Non-Denom Christian Dilemma

[Joe Bloggs]

I've been thinking, does anyone feel like non-denom churches can feel a bit tacky? I go to a non-denom church and sometimes I cringe a little. For example, the "Ohh Jesus Loves Me" music genre with an acoustic guitar and tambourine hitting on the leg. I never understood that, nor found it to enliven my spirit for God anymore than it was before (I actually enjoy Gregorian/Latin chanting, despite me not being Catholic). Maybe it's just me, but another thing is that I feel like nitty and gritty moments in the Bible are stil taken lightly be people. I understand and agree with people when may say (when speaking about a nitty gritty part of the Bible), "God was in control so it was okay." But take Jeremiah for example, I mean his book is not some light-hearted experience but I feel that people talk about it freely as if it was. "Oh yeah, Jeremiah had it rough." Well yeah, but that's it? I mean he lived through hell essentially. My point is that I feel like people treat the Bible as sunshine and daisies, even when it isn't and maybe this is just my partcular non-denom church but I feel like there's a trend of this in other church communities as well. Does anyone feel the same? That people in non-denom churches can have a tendency to take things as rainbows and sunshine (esp. in a tacky way as with music) when they are in no way supposed to be? I hope I conveyed these thoughts correctly, but please ask if you need clarification. Thanks.

 

[ChristianFromKazakhstan]

I've been thinking, does anyone feel like non-denom churches can feel a bit tacky? I go to a non-denom church and sometimes I cringe a little. For example, the "Ohh Jesus Loves Me" music genre with an acoustic guitar and tambourine hitting on the leg. I never understood that, nor found it to enliven my spirit for God anymore than it was before (I actually enjoy Gregorian/Latin chanting, despite me not being Catholic). Maybe it's just me, but another thing is that I feel like nitty and gritty moments in the Bible are stil taken lightly be people. I understand and agree with people when may say (when speaking about a nitty gritty part of the Bible), "God was in control so it was okay." But take Jeremiah for example, I mean his book is not some light-hearted experience but I feel that people talk about it freely as if it was. "Oh yeah, Jeremiah had it rough." Well yeah, but that's it? I mean he lived through hell essentially. My point is that I feel like people treat the Bible as sunshine and daisies, even when it isn't and maybe this is just my partcular non-denom church but I feel like there's a trend of this in other church communities as well. Does anyone feel the same? That people in non-denom churches can have a tendency to take things as rainbows and sunshine (esp. in a tacky way as with music) when they are in no way supposed to be? I hope I conveyed these thoughts correctly, but please ask if you need clarification. Thanks.

I think today's churches are so shallow, almost zero depth. Almost no Jesus, no truth. They turned into entertainment. It's a shame.

 

[dysert]

I've been thinking, does anyone feel like non-denom churches can feel a bit tacky? I go to a non-denom church and sometimes I cringe a little. For example, the "Ohh Jesus Loves Me" music genre with an acoustic guitar and tambourine hitting on the leg. I never understood that, nor found it to enliven my spirit for God anymore than it was before (I actually enjoy Gregorian/Latin chanting, despite me not being Catholic). Maybe it's just me, but another thing is that I feel like nitty and gritty moments in the Bible are stil taken lightly be people. I understand and agree with people when may say (when speaking about a nitty gritty part of the Bible), "God was in control so it was okay." But take Jeremiah for example, I mean his book is not some light-hearted experience but I feel that people talk about it freely as if it was. "Oh yeah, Jeremiah had it rough." Well yeah, but that's it? I mean he lived through hell essentially. My point is that I feel like people treat the Bible as sunshine and daisies, even when it isn't and maybe this is just my partcular non-denom church but I feel like there's a trend of this in other church communities as well. Does anyone feel the same? That people in non-denom churches can have a tendency to take things as rainbows and sunshine (esp. in a tacky way as with music) when they are in no way supposed to be? I hope I conveyed these thoughts correctly, but please ask if you need clarification. Thanks.

I think it totally depends on the particular church. My nondenom church, for example, is quite modern, large, and anything but tacky. It's relevant for today's families, and the sermons by the senior pastor are always spot on. As a matter of fact, now that I'm thinking about it, there are several churches popping up around my neighborhood, and they are all modern, large, and have good reputations -- and they're all nondenoms. Perhaps you need to look for a new church that is better suited to what you're looking for?

 

[Greg J.]

Maybe it's just me, but another thing is that I feel like nitty and gritty moments in the Bible are stil taken lightly be people.

I've noticed and experienced it, but it's not because they are non-denominational, it is because the emphasis on pursuing holiness has all but disappeared in many churches. It is an attribute from modern culture.

If you have associated a sober, quiet, liturgical environment with holiness, then that is your own programming. While soberness and stillness before the Lord are signs of holiness, there aren't going to be found in their full-blown form at church. Holiness and taking God seriously don't necessarily look like you think they should.

My point is that I feel like people treat the Bible as sunshine and daisies, even when it isn't and maybe this is just my partcular non-denom church but I feel like there's a trend of this in other church communities as well.

I've noticed and experienced it; it's also not tied to being non-denominational. This is a combination of things, such as too many people no longer having to rely on God for their needs, such as for money and a sense of security. It has created a segment of culture of people weaker (I'm one) and more superficial than is healthy. The result is a real need in people for comforting things at all times. Almost all churches have a level of seeker friendliness which others will object to, but they may well be meeting the spiritual needs of the congregation at their point of need.