Musings on church, and how to make it not suck
This lady describes why she walked out on church, her frustrations with church guys (there are plenty of reasons), and its focus on family to the exclusion of singletons (more on that later). For my own part, I found that the guys at the local evangelical church were no fun to hang out with, were poor conversationalists, weren't mechanically or aquatically inclined, and were vainer than me, which is entirely too vain. The chicks were much more fun to talk to and hang out with, but you can't really be just friends with a girl if you're a guy, unless you have an army of reporters and photographers holding you accountable (see below). Good thing I don't go to the local evangelical church. Too much emphasis on Africa, also.
This guy hilariously describes how to make church not suck. I can't tell if the URL for his blog is "meta-lutheran" or "metal lutheran." Anyways, I can tell from his wit that he's a lot more metal than me.
Quit acting like such a fruit up there. Church isn't a casual affair in the slightest, so quit trying to show how in touch you are with the hip-hop urban youth of the 21st century by acting all nonchalant. Everyone knows you're a balding, pale, middle-aged man who's completely out of touch with the hip-hop urban youth of the 21st century. When you pretend you're cool, you actually look like a fruit. Even if you're non-liturgical, trust me, pastors are not cool. All the stools, goatees, and emo glasses in the world cannot make the preaching office cool. Also, stop telling me everything you're about to do. 99% of the people have seen it before; they're not surprised or impressed by your self-conscious fruitiness. And please stop pandering and talking down to people. People are not as stupid as you think they are. It just makes you look like a fruit. Talk like a human being.
Yes. Quit acting like you've caught teh ghey. That goes for all of the men in the church.
PRCalDude
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Cruising Down the Coast of the High Barbaree
The author of that blog is (or recently was) attending a Lutheran Seminary (I do not know which one), I have somewhat lost touch if he is a graduate or still a student. His sentiments mirror my own with regard to American churches in general, as well as battling the liberal influences creeping into many Lutheran spheres.
Ironically, he reflects a crop of new young "Orthodox" pastoral views that sometimes seem like a backlash from past crops of "60s raised" clergy. Interesting times ahead as people draw up sides, when reformed catholics like myself find as much in common with my reformed brothers than many in my own evangelical confessional denomination.
No, I'm not an ex-Catholic. When I say reformed catholic I'm talking about Augsburg Confession / Book of Concord stuff.
Now... the other important thing about whether one likes church has to do with why you go there and what you expect.
If you want to be entertained then you're probably not going to enjoy an orthodox Confessional Lutheran church service. If you want to hear a sermon that is based on the full message of Old Testament Law and New Testament Gospel, then you're probably not going to be disapointed. If you attend a Lutheran church and you don't get a proper sermon, then go to a different church.
I can also highly recommend this blog.
Probably a bit more experienced than the one referenced above.
Specifically:
As I was re-reading FC X the other day I came across this little snippet on the issue of adiaphora that serves as a good reminder that the Lutheran Reformers, while recognizing evangelical freedom in liturgical matters, did not tolerate frivolity:
Likewise, when there are useless, foolish displays that are not profitable for good order, Christian discipline, or evangelical practice in the Church, these also are not genuine adiaphora, or matters of indifference (Formula of Concord, Art. X p. 626).
I'm sure we have all seen our share of "useless, foolish displays" when it comes to Lutheran worship.
This is an excellent blog also.
Specifically this lastest post with the following snippets: (Go read the whole thing though.)
But Lutherans didn't obsess on liturgy; they just worshipped. They followed what was in the book (more or less - we've never been ones for liturgical straight-jackets).
And then enter the whole contemporary worship scene (which should really be called by what it is: the adoption of the liturgy of the Pentecostals and Charismatics). What has been the result?
As the mower was clipping away and the grass was flying up, I had a hankering for simply turning back the clock to a time when Lutherans worshipped as Lutherans and took such worship for granted.
BUT: I'm not slamming on my doctrine here, I'm simply pointing out how even though docrtine remains the same worldly influences can reach into any and all aspects of true Christian
worship.
The pastor authoring this blog practices what he preaches and strived dilligently to keep his own congregation on track.