101–110 of 166 posts
The other 900lb gorilla in the contemporary Christian music world today is Bethel Church, in Redding CA. They've put out as much if not more of than Hillsong in terms of the music played in contemporary churches these days. Too bad their great music hides some "interesting" theology, IMHO.
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And their status is not likely to change while one of their flock is the Prime Minister.
Why would they need to change their status just because they have a large revenue from being successful? Girl Scouts, a non-profit, bring in 700 million from selling their cookies. United Way Worldwide, another non-profit, has a revenue of 3.9 Billion.
Religious organizations are considered tax-exempt.
"You're not making Christianity better, you're just making rock and roll worse" -H. Hill. https://i.redd.it/5iqvu91yz0ly.jpg
Amazing. How have I never seen that before? Made me laugh primarily because it resonates quite strongly for me (although I suspect not for everyone). There are Christian artists I've really enjoyed. Iona spring immediately to mind, although I haven't listened to them regularly in years, but the relevant points are: 1) Their lyrics tend to have more substance to them. 2) Even if the style isn't your cup of tea, there'…
You would probably also appreciate Jon Foreman's (Switchfoot founder) solo work too.
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> just because they've been "making things happen". Actually, my biggest fear about Christianity in the USA today is that it's NOT "making things happen" Or, perhaps more accurately, the things that it's making happen are businesses. The mainline congregations and Catholics of the 19th and early-mid 20th centuries made serious contributions to: 1. Education. In addition to the obvious middle and high schools, they st…
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you". If you're going to reach the kids and young adults of the 21st century, your church can't act like it's still the 19th. If all you care about is your existing congregation of late-stage adults and senior citizens, then perhaps organ m…
My comment focuses on a general disinterest in caring for the congregation and its surrounding community. In other words, churches that "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" but which do NOT "teach them to observe all that I have commanded you".
I think scripture makes it abundantly clear which of those is the more important commandment. In fact, on multiple occasions, Jesus and his apostles specifically call out churches that do the former without doing the latter.
Christianity can thrive with contemporary worship styles, and arguments to the contrary are silly. That's why I didn't make a single comment about worship style.
However, if the kids and young adults of the 21st century are disinterested in obeying commandments to care for their follow congregants, to care for the downtrodden in their communities, to care for their clergy, etc., then the Christian church is atrophied. Regardless of how many people show up to Sunday worship or how many counseling sessions/MP3 downloads/lattes are sold.
In other words, the "thing" that churches should be "making happen" is the following of God's teachings. Success in more secular terms is irrelevant to the measure of a church, even if it is interesting to aspiring entrepreneurs.
Hillsong NYC volunteer software engineer here. We’re passionate about using our skills to serve the local community in addition to our church. Shoot me an email if you’re in the area and would like to chat about helping local nonprofits with code. e at emersonhall dot com
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I am looking at this as an outsider. I'm European, and even though charismatic churches are global, their history is american. Anyway... I see your point. It's true. But, you need to remember that american catholic and "mainline protestant" churches mostly descend from a state religion origin. The american revolution's secularism totally changed the role of the church. The church-state seperation (which is still very…
This is a good point when comparing USA churches with their European counter-parts. However, the comparison I was making was specifically about the USA. Even without tax/public funds (or preferential tax treatment), American christian churches did engage in all of the things you list. There are hundreds of private, non-tax-funded middle schools, high schools, colleges, universities, and seminaries in the USA. Many of…
I was suggesting that cultural origins play a role. The catholic church's culture in the US is heavily influenced by the catholic church globally and its history globally. So, they see those schools & hospitals as a part of what the church is, what it does and its role in society.
Anyway... personally, I'm more worried about secular/non-religious bodies inability to perform functions historically provided by churches.
For-profit, non-profit & public bodies can do hospitals & schools, and do. They don't do pastoral care very well. They don't build communities very well. .. That, IMO is where the crack is, that separation of church and state has left.
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For me, the big problem with this kind of musical/theatrical production is that you're doing one thing — provoking excited emotions and feelings in a group context, just as would happen at a well-produced secular concert, or a moving, personal comedy show — and implicitly or explicitly claiming that it is a personal religious experience. Many times with young people who don't know the difference. I suppose it might b…
> you're doing one thing — provoking excited emotions and feelings in a group context, just as would happen at a well-produced secular concert, or a moving, personal comedy show — and implicitly or explicitly claiming that it is a personal religious experience. Many times with young people who don't know the difference. That is a very thought-provoking perspective, which I think I'll probably be chewing over for a wh…
gave me a permanent distaste for "concerts" at church.
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Yes, please elaborate.
Cult activities — they teach exclusion and isolation of their members against non-subscribers. Submission of financial independence of members, they must actually tithe of 10% their wage to the cult and this is actually audited by them; they hate the LGBT community (they are hateful anti-gay cult); tax free status, they make big dollars from victims and pay nothing toward society. Evil scum.
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Stanley Hauerwas (theologian) had this to say about music in worship: One reason why we Christians argue so much about which hymn to sing, which liturgy to follow, which way to worship is that the commandments teach us to believe that bad liturgy eventually leads to bad ethics. You begin by singing some sappy, sentimental hymn, then you pray some pointless prayer, and the next thing you know you have murdered your be…
Sounds like he hangs out with a bunch of psychopaths who missed the core message of what they're congregating for.