wasn't what I expected

[JesusFo11ower]

I went to a methodist church for the first time this sunday and I must admit, it's not really to my liking. I thought it would be liturgical, but it was contemporary. I thought it would be quiet, but the preachers actually screamed a little. I know this isn't at every methodist church but I really can't make it to any other ones. I porbably will just go back to a lutheran church because that was more to my liking.

 

[GraceSeeker]

In my experience in today's church, it's more about local congregational experience than denominational flavor anyway. But, also, don't judge any congregation from a single experience if you're trying to do a taste test on them. It just take more than one sampling to know what one is going to find.

 

[Maid Marie]

I went to a methodist church for the first time this sunday and I must admit, it's not really to my liking. I thought it would be liturgical, but it was contemporary. I thought it would be quiet, but the preachers actually screamed a little. I know this isn't at every methodist church but I really can't make it to any other ones. I porbably will just go back to a lutheran church because that was more to my liking.

Never heard of a screaming Methodist preacher. How frustrating.

 

[JesusFo11ower]

I found a church I can make it to with or without transportation. Thanks for the help guys, but I'll be going to a Christian church for now and will be mostly on the non-denom forum.

 

[Maid Marie]

I found a church I can make it to with or without transportation. Thanks for the help guys, but I'll be going to a Christian church for now and will be mostly on the non-denom forum.

Glad you found a church you like...though will miss you on this forum!

 

[BryanW92]

Never heard of a screaming Methodist preacher. How frustrating.

At a district lay training event a few years ago, they had the pastor from one of our predominantly-black UM churches here in town as the speaker. This guy was AWESOME!! They gave him 20 minutes to preach a sermon and he took over an hour, and I would have listened to him for the rest of the afternoon. As soon as he started preaching, all the black Methodists were on the edge of their seats, shouting "Amen", "Teach it brother", and "Tell em pastor". It took the white people about a half hour to warm up and get with the program. But we finally let loose with the "Amens" too.

But, he was a screamer that would have given any SBC preacher in town a run for his money.

 

[Maid Marie]

At a district lay training event a few years ago, they had the pastor from one of our predominantly-black UM churches here in town as the speaker. This guy was AWESOME!! They gave him 20 minutes to preach a sermon and he took over an hour, and I would have listened to him for the rest of the afternoon. As soon as he started preaching, all the black Methodists were on the edge of their seats, shouting "Amen", "Teach it brother", and "Tell em pastor". It took the white people about a half hour to warm up and get with the program. But we finally let loose with the "Amens" too.

But, he was a screamer that would have given any SBC preacher in town a run for his money.

I'm laughing as I picture that I'm one of those white folks that is too calm and collected to even raise a hanky

Although, if it was a screamer, I'd probably let loose - out the door. I can't handle being screamed at especially from the pulpit.

 

[circuitrider]

At a district lay training event a few years ago, they had the pastor from one of our predominantly-black UM churches here in town as the speaker. This guy was AWESOME!! They gave him 20 minutes to preach a sermon and he took over an hour, and I would have listened to him for the rest of the afternoon. As soon as he started preaching, all the black Methodists were on the edge of their seats, shouting "Amen", "Teach it brother", and "Tell em pastor". It took the white people about a half hour to warm up and get with the program. But we finally let loose with the "Amens" too.

But, he was a screamer that would have given any SBC preacher in town a run for his money.

Wow, I'd not have thought an hour sermon or screaming was awesome. To each their own. But Jesus never screamed at people maybe other than in cleansing the temple, and that was a civil action and not a sermon. And while I love and experience black preaching as exuberant, I'm not even used to black pastors screaming.

I got screamed at enough as a child in the SBC and I still have the spiritual scars. I'd have probably walked out.

 

[BryanW92]

I'm laughing as I picture that I'm one of those white folks that is too calm and collected to even raise a hanky

Although, if it was a screamer, I'd probably let loose - out the door. I can't handle being screamed at especially from the pulpit.

Maybe my definition of a "screaming pastor" is different. I've always been a Methodist, where the pastor only raises his voice above a normal conversational tone if he stubs his toe or hears someone say "once saved, always saved".

What I meant was that this pastor did raise his voice and lower it in an appropriate way is if he really, really believed what he was saying and wanted us to know just how important certain points were. He wasn't frothing at the mouth and yelling or anything like that.

 

[BryanW92]

Wow, I'd not have thought an hour sermon or screaming was awesome. To each their own. But Jesus never screamed at people maybe other than in cleansing the temple, and that was a civil action and not a sermon. And while I love and experience black preaching as exuberant, I'm not even used to black pastors screaming.

I got screamed at enough as a child in the SBC and I still have the spiritual scars. I'd have probably walked out.

An hour-long sermon that is nothing but endlessly detailed exegesis and explanations of Greek is hell on earth. But an hour-long sermon that contains the right mix of exegesis, translation, and life application along with some speaking from the heart that convicts the comfortable is good. Maybe not every Sunday, but once or twice a year when I am surrounded by people who want to be there and aren't looking at their watches because their tee time is getting close...well, that's a good thing.

Believe me, I would not have brought him into my UM church! Half of the congregation would have got up and left in the first 10 minutes. Most of the rest would have left at 12:10, like they always do when things run late for any reason other than communion. After all, "God had his hour, but I've got important things to do!"

 

[Maid Marie]

I got screamed at enough as a child in the SBC and I still have the spiritual scars. I'd have probably walked out.

That and by my grandmother are my reasons for leaving.

 

[GraceSeeker]

Hey, Bryan, you sure you want to leave? This may be what you find out there: Jesus Is Not My God

The author, Mark Sandlin, is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) from the South. He is a co-founder of The Christian Left. His blog, The God Article, was recently named as one of the “Top Ten Christian Blogs.” He also writes for "The Huffington Post" and "Sojourners." He’s married to an amazing Baptist minister and has two fabulous teenagers. More than anything (other than peace and justice), Mark wants to have a beverage in one hand and a book in the other as he and his wife look across the shores of Ocracoke, NC.

 

[VolRaider]

Hey, Bryan, you sure you want to leave? This may be what you find out there: Jesus Is Not My God

The author, Mark Sandlin, is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) from the South. He is a co-founder of The Christian Left. His blog, The God Article, was recently named as one of the “Top Ten Christian Blogs.” He also writes for "The Huffington Post" and "Sojourners." He’s married to an amazing Baptist minister and has two fabulous teenagers. More than anything (other than peace and justice), Mark wants to have a beverage in one hand and a book in the other as he and his wife look across the shores of Ocracoke, NC.

I have a feeling Bryan is going to PCA. Might have to double check that author, but he sounds PCUSA. Wow, that guy actually sounded nuttier than TEC's "bishop" Schori. The minute ministers announce they are agnostic, they should be ushered out the door. Quit wasting parishioners time. They didn't get up in the morning to hear that Jesus may not be God. If I believed that I would just stay home, keep my recliner wam, six-pack in hand, and watch the NFL pregame shows.

 

[GraceSeeker]

Yes, Bryan is going PCA and Mark Sandlin is PCUSA.

 

[RileyG]

That and by my grandmother are my reasons for leaving.

Sorry to hear that.

 

[BryanW92]

I have a feeling Bryan is going to PCA. Might have to double check that author, but he sounds PCUSA. Wow, that guy actually sounded nuttier than TEC's "bishop" Schori. The minute ministers announce they are agnostic, they should be ushered out the door. Quit wasting parishioners time. They didn't get up in the morning to hear that Jesus may not be God. If I believed that I would just stay home, keep my recliner wam, six-pack in hand, and watch the NFL pregame shows.

I'm going PCA. I agree with you. If my pastor cannot state with certainty that Jesus is God, then it's time to move on. But it does show the depth of the cancer in our culture when an ordained member of the "frozen chosen" can say things like Sandlin is saying and he isn't instantly defrocked.

 

[Reverend Greg]

Sandlin sounds like a bit of a hypocrite, not to mention a heretic. He does not want the Jesus of Christianity but wants the title and money of being a pastor. Lord have mercy!

 

[RileyG]

I have a feeling Bryan is going to PCA. Might have to double check that author, but he sounds PCUSA. Wow, that guy actually sounded nuttier than TEC's "bishop" Schori. The minute ministers announce they are agnostic, they should be ushered out the door. Quit wasting parishioners time. They didn't get up in the morning to hear that Jesus may not be God. If I believed that I would just stay home, keep my recliner wam, six-pack in hand, and watch the NFL pregame shows.

I wonder if his parishioners reported them to his superiors?

 

[RomansFiveEight]

Sandlins superiors are more than aware of what he teaches. As I understand it he's no longer serving a church. The PCUSA is congregational and I'm led to believe his church has dismissed him. He's good at attention getting titles. I read his stuff. I don't necessarily agree with him on all points (or most); but he makes me think and that's cool with me. I try to intentionally read people who are different than I am so I can help broaden my understanding. I don't mind disagreeing with someone, but I won't tolerate myself being ignorant of their point of view if I can help it. (At least I KNOW they are wrong, instead of just FEELING they are wrong! HA! Kidding) Even if I think "gee, that's dumb", at least I'm thinking. Mark Sandlin is a part of a flavor of liberal Christianity that's called "Red letter Christians". Meaning they live their lives according to and essentially only according to Jesus' words. More/less the Old Testament, the Gospels, Paul's epistles, etc., are more historical context and not authoritative. (Aside, of course, from the components containing Christ's actual words). That's not my theology, but it's his and I get it.

From what I've read, I don't think Mark Sandlin would be classified as someone who didn't believe in the divinity of Jesus. Though if he leaned towards universalism I wouldn't be surprised. And, frankly, if he didn't lean towards universalism I wouldn't be surprised either.

Another thing about Sandlin is, and I mean this in the most courteous and professional way possible; sometimes I read his stuff and can't shake this feeling of "He's just trying to tick people off". Titles, articles, themes, even theologies that I'm not convinced even HE believes; but they generate a lot of buzz and argument and sometimes that seems to be what he's going for.

Just for those reading who aren't aware, the PCUSA is the more 'liberal' branch of Presbyterianism and the PCA the more 'Conservative'. The two aren't compatible and members of each that I know are very adamant about not being a part of the other.

 

[RomansFiveEight]

Never heard of a screaming Methodist preacher. How frustrating.

I often preach loud and with a lot of inflection. I wouldn't say 'screaming', but I am loud. Gee, hope nobody finds it frustrating! LOL. I don't use a microphone at one of my two churches. They told me I didn't need it.