Megachurch punts bible off stage into crowd during an over the top Superbowl themed church service

[AnyMinute]

As to the opening thread topic, total disrespect and irreverence, imo.

There may be some things that need punting off that stage, none of them being the bible.


I imagine Paul might offer up a choice like this.

1 Corinthians 4:18-21

18Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you.19But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only what these arrogant people are saying, but what power they have.20For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.21Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

 

[Andiamo]

I often think about this: What if they found a stone, where they could prove beyond any question that Jesus set his actual foot on it. And if I was right there in a room with it, what would I do? Well, to be completely honest, I would have an overwhelming urge to kiss that stone, where Jesus’ actual foot was. And I think that even though I know that idolatry is wrong, I may kiss it anyway…just once. Not as an idol, but as a precious object that my Lord actually touched. I know the Lord would understand and have grace with me. And I believe God purposely made sure all of the genuine items and places are unknown or unprovable. All of those items and locations the RCC claims in Jerusalem is fake, IMO. And this is how the RCC takes advantage of people and their weaknesses. You kiss something 100 times and before you know it, what begins as love (for the Lord)and respect for an object becomes worship. I know I couldn’t be the only one who feels this way. Let’s look at it another way: Let’s say the same stone is on the floor, and someone’s dog is about to pee on it. I don’t know about you, but I would grab that stone before a drop of pee could land on it. So I think we can mistake and judge a person’s respect for a precious object, for idolatry. Only God knows a persons heart, bottom line.

 

[Andy C]

I often think about this: What if they found a stone, where they could prove beyond any question that Jesus set his actual foot on it. And if I was right there in a room with it, what would I do? Well, to be completely honest, I would have an overwhelming urge to kiss that stone, where Jesus’ actual foot was. And I think that even though I know that idolatry is wrong, I may kiss it anyway…just once. Not as an idol, but as a precious object that my Lord actually touched. I know the Lord would understand and have grace with me. And I believe God purposely made sure all of the genuine items and places are unknown or unprovable. All of those items and locations the RCC claims in Jerusalem is fake, IMO. And this is how the RCC takes advantage of people and their weaknesses. You kiss something 100 times and before you know it, what begins as love (for the Lord)and respect for an object becomes worship. I know I couldn’t be the only one who feels this way. Let’s look at it another way: Let’s say the same stone is on the floor, and someone’s dog is about to pee on it. I don’t know about you, but I would grab that stone before a drop of pee could land on it. So I think we can mistake and judge a person’s respect for a precious object, for idolatry. Only God knows a persons heart, bottom line.

Good post.

I dont know anyone who has made their bible an idol, and as I said, Im not even sure if it could ever be considered an idol no matter how one handles, displays….etc.

 

[Andiamo]

Good post.

I dont know anyone who has made their bible an idol, and as I said, Im not even sure if it could ever be considered an idol no matter how one handles, displays….etc.

Yes I’d rather err on the side of too much respect for the Bible as an object than getting to the point where I punt it like a football. Good grief!!!

 

[Andy C]

Yes I’d rather err on the side of too much respect for the Bible as an object than getting to the point where I punt it like a football. Good grief!!!

Yes, punting is an extreme, crazy that a church thought that was ok.

 

[Batman]

We've been watching megachurches and televangelists turn more and more worldly, pagan, greedy, and untruthful these past 30+ years, and a lot of the things they've come up with had to be to get attention and cash. Unfortunately, I think many of them and there followers have become reprobate/de-based and are now unable to see the error of their ways.

 

[Eric Nicholas]

It would be a hip megachurch outfit. #blessed #thankful

 

[Bethlehem57]

Standing to hear The Gospel read is traditional.
Some places, people also stand for the Old Testament and Epistle readings.

Standing, especially for The Gospel reading/chanting, demonstrates respect and reverence for God and The Word and calls special attention to it because it's special

We began Christian life with our family in a Lutheran Church when it was just either ELCA or Missouri Synod (when the the splintering began). I loved the reverence it gave to God’s Word, but I can’t tell you how often we would leave church and could not really remember what the preacher’s sermon was about, except that it was directed to the Gospel reading.

The exception was when we had a pastor who was in the choir and the choir loft was upstairs. He was a really great pastor, who would literally run at times, to get to and from the loft back to the front! He would come out to the people in church while preaching and I can remember much of his teaching. The day he announced he would be leaving was a day I won’t forget, as those who had money, felt too convicted by his sermons and they fired him! He left the ministry after this and many people, including our family, left that church! It was a very sad, dark time in my family’s service to the Lord.

 

[Bethlehem57]

My bible is full of notes I wrote, some in red, some I wish I never wrote as I matured as a Christian and realized a few of my older views/notes were incorrect.

At my last job, a strong Christian coworker of mine read his bible daily at his desk on his breaks. One time, I watched in him walk in the mens room, and go sit inside a stall, while reading his bible. I asked him when he came out how he could take a bible in there, while doing his business. His response was he was sure God would be happy he is reading His Word, no matter where….

Mine too! I’ve gone through several who got too note heavy. It’s fun to go back and look at the growth in my walk! I can’t seem to find one with enough space to write in. I’ve tried glueing in note pages and they fell out! I wish I could find one that would let me write lots in the margins. I’ve tried note taking Bibles and study Bibles, still not enough room!

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

We began Christian life with our family in a Lutheran Church when it was just either ELCA or Missouri Synod (when the the splintering began). I loved the reverence it gave to God’s Word, but I can’t tell you how often we would leave church and could not really remember what the preacher’s sermon was about, except that it was directed to the Gospel reading.

The exception was when we had a pastor who was in the choir and the choir loft was upstairs. He was a really great pastor, who would literally run at times, to get to and from the loft back to the front! He would come out to the people in church while preaching and I can remember much of his teaching. The day he announced he would be leaving was a day I won’t forget, as those who had money, felt too convicted by his sermons and they fired him! He left the ministry after this and many people, including our family, left that church! It was a very sad, dark time in my family’s service to the Lord.

Was that in Alabama? I was a member of an LCMS church, where the Pastor ran back and forth between choir loft in the balcony, Chancel, and Narthex

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

We began Christian life with our family in a Lutheran Church when it was just either ELCA or Missouri Synod (when the the splintering began). I loved the reverence it gave to God’s Word, but I can’t tell you how often we would leave church and could not really remember what the preacher’s sermon was about, except that it was directed to the Gospel reading.

The exception was when we had a pastor who was in the choir and the choir loft was upstairs. He was a really great pastor, who would literally run at times, to get to and from the loft back to the front! He would come out to the people in church while preaching and I can remember much of his teaching. The day he announced he would be leaving was a day I won’t forget, as those who had money, felt too convicted by his sermons and they fired him! He left the ministry after this and many people, including our family, left that church! It was a very sad, dark time in my family’s service to the Lord.

Sorry you had unfortunate experiences with some Pastors' sermons. Lutheran Pastors have historically gotten very rigorous, academic educations at Seminary. As with anything else, some are better than others at teaching what they know, and sometimes it's a matter of how well teaching/speaking style meshes with learning style. Sometimes, a Pastor simply has a bad day (they are human and fallible). Other than LCMS, I don't know how rigorous or academic any of the Lutheran seminaries are anymore.

ELCA started when three synods merged in 1988, and the ELCA later got really, really liberal (even apostate), with its stances on perversion and women's ordination. LCMS wouldn't join because more conservative and still holding the line. Some conservative churches in the merging synods migrated to LCMS or ELS. LCMS and WELS split over church government (WELS is more conservative and synod-centric, especially with regard to property ownership; LCMS allows women's suffrage and is more congregation-centric, with congregations owning their own property and thus more free to leave the synod), Unfortunately, now it looks as if WELS is beginning let some liberalism and legalism creep in There are a couple of small, old Synods that have remained separate, some somewhat liberal, and some conservative. Only one (ELS), which has the same conservative doctrine as LCMS, is in altar and pulpit fellowship with the LCMS.

And then there's the Church of the Lutheran Brethren (CLB) that is doctrinally essentially the same as the LCMS, except is/leans pre-Trib and repudiates replacement theology (End Times is officially an open question, although teaching in official documents is pre-Trib). AFAIK, no traditional liturgically worshipping congregations. I looked when I got here, and have continued to look. If I had found one (or ever do), even involving a significant drive, it would have been/be a good candidate for a church home for me. Alas . . .

"Here endeth the very brief overview of modern Lutheran synods in America."
"Thanks be to God."

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

Mine too! I’ve gone through several who got too note heavy. It’s fun to go back and look at the growth in my walk! I can’t seem to find one with enough space to write in. I’ve tried glueing in note pages and they fell out! I wish I could find one that would let me write lots in the margins. I’ve tried note taking Bibles and study Bibles, still not enough room!

There may be a loose-leaf Bible.

OR . . . take your Bible to a bookbinder and have them take it apart, insert a blank sheet between each page, and then rebind it. It won't be cheap, especially if your Bible has Bible paper pages. FWIW, the Henry Morris Study Bible only comes with heavier paper than regular Bible paper. Check with a bookbinder, but it may be a candidate to be made into a loose-leaf Bible. There may be a difference in price to do this depending on whether the original Bible has hardcover or leather cover. Ask the bookbinder first. Differebt bookbinders are better than others, and pricing can vary widely.

 

[Bethlehem57]

Was that in Alabama? I was a member of an LCMS church, where the Pastor ran back and forth between choir loft in the balcony, Chancel, and Narthex

No, sadly it was in North Carolina. It was an ELCA before all the woke business began! I still miss his teaching!

 

[Bethlehem57]

There may be a loose-leaf Bible.

OR . . . take your Bible to a bookbinder and have them take it apart, insert a blank sheet between each page, and then rebind it. It won't be cheap, especially if your Bible has Bible paper pages. FWIW, the Henry Morris Study Bible only comes with heavier paper than regular Bible paper. Check with a bookbinder, but it may be a candidate to be made into a loose-leaf Bible. There may be a difference in price to do this depending on whether the original Bible has hardcover or leather cover. Ask the bookbinder first. Differebt bookbinders are better than others, and pricing can vary widely.

Great idea! Also thought about printing the book by book as I study onto three hole paper and making binder(s) for each book. I will check out that Morris Study Bible too.

All great ideas Ghoti! You are very smart and creative!

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

No, sadly it was in North Carolina. It was an ELCA before all the woke business began! I still miss his teaching!

Lots of good Lutheran churches got apostasized by the ELCA
Some of them around here are now wandering into/pandering to islam/chrislam, CAIR, etc. in the name of loving and evangelizing muslims

Fortunately, at least some are still repudiating islam in any form and still evangelizing the lost. The college kids at Augsburg University (ELCA) are in the belly of the beast in the middle of the big muslim community Cedar-Riverside and some are witnessing their hearts out while at the same time getting targeted by the religious police.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

No, sadly it was in North Carolina. It was an ELCA before all the woke business began! I still miss his teaching!

You can search for him by name on the ELCA website. Try just the last name first. Some of the clergy are still trying to hold the line, but some have retired, changed synods, working in another ministry/capacity, or caved. If you can't find him on ELCA, try LCMS, WELS, and other Lutheran synod websites, as well.

 

[Bethlehem57]

Sorry you had unfortunate experiences with some Pastors' sermons. Lutheran Pastors have historically gotten very rigorous, academic educations at Seminary. As with anything else, some are better than others at teaching what they know, and sometimes it's a matter of how well teaching/speaking style meshes with learning style. Sometimes, a Pastor simply has a bad day (they are human and fallible). Other than LCMS, I don't know how rigorous or academic any of the Lutheran seminaries are anymore.

ELCA started when three synods merged in 1988, and the ELCA later got really, really liberal (even apostate), with its stances on perversion and women's ordination. LCMS wouldn't join because more conservative and still holding the line. Some conservative churches in the merging synods migrated to LCMS or ELS. LCMS and WELS split over church government (WELS is more conservative and synod-centric, especially with regard to property ownership; LCMS allows women's suffrage and is more congregation-centric, with congregations owning their own property and thus more free to leave the synod), Unfortunately, now it looks as if WELS is beginning let some liberalism and legalism creep in There are a couple of small, old Synods that have remained separate, some somewhat liberal, and some conservative. Only one (ELS), which has the same conservative doctrine as LCMS, is in altar and pulpit fellowship with the LCMS.

And then there's the Church of the Lutheran Brethren (CLB) that is doctrinally essentially the same as the LCMS, except is/leans pre-Trib and repudiates replacement theology (End Times is officially an open question, although teaching in official documents is pre-Trib). AFAIK, no traditional liturgically worshipping congregations. I looked when I got here, and have continued to look. If I had found one (or ever do), even involving a significant drive, it would have been/be a good candidate for a church home for me. Alas . . .

"Here endeth the very brief overview of modern Lutheran synods in America."
"Thanks be to God."

You can search for him by name on the ELCA website. Try just the last name first. Some of the clergy are still trying to hold the line, but some have retired, changed synods, working in another ministry/capacity, or caved. If you can't find him on ELCA, try LCMS, WELS, and other Lutheran synod websites, as well.

Oh! I’ll try that! I’m pretty sure that he quit the ministry, but I will see! Thanks Ghoti!