Churches have largely fallen into the "we need to stay relevant" trap. I've been to churches that call the music time "a concert for Jesus". Usually a full up band, loud, music I have never heard of. I don't have an issue with that per se but I do like how my current church plays newer modern songs but they also play one or two old hymns that us old guys recognize and grew up with. I know the music director and have commented on that before telling him that is not typical but appreciated.

My big litmus test for any church is how much they preach out of the Bible. I have sat through sermons where there might have been a Biblical reference but that was all.

People want to do "things" and some modern churches want to validate those things even if they are not Biblical. I avoid those churches. If I want to YOLO then I don't need a church for that.

Both of those men should be avoided, I'd say their true desire is money and attention.

Thank you for the suggestions and encouragement.

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Originally posted by KSGM:

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The sermon was communist bullshit

Could it be that we confuse Christian charity with the contemporary political theory of communism?

In my case I will say no. If you compare Greta to Jesus you deserve to be kicked in the balls.

Greta Thunberg? Hahahaha; NO. Was that Catholic priest invoking Greta? That would indeed be a church from which to make a hasty retreat.

The LGBTQetc stuff is a funny thing too. Those people NEED Jesus, and a church can be a good place to find Him. If encouraging them to come to church gets them going into the right direction, where otherwise they'd continue down the wrong path, then maybe it's ok.

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Originally posted by DoctorSolo:

I feel lost, and I will continue to keep my religion to myself. I have yet to see a real church that wont fly a tranny nazi flag here.

I've given up on church, but not Jesus.

Is 'here' Colorado Springs? If you or anyone on this thread would like help finding a church, feel free to email me.

As for those who are solo Christians and not part of a congregation, I would point you to Hebrews 10:25

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

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Originally posted by pedropcola:
Churches have largely fallen into the "we need to stay relevant" trap. I've been to churches that call the music time "a concert for Jesus". Usually a full up band, loud, music I have never heard of.

You reminded me of an interesting church music story. The first time I lived in Houston, I attended a larger church that has been around for over 100 years so it's seen a lot of changes in worship music and it's moved several times as it grew.

Out of the blue, the pastor received a phone call from HPD on whether or not he wants a stolen item returned which was odd as the pastor wasn't aware of anything having been stolen. The Army Corps. of Engineers was dredging the Houston Ship Channel and found the church's organ that had been stolen approximately 80 years ago (pastor had only been there 5 years). The pastor looked into it, and at the old original downtown location some parishioners got mad about the newfangled organ music changing worship so they broke into church, stole the organ, threw it in the Houston Ship Channel, and the church filed a police report.

It's kind of an amusing perspective I had never previously considered. Now, the older generation considers the organ music and hymns as tradition and the electric guitars, drums, lead singers, background singers, and soundsystem as newfangled and irksome. 4 generations ago, the organ was newfangled and irksome. I wonder what annoying music format is next and I'll be fondly remembering today's workship service?

I don't really care about the music. I honestly can't sing, and I'll be the last one to throw stones or criticize anybody willing to get up in front of a bunch of people and try to lead others in song...provided their song selection meets the following criteria:

1. It has to be something designed for congregational worship, meaning that we all need to be able to sing along. It's not a performance or a concert...It's participatory worship. This means it needs to be relatively easy to sing, and well known enough that people can follow along. Teaching the congregation a new song now and then is great, but the majority should be numbers that people know.

2. The lyrics should be meaningful, and God-centered, not repetative (we call those 7-11 songs...7 words, 11 times) or "me" centric. This is supposed to be worship, not a whine-fest about all of our problems.

3. Words mean things. The songs should be Biblically and theologically accurate. My favorite example of this is the "These are the Days of Elijah" song that includes the lines: "And these are the days of your servant David, rebuilding a temple of praise." Wrong. David didn't rebuild (or even build), the temple. He went around killing Phillistines and cutting their foreskins off. His son Solomon built the temple. I used to point that out to our Worship leader whenever they'd play that song...I haven't heard it in a while .

I do like the older Hymns, but I'm ok with a lot of the newer "Praise and Worship" stuff, too, provided it's got some substance behind it.

It is definitely not Christianity. Unfortunately, there's a lot of "new age" infiltrating the Christian church now, in all forms, including a watered-down gospel that is allowing, or encouraging, people to remake God in their image.

We left the United Methodist Church over this.

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Originally posted by 92fstech:
I don't really care about the music. I honestly can't sing, and I'll be the last one to throw stones or criticize anybody willing to get up in front of a bunch of people and try to lead others in song...provided their song selection meets the following criteria:

I do like the older Hymns, but I'm ok with a lot of the newer "Praise and Worship" stuff, too, provided it's got some substance behind it.

Not a bad set of criteria, IMO.