Out Of Touch With Modern Times?

[Amisk]

"Anyone who dares to suggest today that the very character of God is the exact opposite to that of the modern man is said to be our of touch with the times." ---W. Philip Keller ***** Predators in Our Pulpits ( A book that every Christian must read.)

[Hediru]

I agree. My biggest frustration with the Methodist church especially, as well as other denominations, is the unwillingness to change. In many churches, congregations are doing the same things they did 50 years ago. So many people have told me, "If its not broke, don't fix it!" But it IS broke and we DO need to fix it! The world around us is changing. Families are splitting up. Sex is splattered on everything. Children and teenagers think that God and church is boring and irrelevant to their lives. Why? Because the church is too busy trying to make everyone happy by not changing anything to draw more people in. As a result, congregations die out because all of their members die or move to another church that is receptive to change. One thing that makes me cry is a church where God used to be worshipped weekly, and even though they were located not too far from a place with great need, they refused to change, and as a result, the building is abandoned and the city/town has lost its faith. Change, though scary, is good!

[EternalSunshine21]

I agree with Hediru. Things have changed since the old of the congregation were young. Even though the majority of the congregation of a church is composed of the old, that does not mean that it should disregard the needs of the young. This world is harder and revolving faster than ever. So many things are going on that it greatly confuses young ones, such as myself. What's right? What's wrong? Why won't they speak more of the world now than the world then? It may be because they're settled and do not have to worry about their future, it's already set.

[Qyöt27]

I don't think that change of perspective was the point. The quote seems to be saying that anyone who suggests that the modern church is screwed up and that God isn't like we are today is outmoded - because supposedly God is mostly being represented as exactly the same as we are, not as He always has been. My guess is that this shift occurred in the 70s after the wake of the hippie movement and the influx of former flower children into Christianity ("Spirit In The Sky", anyone?).

I certainly do agree that the modern church ('modern' as in referring to mainstream - not mainline, mind you; Methodism is considered mainline - Christianity) is a weak and sickly entity that, despite its size, is spiritually atrophied to the point that what passes for 'faith' is merely people convincing themselves of something rather than really paying close attention and knowing truly what it is that they're after. And I think a part of this is that for the last 30 years churches have been more focused on filling pews than serving the congregations' needs. In the quest to do so, they have 'modernized', but IMO have done it completely the wrong way. There is a way to stay 'relevant' (ugh, I hate using that word in theological discussions - church services and theology that remained fairly traditional for 2000 years weren't relevant? Give me a break.) without sacrificing the meat, which I really haven't seen much of, myself.

[Amisk]

I agree with Hediru. Things have changed since the old of the congregation were young. Even though the majority of the congregation of a church is composed of the old, that does not mean that it should disregard the needs of the young. This world is harder and revolving faster than ever. So many things are going on that it greatly confuses young ones, such as myself. What's right? What's wrong? Why won't they speak more of the world now than the world then? It may be because they're settled and do not have to worry about their future, it's already set.


You have appoint in case here. Too often the young feel they are being left out of Church life and their voice is not being heard. The older generation need to consider the needs of the young, however the young also need to remember that according to scripture the elderly are to set the example, for the young to follow whether they are young in age or young to the faith. The quotation is not really speaking of that issue however.

It is speaking to both the young and the old about obeying the scriptures. After all when Moses chizelled out the 10 Commandments, they were as relative in that day as in our's. There is no place in scripture where the 10 Commandments were to be set aside or to be changed as society progressed. All peoples of the earth will be judged before God on their obedience to those laws, even though they were read to the congregation of Israel perhaps 5 thousand years ago.

The New Testament was written 2000 years ago but its message has not changed, nor it's demands upon our lives lessoned. When Paul wrote, " Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. " , 2 Corinthians 6:17-18; or "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 2 Corinthians 7:1; & "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness" 1 Th 4:7

Not one of these passages has been revoked, because of the fact that Paul walked from Jerusalem to Rome and today, we jump a jet in Edmonton at 6 A.M. and can dine at supper in New York.

Not one thing that was called or was implied to be sin in the scriptures has changed. It all applies to me just as it did Paul. That is what the quotation seems to be saying to me. It also seems to be begging for a Holy Ghost Revival among our churches. A calling of sin, "sin" and a time of pleading once more when Christians will shun the very appearance of evil.

[EternalSunshine21]

I do understand that we, the young, have to obey the elderly. You must obey thy father and mother.

God doesn't change. It's man that changes. And it's man that changes the meanings of life.

[Hediru]

I agree with Sunshine. I'm not saying that we need to throw the baby out with the bathwater. There are some traditions and most definitely lessons passed down from the older generations that are still valid and relevant today. But the problem is, so many people in our society today think that God is not relevant because the churches in their area have not shown them how He is relevant to everyone. Application of scripture should be a part of everyday life.