Christian Pipe Smokers

Del wrote: ↑14 Mar 2023, 10:59 I have stepped into a few cute little Pentecostal churches with little more than a drum set, a projection screen, and a barstool in front of the folding chairs. I get that singing is central to their worship.... but this atmosphere informs their whole faith, whether they realize it or not. On one hand, it reflects an admirable spirit of holy poverty. On the other hand, it lacks some visual indication of "This space is set aside for the worship of Jesus Christ."

tuttle wrote: ↑14 Mar 2023, 05:29

joegoat wrote: ↑13 Mar 2023, 16:30

tuttle wrote: ↑13 Mar 2023, 13:30

I know what you're saying here.

But there is no such thing as a church without a liturgy.

Yes, I'm pedantic.

I've used that argument. I got an eye roll.

If, for whatever reason, you're interested, there's a book called Christ Centered Worship by a fellow named Chappell. He parses through liturgies from the early church onward and shows how each incorporated similar structures, even if they have more or less 'content'. The point being, that even a church that says they don't have a liturgy, has a liturgy. Could be a bad one, but they have one. Usually what they mean in reality is that they don't have a thought through liturgy. They have order, they have rituals, but they haven't thought through the implications (good or bad) in how the liturgy formatively edifies (or stupifies) the church.

So the ironic thing is that the choice for lights out during worship is a liturgical choice. There is a formative effect from that ritual.

FredS wrote: ↑14 Mar 2023, 11:34 There is literally a place in KC MO named the Gospel Lounge, where services are held in a nightclub on Wednesday evenings. Tuttle might know of it. It's part of Knuckleheads Saloon.

One would hope it's a place where Christ meets desperate people, not necessarily where He matures them. Catches them on the edge, so to speak, but doesn't leave them standing there on the ledge forever.

joegoat wrote: ↑13 Mar 2023, 06:06

jruegg wrote: ↑12 Mar 2023, 17:51

joegoat wrote: ↑12 Mar 2023, 16:57

It does make it easier to form a brand new theological concept or spirit given prophecy when you just flash one verse from shiver the new living "translation" up on the screen.

I actually like the NLT. It's one of the multiple versions I typically have open when doing study.

Opening and comparing for study is fine in my mind. Saying, "I like how the New Living Translation says it" as it flashes in the screen doesn't jive with me though.

jruegg wrote: ↑17 Mar 2023, 09:39

joegoat wrote: ↑13 Mar 2023, 06:06

jruegg wrote: ↑12 Mar 2023, 17:51

I actually like the NLT. It's one of the multiple versions I typically have open when doing study.

Opening and comparing for study is fine in my mind. Saying, "I like how the New Living Translation says it" as it flashes in the screen doesn't jive with me though.

I'm curious how you think that's different than saying, "I like how the English Standard Version says it."

Hovannes wrote: ↑19 Mar 2023, 13:43 I'll throw my hat in the ring!

Darkness, candles and stained-glass invites listening to the quiet promptings of the Holy Ghost.
Lighting gives us a means to read the Word.
So it kind of all depends on what you're after,
or the financial abilities of whomever is paying the electric bill.

joegoat wrote: ↑19 Mar 2023, 17:54...They sang about "the wreckless love if Christ." I had to make sure I knew the definition of wreckless when I got home...

coco wrote: ↑20 Mar 2023, 16:14

joegoat wrote: ↑19 Mar 2023, 17:54...They sang about "the wreckless love if Christ." I had to make sure I knew the definition of wreckless when I got home...

Whether the lights are on or not, there is no definition for "wreckless" that can properly be attributed to God's love.

joegoat wrote: ↑12 Mar 2023, 09:19 Why are so many "non denominational" churches so dark? I'm a recovering protestant and feel that our earthly worship should mimic our future heavenly worship. I can't even read the words in my Bible in some of these places.