Church - too cool?

[graceandpeace]

Thoughts to consider:

Is Your Church Too Cool?

What's So Uncool About Cool Churches?

I fall in the 25-35 age demographic & I share these posts here because I have a genuine concern for the future of the church regarding how young adults are handled.

It seems visually that here where I live, young adults are adopting non-denominational "too cool" churches & or only attend mainline denominations that are trying to be cool. A conversation I had recently revealed the potential damage - because a young woman like myself didn't know the differences in churches. Because cool seems to equal dumb Christians & that is bad news for faith in the future.

We need to embrace & engage healthy theology & not abandon Christian traditions & history. My icon just says Christian, but I hold to Wesleyan theology - I am just in between churches. I am seeking a UMC & will change my icon once I formally join a church.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Paradoxum]

Cool churches can have 'good' theology. It depends what you mean by cool. I really liked my old church, but I think it had decent theology for a church. Tradition and history aren't always good though. They can stand in the way of what is true and moral.

 

[graceandpeace]

Cool churches can have 'good' theology. It depends what you mean by cool. I really liked my old church, but I think it had decent theology for a church. Tradition and history aren't always good though. They can stand in the way of what is true and moral.

The posts I linked touched a lot on the "cool " factor with churches. By "cool" I mean ultra-modern/rock concert/night club/fog machines & strobe lights/coffee shops type of deal - an experience driven church vs a theologically, traditionally grounded church. Sure, a "cool" church may still hold to acceptable theology, but with most I have witnessed (particularly non-denominational), the doctrine is hollow, with little explanation as to why they believe as they do.

 

[graciesings]

I think churches need to quit trying to be social gatherings and start TEACHING THE WORD OF GOD!!!!!
Seriously, if I want to party all weekend and listen to loud music and dance and flirt, I'll find a better place to do that than church.

 

[graceandpeace]

I think churches need to quit trying to be social gatherings and start TEACHING THE WORD OF GOD!!!!!
Seriously, if I want to party all weekend and listen to loud music and dance and flirt, I'll find a better place to do that than church.

Yea. I mean, I don't condemn having social outlets & connections for church members, such as small groups or the occasional fun church wide gathering. I just feel like so many young adults are joining the loud, modern, rock the house kind of churches that are theologically anemic & I worry about the ramifications for future Christian generations. I will never join that kind of craziness. I don't mind contemporary elements, but I don't want to feel like I'm at a concert, either.

 

[Paradoxum]

The posts I linked touched a lot on the "cool " factor with churches. By "cool" I mean ultra-modern/rock concert/night club/fog machines & strobe lights/coffee shops type of deal - an experience driven church vs a theologically, traditionally grounded church. Sure, a "cool" church may still hold to acceptable theology, but with most I have witnessed (particularly non-denominational), the doctrine is hollow, with little explanation as to why they believe as they do.

Well I'd agree that if you are going to have a rock type church, you need substance too. I'm not sure the two are mutually exclusive. Perhaps current churches like that are wrong.

 

[HorsieJuice]

The posts I linked touched a lot on the "cool " factor with churches. By "cool" I mean ultra-modern/rock concert/night club/fog machines & strobe lights/coffee shops type of deal - an experience driven church vs a theologically, traditionally grounded church. Sure, a "cool" church may still hold to acceptable theology, but with most I have witnessed (particularly non-denominational), the doctrine is hollow, with little explanation as to why they believe as they do.

This is the case in a lot of more traditional churches, too, as is the phenomenon of "dumb Christians" that you mentioned in the OP. In fact, I've probably met more dumb Christians in traditional churches than I have in the "cool" ones.

 

[graceandpeace]

This is the case in a lot of more traditional churches, too, as is the phenomenon of "dumb Christians" that you mentioned in the OP. In fact, I've probably met more dumb Christians in traditional churches than I have in the "cool" ones.

I agree, it can happen in any type of church. However, non-denominational (in my experience) is the worst offender - their statements of faith often have no explanation or incorrectly uses Scriptures. At least in most denominations there is some history , tradition, & reasoning for beliefs.

 

[Cearbhall]

If that's the only way they'll go to church, then wouldn't you think it's a good thing?

I think churches need to quit trying to be social gatherings and start TEACHING THE WORD OF GOD!!!!!

I'm picturing you as the minister in the Pollyanna movie.

 

[graciesings]

If that's the only way they'll go to church, then wouldn't you think it's a good thing?

It depends. If church is just another party, then no. If a person goes to a church that really believes something, has strong theology, and an evangelical approach; then that's good for them. If church is a few almost-decent musicians singing, "Jeeeeeeeeeee-suuuuuuussssss" and a sermon about religious tolerance, than why is it a good thing to get them to church?

I'm picturing you as the minister in the Pollyanna movie.

Kind of not really nope. Actually, I am a teenage girl who is over six feet tall, wears long dresses, has a lot of energy, and is always either in grin mode or debate mode. (Sorry, you get the debate side. )

 

[RobertMerton]

i dont like churches that try and be cool.
be all hipster like.

it just teaches people to be part of the world.

i think church should be set apart.
or at least be cool to draw teenagers in, but most of the appeal should be coming from good theology.

 

[EazyMack]

Wait... so are we striving for unity with this thread?

 

[graciesings]

Who is striving for unity?

Somebody asked what I thought, and I don't tend to hide my opinions.

 

[Cearbhall]

It depends. If church is just another party, then no. If a person goes to a church that really believes something, has strong theology, and an evangelical approach; then that's good for them. If church is a few almost-decent musicians singing, "Jeeeeeeeeeee-suuuuuuussssss" and a sermon about religious tolerance, than why is it a good thing to get them to church?

I'm talking about people who wouldn't go to church at all otherwise. Isn't that better than nothing in your book? At least they're getting Communion, etc.

 

[graceandpeace]

I'm talking about people who wouldn't go to church at all otherwise. Isn't that better than nothing in your book? At least they're getting Communion, etc.

I know this was not directed at me, but if one is only interested in church for the cafe inside selling coffee & to rock out with strobe lights & fog machines...then I would suspect their interest is not actually in church at all, but in enjoying a particular experience that happens to be taking place in a church instead of Starbucks or a night club.

 

[Cearbhall]

I know this was not directed at me, but if one is only interested in church for the cafe inside selling coffee & to rock out with strobe lights & fog machines...then I would suspect their interest is not actually in church at all, but in enjoying a particular experience that happens to be taking place in a church instead of Starbucks or a night club.

Hm. I'm not familiar with these "cool" churches at all. I was imagining a mass in a steeple-less building that uses contemporary music and includes more social time than traditional masses. If this is really what they're like, then I see your point. There isn't really much spiritual value to that.

 

[graciesings]

I'm talking about people who wouldn't go to church at all otherwise. Isn't that better than nothing in your book? At least they're getting Communion, etc.

Hm. I'm not familiar with these "cool" churches at all. I was imagining a mass in a steeple-less building that uses contemporary music and includes more social time than traditional masses. If this is really what they're like, then I see your point. There isn't really much spiritual value to that.

I see you have had some experience with liturgical churches. From that standpoint, it would be good for people to receive the means of grace. However, many modern evangelical churches regard communion as something done every few months in remembrance of Christ. It is usually these churches that spend their time trying to be "cool." There is no group confession/absolution, liturgy, or Eucharist; so if the sermon isn't a good one the service is no better than a party or rock concert. (However, I don't mean to bad-mouth these evangelical churches. If the sermon is serious and well-grounded in the Bible, than they are worth attending.)

 

[Cearbhall]

I see you have had some experience with liturgical churches.

Yeah, I went to one every weekend for 17 years, plus school masses.

 

[britchops]

Sadly, some/a lot of churches are falling into the trap of worrying more about being cool than doing God's will. It'll pass...

Cheers

TJ

Britchops Drum Tuition

 

[Cearbhall]

Just out of curiosity, does a Protestant service have more parts that reflect the values of the individual church? Obviously each denomination will have its own guidelines, but it seems like these "cool" churches are mostly non-denominational, so I guess I'm asking about non-denominational churches. I was raised Catholic and the only part of the Catholic mass that is really left to the parish's discretion is the Homily, which was sometimes only 5 minutes long at my parish. Occasionally, there would be an appeal after mass, but there were only a couple of times in my entire life when it had to do with anything but asking for money or talking about a mission trip.

I guess I'm just not familiar with the concept of people shopping around for a church because of things that are said during the service.