billiefan2000
April 10th, 2008, 12:02 PM
Cornerstone Church Chandler Sinks to Easter Low
The Easter service horror stories continue to roll in here at Slice of Laodicea.
Cornerstone Church in Chandler, Arizona
http://www.cornerstonechandler.com/media/index.php
decided that superheroes would be a great theme for Easter Sunday,
the day when we celebrate in a special way the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ
and His triumph over sin, death and hell.
I think this one has to take the cake for the most offensive,
trivial treatment of our holy Lord Jesus Christ and His suffering on the cross.
There is nothing sacred left today within circus-church evangelicalism. That is why when the emergents use terms like “sacred”
and randomly pull things from the traditions of the Eastern Orthodox or the Roman Catholics
for their services, they are trying to replace the sense of sacredness denied them in most evangelical churches.
As much as I disagree with emerging theology that denies the authority of Scripture,
I recognize why emerging leaders
are attracting young followers who don’t go to church on Resurrection Day to hear about cartoon characters.
It’s because the emerging churches recognize that circus church is an empty, American invention that trivializes everything that means anything.
They don’t want dumbed down churchianity—these young people genuinely want something deep and meaningful.
I would add, however, that doctrine is essential and that we can’t have sound doctrine without the Word of God as our standard for what is sacred and holy.
We only learn of how sacred the name of Jesus Christ is and how important truth is in worship when we read the Scriptures.
Sadly, the enemy has produced a false alternative to circus superhero foolishness in the emerging church.
So does your church trivialize sacred things?
Does it speak the name of the Lord Jesus reverently?
Or is church just an extension of some cable comedy show so that nobody is made to feel uncomfortable.
I doubt that it is a “comfortable” thing to come into the presence of earthly royalty.
We would be aware of our conduct and our speech and the way we refer to the earthly monarch.
How much more so should we treat the King of all the universe?
How much more should we come into His presence with holy awe and reverence because of God’s greatness,
His undeserved favor and grace and His incomprehensible power?
This is the aspect that is missing from most church services today.
I am not just referring to circus church here.
I am also referring to any number of fundamental churches as well.
The awe and reverence are not just found in certain forms, the right hymn or Psalms sung, etc.
They come from the human heart.
Worshiping in spirit and in truth is not just a matter of having the right order of service, although a biblical service is enormously helpful in worship.
It begins in the heart of the Christian.
Posted on April 2008 by Ingrid
this is BTW the same Cornerstone Church of Chandler Arizona that is associated with this infamous news story
Cornerstone Church in Chandler, AZ claims that its current sermon series is "Bringing Sexy Back".
http://www.alittleleaven.com/2007/08/bringing-sexy-b.html
The Easter service horror stories continue to roll in here at Slice of Laodicea.
Cornerstone Church in Chandler, Arizona
http://www.cornerstonechandler.com/media/index.php
decided that superheroes would be a great theme for Easter Sunday,
the day when we celebrate in a special way the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ
and His triumph over sin, death and hell.
I think this one has to take the cake for the most offensive,
trivial treatment of our holy Lord Jesus Christ and His suffering on the cross.
There is nothing sacred left today within circus-church evangelicalism. That is why when the emergents use terms like “sacred”
and randomly pull things from the traditions of the Eastern Orthodox or the Roman Catholics
for their services, they are trying to replace the sense of sacredness denied them in most evangelical churches.
As much as I disagree with emerging theology that denies the authority of Scripture,
I recognize why emerging leaders
are attracting young followers who don’t go to church on Resurrection Day to hear about cartoon characters.
It’s because the emerging churches recognize that circus church is an empty, American invention that trivializes everything that means anything.
They don’t want dumbed down churchianity—these young people genuinely want something deep and meaningful.
I would add, however, that doctrine is essential and that we can’t have sound doctrine without the Word of God as our standard for what is sacred and holy.
We only learn of how sacred the name of Jesus Christ is and how important truth is in worship when we read the Scriptures.
Sadly, the enemy has produced a false alternative to circus superhero foolishness in the emerging church.
So does your church trivialize sacred things?
Does it speak the name of the Lord Jesus reverently?
Or is church just an extension of some cable comedy show so that nobody is made to feel uncomfortable.
I doubt that it is a “comfortable” thing to come into the presence of earthly royalty.
We would be aware of our conduct and our speech and the way we refer to the earthly monarch.
How much more so should we treat the King of all the universe?
How much more should we come into His presence with holy awe and reverence because of God’s greatness,
His undeserved favor and grace and His incomprehensible power?
This is the aspect that is missing from most church services today.
I am not just referring to circus church here.
I am also referring to any number of fundamental churches as well.
The awe and reverence are not just found in certain forms, the right hymn or Psalms sung, etc.
They come from the human heart.
Worshiping in spirit and in truth is not just a matter of having the right order of service, although a biblical service is enormously helpful in worship.
It begins in the heart of the Christian.
Posted on April 2008 by Ingrid
this is BTW the same Cornerstone Church of Chandler Arizona that is associated with this infamous news story
Cornerstone Church in Chandler, AZ claims that its current sermon series is "Bringing Sexy Back".
http://www.alittleleaven.com/2007/08/bringing-sexy-b.html