Thus says the Lord: "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.
But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'" --Jeremiah 6:16

 

17 January, 2007   comments: (0) Today's Pragmatism   Churching an Entertainment Culture - Part 2 Are we living in a unique time in church history, in which the culture is so immersed in entertainment that we are all but forced to adapt our church services to include entertainment in order to reach the masses? Is it true that Jesus was committed to creating memorable experiences for His followers such as walking on water, turning water to wine, the Transfiguration, and Pentecost? If so, should the church today likewise strive to create "wow" experiences that generate buzz and keep people from getting bored? Here's a look back at church history and scripture, to see if those claims hold true. This post is part 2 in a special series by guest contributor Scott Oliver. I've invited Scott to write an analysis of the views expressed by innovative church pastor and conference speaker Perry Noble. Scott is a fellow "refugee" of a seeker centered church, and a long time reader of Old Truth. He has immediate family members who serve as a seminary professor and a pastor. Scott's article now continues from part 1 yesterday. . . Third, Perry infers that today's culture is markedly different than in the day of Christ and the early church to support his contention that entertainment is permissible, allowable and even preferred by God to reach the lost and keep the redeemed in the pew. This belief is not supported historically or by the New Testament account of the church. The Greco-Roman society and culture was remarkably similar to today's. They had all kinds of amusements and entertainment; theaters with plays and music, amphitheaters with sporting events, circuses, and public bathhouses. There was so much of it that the satirist, Juvenal, stated in his satirical play Satire 10 "The people that once bestowed commands, consulships, legions, and all else, now concerns itself no more, and longs eagerly for just two things - bread and circuses!" In Roman occupied Palestine, Herod (the same Herod that wished to murder the infant Jesus) built two large theaters one in Jerusalem and another just outside as recorded by the Jewish historian Josephus in Antiquities XV, 8, 1 written approximately in AD 94: On this account it was that Herod revolted from the laws of his country, and corrupted their ancient constitution, by the introduction of foreign practices, which constitution yet ought to have been preserved inviolable; by which means we became guilty of great wickedness afterward, while those religious observances which used to lead the multitude to piety were now neglected; for, in the first place, he appointed solemn games to be celebrated every fifth year, in honor of Caesar, and built a theater at Jerusalem, as also a very great amphitheater in the plain. Both of them were indeed costly works, but opposite to the Jewish customs; for we have had no such shows delivered down to us as fit to be used or exhibited by us; yet did he celebrate these games every five years, in the most solemn and splendid manner. (Note that Josephus states that Jews had no shows/entertainment that had been passed down from Abraham to Moses to that time in Palestine. This affirms what the Old Testament accounts purvey to us and is recounted in point 2 previously.) Rome brought all of their entertainment and amusements to every country they conquered. This can be observed by looking at the archeological record and noting all of the amphitheater ruins that abound in the countries that they vanquished. The reason that this needs to be investigated is that during Jesus' and the apostle's day of the first century there was ample entertainment available that could have been put to use to save the lost in the vein as Perry and others like him advocate. God through his Son could easily have stated use whatever non-coercive means or methods necessary to convert the lost. But that is not what was advocated or illustrated in any of the apostle's accounts. In the Great Commission (which is usually used as the trump card by the any method is allowed crowd) Matt 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Christ states that we are to obey everything he has commanded, make disciples, baptize and teach. Now it would have been easy for our Lord to add "use any means" and "ensure they are entertained" which had not been in place during the old covenant but those sentiments do not exist. One needs only to look at Jesus' reaction to the rich young ruler in Matt 19:22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Now what was Jesus' reaction to attempt to stop this young man and say "I will be performing some EXCITING miracles tomorrow. Through that EXPERIENCE you will see the AWESOME power of Me the SON of MAN. YO Dude, I will PUT YOU ON FIRE FOR ME." No he did nothing but let him go. No entertainment. No dramas. No music. No tailoring his message to him. No let us go down to the amphitheater and we will put on a great show and get you fired up. He just let him go. Fourth, in his previous post Perry states "that Jesus created experiences for His followers" insinuating that miracles were for the purpose of creating excitement for his followers. His thought process is that if Jesus was creating experiences for his followers then it is permissible for us to take license to create experiences and entertainment for the church attendee. This is a total misapplication of the purpose of miracles within the Bible. There are two times in Scripture that there are high concentrations of miracles. The first is in Exodus 7-12 and the other is during Jesus' ministry. Both had the same purposes, in Exodus it was to prove to Pharaoh and the world that Yahweh was the one true God and to announce that Moses was the intermediary of the old covenant. Paralleling the OT, Jesus' miracles were to proclaim that he was indeed the Messiah, the Son of God and that he was the intermediary of the new covenant. At no time was the miracle's purpose to create a "buzz", "draw crowds", "provide physical earthly needs" or "create experiences for his followers". In fact at times in the apostolic accounts Jesus performs miracles and He requests that they not be proclaimed to prevent drawing a crowd (Mark 5:43, John 5:13). In addition in John 6:25-66 Jesus scolds many of his followers that they are only with Him because of the miracles and free food (John 6:25). Jesus continues and gives His discourse on the bread of life. After which many of His own followers quit following Him (John 6:66). Again Jesus does nothing but let them go. So again we have a case where Perry's reasoning does not square up with Scripture. Fifth, throughout the early church after Christ's ascension we have no scriptural references to the church using entertainment in a Greco-Roman culture that was awash with it as demonstrated previously. Just as Jesus did not make use of it neither did His apostles. Paul in Galatians 4:8-11 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God--or rather are known by God--how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. Paul is concerned with the melding of pagan practices with the Christians in Galatia. Again syncretism is in view which leads to the eventual polluting of the church. He certainly does not state that they live in the country that has a pagan culture let us incorporate pagan practices, entertainment, etc to save the lost. No, he points out their error and expects them to abstain from it. Later he states Gal 4:18-20 "It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you. My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!" Paul speaks here directly to zealousness and the need for it to be measured. It is obvious that this concept is foreign to Perry, his followers and the pastors who follow his beliefs. In Acts 17:16-34 we have Paul witnessing to the Greeks in Athens. The account accentuates Paul's distress over their idolatry and his attempt to convert them. If there was ever a point in Scripture to accentuate the need or allure of entertainment of the church to a pagan culture this was it. Paul led of the Holy Spirit does a masterful job reasoning (note the appeal to reason not emotion) with them about their idol statue "To an unknown god" weaving in verse 28 a quote from their poet Aratus (from Phaenomena 5). Note the response at the end of the account some believed while others scoffed and rejected the truth. He never states come to our church or religion of better, EXCITING, and more relevant EXPERIENCE than what you get from paganism. He presents the gospel and allows the Holy Spirit to work if the Father so chooses. In 1 Co 10-14 Paul gives his most extensive writings on conduct of the church he does not bring up the use or importance of entertainment in a church gathering. If this was something that was desirable or even in use would have Paul's epistle's been silent on the application of it. The answer is an emphatic NO. In Acts 2:42-47 we find one of the earliest descriptions of a church service. In the description we again find no reference to entertainment or use of entertainment by the participants. Here as previously noted there is no use of entertainment to either maintain believers fixated on Christ or to use as an enticement for the unbelievers. Lastly, in the earliest extant accounts of the church we find no use of entertainment in the church services or in the enticement of new converts. This is important because the early church was closer in proximity of time to Jesus' and the apostles teaching. Justin Martyr gives us the earliest written account of worship in a church service (again this is during the height of Roman culture where entertainment was very much the same as today) in Justin Martyr, First Apology, circa AD 130 Chapter LXVII.-Weekly Worship of the Christians: "And we afterwards continually remind each other of these things. And the wealthy among us help the needy; and we always keep together; and for all things wherewith we are supplied, we bless the Maker of all through His Son Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Ghost. And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need. But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead. For He was crucified on the day before that of Saturn (Saturday); and on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having appeared to His apostles and disciples, He taught them these things, which we have submitted to you also for your consideration." Again here we see that only 100 years or less than five generations after Christ's resurrection that the church services did not contain entertainment as a component. Amazingly one can see that the traditional Orthodox Church service of today is remarkably the same as it was nearly 2000 years ago. Once again no mention of entertainment in the church service for any reason. So for the discerning Christian, Perry Noble's claims do not pass the test of reason, historical veracity and most importantly Scriptural truth. There are a great many lost out in this world and culture but we are not instructed to use the world to save the world. We are instructed to use the methods Scripture ordains of communicating the Gospel, which is the foolishness of preaching (1 Cor. 1:21). We are not to get antsy because we do not see immediate results but be disciplined as a soldier preparing for battle (Eph 6:11-20) or an athlete preparing for a race (2 Tim 4:1-8) for God is faithful. I have no illusion of Perry or any other of the CGM pastors reading this article. My hope and prayer is that some of the people who get caught up in the enthusiasm and zealousness of these churches and pastors, (as I once did) when God speaks to their hearts and minds through His word that they may read this and find solace and a path out. There are many small to medium reformed churches that litter the landscape that are waiting for you. Continue reading in part 3 . . . Posted by: Jim B.   Link: http://www.oldtruth.com/blog.cfm/id.2.pid.601   Be the first to post a comment about this article        Home  |   About  |  Videos   |  Calvinism