Failing church kicking out its old folk.

[faroukfarouk]

That is disgusting.

The only thing that the church or any other should be concerned about is preaching the gospel.
Nothing else matters and even if there were only one "old" person attending, that would be more pleasing to God than seeking how to "attract" people.

The Lord Jesus spoke about blind leaders.

 

[RestoreTheJoy]

Such an idea is not unheard of........There were a group of people traveling the wilderness for many years.....awaiting the death of the older people, so that the young could move forward into the promise......

That is a complete misunderstanding of what was happening when the Israelites took 40 years to go into the promised land.

 

[keith99]

That is a complete misunderstanding of what was happening when the Israelites took 40 years to go into the promised land.

Wasn't a golden calf a rather important part of that story?

Does anyone else notice that the church involved seems to be more concerned with gold than other issues and that there is a strong case that they are worshiping their own golden idol?

 

[Ronald]

Struggling Cottage Grove Church Asks Older Members To Go Away

Churches die for reasons. This one is Methodist, but it's a pattern I've observed independent of denomination.

My position: an aging church membership is a symptom of a failure to fulfill the Great Commission, and a declining membership is another symptom. But failing to fulfill the Great Commission is itself a symptom of a deeper spiritual illness. This church lost its way a long time ago. And this latest cynical move is yet another manifestation of the sickness.

Jesus welcomed the humble from all walks of life and of all ages. But the Church he founded - the Church described in the New Testament- does it even exist anymore?

If the church were led by the Holy Spirit, things never even would have gotten to this point.

Jesus rebuked 1st century churches! Read Revelation and his Letters to the Seven churches. Two were good, most had problems and were in need of repentance, a couple were either dead or dying and corrupt.
It's sin that corrupts and So It is with churches today.

 

[RestoreTheJoy]

Wasn't a golden calf a rather important part of that story?

Does anyone else notice that the church involved seems to be more concerned with gold than other issues and that there is a strong case that they are worshiping their own golden idol?

Yes, but worshiping the calf wasn't about the GOLD in any way. They could have built a calf of anything and worshiped it. It could have been a diamond or ruby calf (since they were sent on their way with gold and jewels).

It was about no longer trusting God despite all they had just watched Him do, when Moses didn't come right back down off the mountain.

 

[RaymondG]

That is a complete misunderstanding of what was happening when the Israelites took 40 years to go into the promised land.

You are given to understand what you are ready to understand. Unwise to assume that, just because someone sees something different in the word than you are able to see, that they are wrong. The law and the prophets spoke about Jesus.....Yet, because his interpretation was different from what the religious people have commonly heard....He was dismissed.

There are things that are hidden from the wise, yet revealed to those you deem ignorant and unlearned. Yet such is the Father's desire.

 

[RaymondG]

It was about no longer trusting God despite all they had just watched Him do, when Moses didn't come right back down off the mountain.

Again you see only what you are allowed to see. NO ONE could see a sea parted and follow a cloud of fire and then stop trusting the God that created those occurrences. And the Gold was important in the making of the calf. If you are willing to see more than History.....more than what the mind understands when it glances at the words.....more will be revealed.

 

[ViaCrucis]

The North Texas district of the Assemblies of God Denomination has over 600 churches, and last year over 200 of them reported NO salvations in 2019. THAT'S a problem.

How...how would they even be able to know that? Do they have access to special secret information from God that the rest of us don't have?

-CryptoLutheran

 

[ViaCrucis]

Jesus welcomed the humble from all walks of life and of all ages. But the Church he founded - the Church described in the New Testament- does it even exist anymore?

If the church were led by the Holy Spirit, things never even would have gotten to this point.

When we romanticize "the Church" we never have the Church but only something purely imaginary. The Church has always been comprised of ordinary sinners, because that's what we all are. When a group came from Jerusalem to Antioch St. Peter in cowardice refused to associate with the Gentiles, and St. Paul called him out on it. St. James in his epistle rebukes those who showed favoritism to the wealthier members of the community. Even the Holy Apostles themselves made mistakes.

In his work Life Together, Pastor Bonhoeffer reminds us of the danger of the romantic ideal when it comes to the Church,

"The person who loves their dream of community will destroy community, but the person who loves those around them will create community." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together

The Church is what she is, it is what she is by the word and promise of Christ who calls her His Church; and there is nothing that can invalidate that solemn word and promise. We do not have a church of our dreams, we have a church that actually is, filled with people who by their very nature are sinful, faulty, and are who they are. So, of course the Holy Spirit is leading His Church--that doesn't mean she is infallible, that doesn't mean she doesn't need course correction and rebuke. But she is still the Church, we are still that Church.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[98cwitr]

OP link is broken, here's another link to the story: What’s Really Going On Inside the Minnesota Church Accused of Trying to Expel Its Elderly Members

 

[keith99]

OP link is broken, here's another link to the story: What’s Really Going On Inside the Minnesota Church Accused of Trying to Expel Its Elderly Members

A very different story. But which is the truth? Or at least closer to the truth!

The link you provided has a link to what might be the original newspaper article, it is at least a local paper.

Cottage Grove church to usher out gray-haired members in effort to attract more young parishioners – Twin Cities

I found the ending of this one rather revealing. There was only one family with children and it seems they are not at all happy about the new plans.

 

[Mark&Mary]

I reached the conclusion years ago that I would not ever again join the membership of any denomination. I am a member of the body of Christ and do not need membership in any organization to improve on that. Why didn't the pharisees just revoke Jesus' and Paul's temple menberships? Because there was no such concept back then. It was invented after the early church became corrupted by Constantine's control over the church leadership. The whole notion of membership became all about power and manipulation. I do support my local Christian assembly by helping some with the ministers' income and for projects expected to directly result in conversions to Christ. Aid going directly to widows and orphans is excellent. But no Christian should give a nickel to any organization not bringing in serious numbers of converts. They are made up of the useless lukewarm people that Christ said He will spew out of his mouth. Such places need to go out of business for the good of His kingdom.

 

[RestoreTheJoy]

You are given to understand what you are ready to understand. Unwise to assume that, just because someone sees something different in the word than you are able to see, that they are wrong. The law and the prophets spoke about Jesus.....Yet, because his interpretation was different from what the religious people have commonly heard....He was dismissed.

There are things that are hidden from the wise, yet revealed to those you deem ignorant and unlearned. Yet such is the Father's desire.

Yes, exactly.

 

[RestoreTheJoy]

OP link is broken, here's another link to the story: What’s Really Going On Inside the Minnesota Church Accused of Trying to Expel Its Elderly Members

"...Cottage Grove church’s leadership team voted last year to temporarily close the Cottage Grove campus starting in June 2020. They hired a 32-year-old “planting pastor,” Jeremy Peters, who will be charged with redesigning the church’s programs and Sunday worship style, and updating the building with the goal of attracting new—and yes, younger—members."

How about praying and fasting and seeking God's wisdom on this, instead of man's wisdom?

God doesn't care how many there are. He cares how committed they are.

 

[iluvatar5150]

"...Cottage Grove church’s leadership team voted last year to temporarily close the Cottage Grove campus starting in June 2020. They hired a 32-year-old “planting pastor,” Jeremy Peters, who will be charged with redesigning the church’s programs and Sunday worship style, and updating the building with the goal of attracting new—and yes, younger—members."

How about praying and fasting and seeking God's wisdom on this, instead of man's wisdom?

What makes you think they haven't?

God doesn't care how many there are. He cares how committed they are.

That's a bit of a cop out. If, for several years in a row, they haven't been able to get their numbers above 30 while in a fast-growing suburb, then chances are they're either not committed to outreach or they are committed, but they're doing a poor job of it.