the job. That same idea is what is destroying our educational system. Teachers seldom teach anymore. They just put on videos and let the kids absorb education by proxy through the computer games. This method fails to build discipline or good study habits. I believe that one result is that the attention span of the average kid is getting shorter and is contributing to ADD. Many of the churches are following suit by expanding the "worship" service using rock bands and by lessening the doctrinal content and length of the teaching. We may get more people in but are they the fruit of the Gospel or are they just enjoying the free food and entertainment?
In the parable of the sower Jesus taught about the seed that fell in among the thorns and the word was choked by the weeds. One of the weeds that was doing the choking in this parable was "pleasures of this life"
Luk_8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
So the message we are sending when we use worldly methods to try to gain spiritual results is that the sinner doesn't have to become a "disciple" or disciplined believer or even do without his addiction to entertainment not even for an hour.
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