i passed a church today that had an open invite on their billboard thing and i was like thats cool. but as i read on, at the bottom is said no dress code. are you kidding me? have christians become sooo stuck up in the eye of the world that it has to be stressed that you dont have to wear a suit to come to a church? To me that says to other christians that the service is more about the wardrobe or experience than it is the message. i feel the same way about churches that advertise a “fundamental” AND contemporary services because i have also seen, around LBC, a church sign that says “fundamental” and KJV on it.now i understand that to an unchurched person that may make a difference. but really? if a church has to market based on dress code or style of service are you giving spiritual growth and showing the love of Christ or just giving someone a nice religious experience. granted i understand worship styles are different and some people worship differently than others. i personally love christian rap, i know some guys who break dance, and trust me you can see and feel them worshiping as they dance. but i do believe the heritage and history of the church and even worship needs to be taught. even in the Bible when you see the church coming to life and even in the ministry of Christ it was steeped in the history of the “church” even tho it wasnt the “church ” in the OT. I am not saying churches should be all “fundamentaL’ and im DEFINITELY not saying I have a problem with a modern contemporary service. I go to a contemporary church. I am just saying if a church has to market a band, or a come in jeans shorts invite, are you giving them Christ or an experience?
The church should welcome all people. I like to use the example of Big Mama, you know who that is, its the older bigger black lady, that treats everyone like family and doesnt care about your issues and hold them against you. this is the lady that no matter who you are you get a hug at the door. and some pie before you leave. I am sure we can all relate to this character in some way. she cares about the person, not their clothes, not their music, or their hair, nothing but the heart of the person. thats the way the church should be – as soon as you walk through the door, or even onto the lot, you are family. Now again im not saying that certain styles are wrong. i just think that its going a little too far.Churches today i think need to take a closer examination of what they are really saying when they attempt to outreach.
enough rambling. i think you get the point of my scattered writings.
