Posted by Stede on July 02, 2005 at 09:38:46:
In Reply to: Re: Star Wars posted by bunkster on July 02, 2005 at 09:36:29:
Bunkster,
I agree with you that there does seem to be a movement amongst young people to be turning to religion. Yes, I’ve seen the t-shirts with pictures of Jesus and so forth. A couple I recall being shown on the evening news.” My God can kick your God’s butt.” “Jesus is my Homeboy.” It seems this t-shirt thing kind of got kicked off by some of the Hollywood stars wearing them. Kids today are very easily influenced by fads, etc., just as I know I was when I was younger. But I think kids are also turning to religion because they’re scared. They see a world around them in constant chaos, and they’re seeking security. Many kids haven’t been bought up in a church based family and are trying to figure this “religion” thing out on their own. Kids learn by observing adults.In our fast paced world of mass media in many forms, this can be a real danger.Let me give you a real life example.
Before I started observing God’s Sabbath, I attended several small Baptist “Sunday worship” churches. Two of the ones I attended over the years broke apart because of squabbles within the church. After the last one broke up, my wife and myself thought maybe we would look around for awhile before making a decision on whether or not to attend another small church, or a bigger one. A friend of mine whom is a Deacon suggested we attend his church, which is a large one.
My wife was unable to attend with me during several services because she’s suffering from a terminal type of cancer. The church sanctuary is very large and has stage lighting hanging from the domed ceiling above. It has a projector screen that seems as though it descends from the heavens to touch earth behind, and a jump shot in height above the pulpit. The words to the songs to be sung are projected on it. The newest Christian rock songs are sung by the choir, and the congregation, which is full of young people. They have a full band on “stage.” No hymnal books are needed! When the whole ensemble got cranked up in song, man, oh man…It would move you. Many hands reached upward to receive the “spiritual blessings from it.” But, I started noticing each week the hands that were reaching up, weren’t reaching out to me, a new guest. In many instances, I was sitting only a seat or two away. I kind of just shrugged it off because, man, that music was something to behold!
As much as I disliked thinking about it, I’ve had to start thinking about the possibility of the Lord taking my wife from me. I spoke with my deacon friend concerning it, and asked him to speak to the Pastor of the church on my behalf in regard to having my wife’s funeral there. I explained to my friend that my wife is the daughter of an evangelist, and that I thought the church was large enough to hold all the people that would surely come pay their respects to her. I asked my friend to mention these things to the Pastor in confidence, and that maybe the Pastor could come visit us in order to get to know my wife, and myself better, He assured me he would. The following Sunday service my wife was able to attend. She’s very frail and was concerned about getting sick in front of such a large congregation of people. The Pastor came over and spoke with us and told us he would be coming to visit with us. I then knew my friend had spoken to him on my behalf.
Several more weeks of services went by, but the Pastor never came to visit us. Week, after week during service, we occasional made eye contact. He never came and spoke to me again. The last service I attended there was during the Easter service. For recognition of what was supposed to be Christ’s resurrection, the church had several skits performed by both kids, and adults on stage. Different colored fabrics were scrolled across the stage to mimic the sun’s rays during one skit. The crucifixion scene portrayed was kind of a cross between synchronized dances, and enhanced visual effects. Black lights were used for one portion of it. The adults performed another skit while lip synching to a Christian song. It was all over whelming. Then God opened my eyes to what he really wanted me to see. Apostasy was occurring in the church, and it was the last place that he would want my wife’s funeral to be held. Everyone, from the Pastor, the deacons, to the young people had become so caught up in this new “Broadway” Christianity; they couldn’t see they had left Jesus outside without a ticket!
After the service was over, I left that church, and never returned again. A couple of months have gone by now. Neither the Pastor, nor the Deacon ever came by to find out why I stopped coming. I guess they’re to busy in rehearsals?
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