Posted by Al
on 7/16/2011, 3:25 am, in reply to "Re: Sooo..."
Message modified by user Al 7/16/2011, 7:43 am
I am reminded of an experience we had while studying at IOCS in Cambridge. The Evangelicals in the Theological Federation had a "Praise and Worship" service, which was basically a Christian Pop Music concert by a couple of popular groups. One of the IOCS clergy member's sons (and, not an avid Church goer) attended to see what it was all about. His comment:
"It was very interesting and quite entertaining. There was in no way any feeling of the presence of God, which made for a very entertaining evening, as I didn't feel I had to be reverent, but just enjoy myself."
I would suggest Bob do some research into how much of the money "not spent on expensive vestments" in the protestant world is spent on actually fulfilling the Sermon of the Last Judgement versus funding "Performances". Believe me, Bob, Joel O'Steen spends more on lights video and sound technicians in a single month that the cost of all the Orthodox vestment purchases in the US in a year or two. A congregation of about 200 near where I lived i the US spent nearly $250,000 upgrading their "stage facilities" (They have no sanctuary as such) to provide for "more professional performances."
Is that the road we want to follow to "fill the church". (I specifically did not capitalize, as I can't quite do so when describing such venures)
Al
Paros Island, Greece
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