tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post94510175197727394..comments2024-03-27T15:47:46.091-05:00Comments on Pastoral Meanderings: Over sensitized is desensitized. . . Pastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-85393950208624049802014-04-28T21:32:14.816-05:002014-04-28T21:32:14.816-05:00Too much activity that is not Liturgy, Divine Serv...Too much activity that is not Liturgy, Divine Service and worship is actually unhealthy. I don't see many children and teens giving up extracurricular clubs, sports, etc. for cold pizza and lame entertainment at their youth group. Their parents aren't coming to actifities designed for them, either. Our generation is the generation of too many choices. <br /><br />The emerging church touts 'community' and the fact they are all friends accepting of each others' foibles (never use the word "sin"). All it's gotten them in the search for authenticity is confusion, false doctrine and regurgitated 20th century liberalism (that's redundant, isnt it?).<br /><br />For those who are sensitive Christians, too much non-Liturgy/worship activity going on only leads to guilt if they miss something. Having something every night of the week and activities designed for specific gorups does more damage than good.<br /><br />Church, after all is the body of Christ. The focus is on the crucified, risen Lord. This is certainly not popular, but then, it never has been. We will always be a remnant, not the majority.<br /><br />The real medicine people need is Word and Sacrament. This is serious business; no frivolity or entertainment belongs here. We are concerned not just with this life, but the life everlasting. There will be relationship and community in the new creation, too. When we know we are forgiven sinners, we can then have real community and relationship around Christ, who is the Word and His body and blood, looking forward to the coming reality.Janis Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02947508427040251166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-51926163738787142062014-04-28T11:38:34.860-05:002014-04-28T11:38:34.860-05:00People need the encouragement of other believers. ...People need the encouragement of other believers. Our society is highly mobile and LCMS churches have been the centers of their Christian communities from the get go. The American ethic of atomizing people is unhealthy. No group of people ever lived like that and they don't live (healthy) lives that way now. The change is that now the public school sets the agenda. They recruit the kids into civic life and set the morality and the activities and the value of people and on and on. There are only about three hours of instruction in technical skills per day. I include in that PE. The rest is consumed with establishing and enforcing social norms on our kids. So, yes the church needs to have lots of activities to fill the time of families so that when the school wants to encroach, the families can honestly say they won't be there because they are have previous commitment at church. But if you don't even have a lent midweek service or a dinner on minor festivals of the church year, then no, your congregation isn't going to go to something that doesn't exist. Idle church buildings are the devil's workshop.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-74458413986371565852014-04-28T07:16:25.892-05:002014-04-28T07:16:25.892-05:00I once read that a church that is busy with all ki...I once read that a church that is busy with all kinds of activities is not a church but a community center. It seems to me we should be going to church for the reasons you stated above. As usual-right on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com