“What if Starbucks Marketed Like a Church? A Parable” is a comedy video about our contemporary Church traditions and ways. I have seen this video in one of the websites of Organic Church people. Very funny, but there are really truths in it. Our Churches are like this and are now out of focus. Our Churches tend to attract people to come in. In contrast to what the Bible say, our churches is suppose to be emphasizing the going out and spreading the gospel.
There is nothing wrong in attracting people to come to Church. In fact, in our contemporary time, I believe that is also important that we will have a presentable Church. But to be imbalance with the emphasis of our programs and giving more weight in attracting people is getting out of focus.
People will not come naturally inside the Church. There are some people who voluntarily comes in the Church and then believed in Jesus Christ and saved, but the percentages is too low. Oppossite to this is that more people are coming in because they were invited by somebody, or someone ministered to them, some have attended a mission crusade etc. This is just a clear indication that attracting people is good to do but not a very effective way to tell people about Christ.
The purpose of Organic Church movement is to go back to the original NT way of worship and being in the Church which I believe is good. However, still we need to be extra careful to not to fall in legalism especially if we are already doing Organic Church since the Bible did not gave us a protocol nor a step by step way of having a Church, and how to worship God. It only presented general things. Furthermore, most practices in NT Church are very applicable for them which might be totally or partially different to what we have now concerning the culture and traditions that we have.
We also have to remember that NT Churches have their own Church traditions and was proliferated by the community of early Christians which is partially different to what we are having now, but by principle, it is basically the same thing.
Organic Church Movement is becoming more popular as time goes by. I just hope that as we go back to the orginal NT Church way, we will not fall into legalism but applying the principles found in NT Church and not just by copying what they are doing.
from: http://watch.pair.com/stuph.html
“Religious beliefs and practices make up the product that is on sale in the market, and current and potential followers are the consumers. In a free-market religious economy there is a healthy abundance of choice (religious pluralism), which leads naturally to vigorous competition and efficient supply (new and old religious movements). The more competition there is, the higher the level of consumption.”
When the actions and attitudes of God’s family members toward one another breach the “family contract” found in the New Testament, people experience the fine print of the Christian life. Believers feel hurt, disappointment, disillusionment, and fear in trying again. Outside the church, the world that so desperately needs to find life in Jesus thinks the church is irrelevant.
The writer of Hebrews tells us that it’s important to “…forsake not the assembling of ourselves together.” This is not about the ritual of going to a certain geographical location with a certain group of people at certain times during the week. This is about relationships that build God’s people and spread his kingdom.
The unexamined life is not worth living. — Socrates
The unexamined church is not worth going to… — Oggie
from: http://www.spiritualabuse.com/?page_id=53
Respect for authority isn’t demanded by getting puffed up or loud, or by using God’s Word as a sledgehammer. A person who has to spend a lot of time reminding people of his or her authority–and as much energy demanding that people yield to that authority–does so because they have no real authority. True authority is noticed. In Matthew 7 the gospel writer says of the Lord that when he had finished teaching, the crowd was amazed at what he had said. Why? “He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes”1–that is, those who had the title and who demanded respect for their position but had no authority.
True spiritual authority isn’t taken or asserted. It doesn’t come because you hold a titled position, receive a degree, or get a salary. It is given by God for the purpose of shepherding God’s flock. In grace-full churches, those with authority use it to serve, build, and liberate the members of God’s family. They do not use it to manipulate or control.
Good day vince! it’s been a week since i’ve been online. thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog.
Yeah that’s what i do presenting the Word of God and let it minister to readers. I also write Christian articles before and I want to continue it and place it on a another blogsite.
I see that you post a lot, I’ll be checking your site from time to time.
Thanks,
God bless!
Please if possible, put all the links in one comment form before submitting it. This will fall into spamming as for the search engines is concerned. Copy all the links first in the Notepad, then from the Notepad, copy paste it to the comment form.
Thanks you!!!!
.-= Ptr. Vince´s last blog ..What if Starbucks Marketed Like a Church? A Parable =-.
Legalism is a natural tendency for proud, elitist, and carnal churches, organic or inorganic.
Some churches, organic or inorganic, can indeed be legalistic of their principles and/or practices. That is, an organic church can be legalistic in being organic, as well as an inorganic church can be similarly legalistic in being inorganic. Some churches can even be legalistic in their being “biblical” in their traditions and other frozen and fossilized formalisms!
Can you point out what is the implication of the matter? 🙂
HHHHmmmmm …..
Sound so family, oooopppsss, errrr, familiar!!
Some same differences:
Some churches are run like businesses, and
some businesses are run like churches!!!