Just Thinking About It

While it is my intention to maintain a certain amount of objectivity, the entire site is
 captioned  "The Way I See It"
What  I write therefore is not dependent on one's approval. There is to some
degree some biases even though I want to say I am totally impartial. I throw
no stones. I write or comment "The Way  I see It".

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Logic dictates that the voice of the masses is the mechanism  of potentiality  A nation will grow when its people are mobilized  and challenged  within the path of that which is less dictatorial.

If people are not listened to then the mechanism of potentiality becomes totally incapacitated.  Dissolution and lethargy become part of the dismantling of prior enthusiasm. One must bear in mind that people are not robots and people have power.  Such power is revealed in several ways, typical examples are, time, money, and one’s presence.

 Happy people make a happy and healthy church. One has to distinguish between love for the Lord and love of a structured church service.

When Moses was the sole Judge of Israel, Jethro saw that he Moses spent the whole day listening to the complaints of the children of Israel and the line was long and they were fainting from exhaustion. He said “Moses You are killing the people and yourself, share the responsibility, find among you capable people who will help you”. This time it was the voice of one of the people, God speaks through his people also. Moses listened.

The “soul” of the church are those who will not alter what Angels delight to see or hear. “God is not the Author of noise and confusion”  The Bible says “let everything be done decently and in order” Decently, as the dictionary defines it has several meanings and everyone  seem to suggest what the “soul” of the church wants;. appropriately,  competently, copiously,  fairly well, fittingly, modestly, pleasantly enough, presentably,  sufficiently, suitably. Is this too much for the backbone of the church to want? I think not.

Common sense also show that people get bored and restless after a given period of time. Jesus Himself made it clear that people needed to be fed on time, needed rest and people time. Wanting someone to spend too much time in church does not make one more holy. Christianity as the bible teaches is not a forced event. It is by choice. Christianity is not only a Sabbath experience, it is a life experience. Christians don’t worship only on Sabbath they do this in the week also. So naturally if the “soul” of the church says the service is too long, then those who are in charge should listen.

The worship experience has to be differentiated from everything else that goes on between 11 am until church finishes. Those thing which can be eliminated should be and let the church go back to the “Divine Hour” concept

Now we want to look at Adventist Churches that have two services per Sabbath day plus bible class and Ays. Are the people less fed spiritually? Survey said! No! Are they able to finish on time again it’s yes. The reason for two services is obvious…church growth.

The program is virtually the same, praise team, opening song, scripture, prayer, choir, children’s story, offering, choir, preaching and closing song. All of this takes place within one and half hours. Why do we need 3 to 4 hours to conduct divine service? The same things not counting those who come for 9:15 am Sabbath School.

The longer the church service the less attended it becomes. That is clear enough.

In order for the church to grow we need to listen to what the people want, not what we want to give to the people. People “needs” that was the focus of Christ’s teachings. He raised the dead, people asked Him to, He healed the blind, people asked Him to. He healed the sick, people asked Him to. He listened to the needs of the people. Jesus was so brilliant that He even listened to the devil at one point, after a man was healed of his madness. (The demons begged Jesus, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs Matt 8: 30-33) This was not compromising now, please bear this in mind. Who must we listen to…”the soul” of the church. They are the ones who want to maintain the spirituality of the church. The soundness of the doctrine The pastors come and go but the “Backbone” remains  The backbone of the church  wants growth, a spiritual wellness and grace. Not popularity. People want to learn of the love of God not how long church is.

If religion is the opium of the people then by all means in all honesty lets be fair and give them good religion.  Growth works not by trying popular concepts as the world would have it Peter had the same results with a different presentation in Acts 2. His was by the power of God through a scorching presentation of the gospel to the people that rejected Jesus. He did not cater to their sensitivity. So when the backbone of the church says this is wrong or this is too long maybe we need to listen. After all is said and done they are guardian of our faith. In every SDA church there is one

Then again which is more important growth or maturity? Why are we so concerned about what the younger generation wants? “The "Church Growth" that most pastors go for could work just as well in a cult group that  it is not adhering to Biblical doctrines and precepts. God says it is not by might or by power but by His Holy spirit”. Jesus himself said I will build my church. If we follow him and put our complete trust in him our churches will be mature and grow in grace. We don’t have to do things to be popular.

Finally The Praise Team, what is the purpose of the praise team?

As I watch each week, I look at the faces in the congregation many are not singing. A good eighty  percent. The question is why?  So who’s at fault here?

To me the praise team has no Mission, no Core Belief and no Defined Leadership.

by the entire assembly for the glorification of God. In essence the songs should be placed that the congregation is able to see and read the words. Songs carefully chosen to uplift the saints. Not to create any kind of distraction by the loud sounds of the instruments and gyrations of those who are caught up with the rhythmic tones of the moment