tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post3770934654324855366..comments2023-11-05T00:58:55.352-07:00Comments on A Peculiar Prophet: What’s the Point of Worship?William H. Willimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00002821401928222858noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-78582976990823466312007-03-20T17:37:00.000-07:002007-03-20T17:37:00.000-07:00I would be interested to know the title of the boo...I would be interested to know the title of the book char has mentioned. Thank youSista Calahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08490376459710128024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-27833920027930503032007-03-07T20:25:00.000-08:002007-03-07T20:25:00.000-08:00At a recent consultation weekend at our UMC church...At a recent consultation weekend at our UMC church, Tom Bandy suggested that the purpose of Sunday morning is to provide healing for the broken, companionship for the lonely and forgotten, peace and hope for the anxious, and an opportunity for those who are filled with love of Christ, a place to shout their praises of thanksgiving.<BR/><BR/>I agree with that, but we're struggling with getting all of these aspects in and hour. So far, it seems to be going well, but it is hard finding a balance with all of these objectives. Would you advocate praise over the others aspects?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-52476776125740431272007-03-07T19:29:00.000-08:002007-03-07T19:29:00.000-08:00Wonderful post, well said.Wonderful post, well said.Sista Calahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08490376459710128024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-26187802200098461282007-03-05T06:24:00.000-08:002007-03-05T06:24:00.000-08:00Amen. Well said.Amen. Well said.Milton Stanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09235705641913811166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-78357183175653387192007-03-03T23:56:00.000-08:002007-03-03T23:56:00.000-08:00Can I amend the Westminster credo? The chief end o...Can I amend the Westminster credo? The chief end of humanity is to RESPECT God by RESPECTING and HAVING FAITH in the rest of humanity. Glorifying God in a public manner makes people feel good about themselves: joyous music, singing, collective prayers, even (and especially) churches were created to uplift OUR spirits and make us feel just a little bit holier.<BR/><BR/>I live in a very crime-ridden and poor area where the sounds of voices reverberate through the entire neighborhood on Sunday. The energy is extremely high - but what is the result?<BR/><BR/>The problem with today's public worship is that it can easily overshadow man's greatest purpose: to try to make the world better, safer, cleaner, etc. by having faith in man as well as God. Look at today's "prosperity theology" megachurches. They have a McDonald's in one, a fitness center in another and their "services" are best termed as pyrotechnical. They make their congregations feel like they're bringing God into their lives - but are they? Are they giving glory to God by helping the poor, the disadvantaged and the disenfranchised? The income of one megachurch could feed the population of Sierra Leone for a year, but how much of that income will actually go to "upkeep" and how much will go to Sierra Leones across the country and the world? <BR/><BR/>The point is: trying to make the world better is more edifying to God than singing joyously together. Good works first, THEN sing joyously that they were accomplished! If those people in my area could, instead, expend all that energy in cleaning up our street, they would have a much better feeling when they sing praises to God.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-47672575191095787442007-02-27T09:43:00.000-08:002007-02-27T09:43:00.000-08:00Thanks for your words. I also appreciate Henri Nou...Thanks for your words. I also appreciate Henri Nouwen's view that God loved us so much that we are brought into this world to love God back through service and in worship. I have been transformed by the understanding of worship (and service) being functions of love - a part of a living relationship.Rev Katie M Laddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04202878992241658856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35889031.post-75231616702149473712007-02-27T06:18:00.000-08:002007-02-27T06:18:00.000-08:00Wonderful post and I completely agree. My questio...Wonderful post and I completely agree. My question is how do we get our parishioners away from a consumerist style to their worship? For many people come to church or pick a church by what they get out of the service. If they don't like the service, they leave. Like anything in America church is becoming something you consume instead of participate in. How do we, as preachers, pull people back to correct worship?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com