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Christian Leadership: The 5 Deadly Sins of Worship Services |
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Written by Administrator
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Wednesday, 28 April 2010 |
The 5 Deadly Sins of Worship Services
by Doug Lawrence
Have every member of your platform team read this—today! Please!
O.K., I've got my "mad" on today. Just indulge me, dear friends. Here's my personal list of the 5 Deadly Sins in Worship. I bet you could write your own list. Do it, and send it to me!
State the obvious
It's oh so tempting to tell a really attractive person that YOU think they're attractive—as though they hadn't noticed it themselves. Complimenting, after all, is just a form of showing affection and an expression of affirmation—nothing wrong with that. But, it can also be used to manipulate and imply, in some kind of naive way, that you have control over that person—that your impression "seals" their identity.
If I tell you how handsome or beautiful you are, I am calibrating (I believe) the standard by which you will be perceived by others. I feel powerful and, maybe, handsome myself—by proximity.
In countless church services, I have seen the same principle apply. If a pastor says, "What a beautiful solo," he/she gets a piece of the action. Their opinion of it elevates them inappropriately, not the musical expression of faith.
I once (horrors) closed out a service by saying, "Wasn't that an incredible call to action!" The congregation jumped to their feet to affirm the message, its delivery, and the messenger who brought it. Good, right? No, it was not a good idea and it meant a long, soulful talk with our fearless leader. He said that I had completely obliterated the application part of his sermon. By affirming the message, the messenger, and the nobleness of his sermon, I had undone the challenge he was giving. I stated the obvious. Bad idea!
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 28 April 2010 )
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Christian Living: Deceptive 'Rapture' Doctrine Dupes Millions |
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 26 April 2010 |
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Deceptive 'Rapture' Doctrine Dupes Millions
MEDIA ADVISORY, April 26 /Christian Newswire/ -- Millions of Christians contemplating "Earth's final days" firmly expect to "vanish with a poof" in a mysterious event called "The Rapture" before things get too crazy and Antichrist shows up. "We'll disappear before the Seven-Year Tribulation hits!" they confidently assert.
"No, they won't," warns TV producer, radio host and bestselling author of 24 books Steve Wohlberg in his latest work, The Rapture Delusions: Exposing Dangerous Errors about the End of the World (Destiny Image).
"Look carefully," notes Wohlberg, "all New Testament verses quoted to promote the secret rapture doctrine--1 Thess. 4:17; 1 Cor. 15:52; Matt. 24:40-don't teach it at all. They really apply to the highly visible, loud, earthshaking Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and not to the novel and unbiblical notion of 'disappearing Christians' seven years before the end." |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 26 April 2010 )
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