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Down through the years, I've seen so much passed off as worship. With choreographed dance troops, dramatic presentation to canned music, flag waving shows, and now hula hoops. Now when the music starts, we have religious mosh pits that have to come down front and jump.This old timer has to ask a couple of tough questions.Why does it have to always be down front? If you want to dance or wave a flag, why can't you do it in the back!Is it done strictly for dramatic show? In other words, are people coming just because little Johnny is in the show?What is the attraction to these religious fads? Are they just to draw attention to man? In all honesty, who gets the glory?I realize generations pass, but help an old timer understand

Re: Help an old timer understand

Re: Help an old timer understand

It's a show, it's worship in name only. I have to say that I agree with you

Amen to the choregraphed steps and etc. Haven't seen the hula hoops. What is next? I would just have to get up and walk out if hula hoops are brought out. My My!!!

I saw a short clip of the hula hoop on FB and just laughed. Perhaps that won't start a fad. I really didn't think it was serious.However, I have to disagree with you about the rest, and I've stated this here before. My daughter has been involved in all of the things mentioned except the hula hoop. She really doesn't care about being in the front, and has done some of this in the back of the church as well. It's just her way to worship.When she was 12 years old, someone started a sign language choir at our church, and it was obvious this struck a chord with her. She didn't just learn a series of movements...it came from her heart. Whenever it's time for praise and worship, she does sign language to the songs. Again, it's just her thing, her way to worship. Her usual place to sit is on the front row with her hubby, but it doesn't matter where she's sitting...she still does it. She participated in mime & human video in Teen Talent as a teenager (and won state one year), and she's also used streamers and flags as part of worship, by herself and in groups. She has led groups and now as an adult, she helps lead the dance team at her church. She loves doing this. It's not about being seen for her; it's about worship. I have seen others, too, that are anointed to do this, too. And if you see a person who is anointed to do this, you will know it's not about show. It's about using their talents for the Lord and to lift Him up.Her church (a PH church) recognizes this as a valid ministry, as do quite a few churches. In fact, the first time her pastor's wife saw my daughter, she knew immediately she had to do this. And she is not a up in front of people kind of person; she is a more in the background kind of person, as is my daughter in most everything else.Please don't judge all of this by a couple of flakes that like to run around & be seen. It really is a serious way to worship, but if you don't get it, that's fine. But please don't discourage the young people doing this.People like to hear a song sung; putting actions to the words is just a visual way to tell a story - taking the song a step further. It's a proven fact that the more ways a thought is expressed (read/heard/seen, etc.) the more you remember it.The Psalms are full of references to praising God with the dance. What do you think it looked like when David danced before the Lord with all his heart? It doesn't say he was in the Spirit. He made a decision to dance before the Lord More of Him...less of me.twitter.com/camiracle77www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=691241499&ref=name

This is called mime or human video. As I just said in the last post to Roughrider, it is to portray the story of the song that goes with it. Drama is a valid form of ministry, recognized by most all COGs. I'd encourage you to watch the faces of the kids doing this. Some might be in it to get attention, but it's really not what it's all about. Watch for the one who is truly worshiping the Lord and trying to portray His message in through drama More of Him...less of me.twitter.com/camiracle77www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=691241499&ref=name

I wish I were intelligent enough to express myself, but I don't. I have been 'spiritually unimpressed' many times at someone's wild idea of worship. One time in a Florida church a flag waver during the message was (to me) very distracting.Then at an independent church ( part of The Rock(i think)), I watched a 'choreographed choir' and I was blessed. Mainly because of the dedication you could see in the hundreds of youth.BUT, but (to copy Aaron) I have also been in services where my spirit, my heart and even my love, could not feel what was trying to be displayed.YES HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM! we MUST, must, MUST reach our youth. WE MUST KEEP out youth, else we die in 20 years.I know my pastor is about at his wits ends seeing our church 'die' one member at a time. I do not have the answer, neither does our leaders (or something). I am reading (slowly) a book by a nun. Prayer was not Enough. Basically 'repeating prayers' for her was not enough. I am not even sure it is worth reading, but I DO KNOW THAT PRAYER AND FASTING WAS NOT ENOUGH for me. I lost it all one time.Changing generations is tough, I have lived thru one where EVERYTHING was a SIN.. I even smile thinking of preachers now recommending certain movies! When once it was declared to the Heavens, movies and TV will send you directly to hell.I pray, God help us to know what 'dance' pleases YOU! If any does?(dance in this case is ACTION, what action pleases you).... Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

I am filling in for the Sumner for a pastor who is on a 3 month mission trip to Spain. Feel free to come worship with us. I promise you will see no flags, dancing or gathering around the front. In fact you will see no one other than one sister say something like praise the Lord. No emotion, no nothing. Most are to old even if they wanted to. And believe it or not I am having a great time Recorded Sermons @ www.pastorwiley.com

My experience has been an unrehearsed, spontaneous move of the Holy Spirit.That is our understanding of genuine Pentecostal praise and worship.The Spirit moves and we move with Him. If He does not move with intent to bless or achieve a particular objective.Then I know He desires for me to preach.We move when He moves.I have witnessed just about every form of flesh driven attempt to imitate a move of God.It never works Charles A. HutchinsSenior Pastor SPWCCongregational Church of Godwww.spwc.church