Parties at church

[HappyChristian]

I don't think I'm really straining at a gnat...I do use some Biblical basis for my beliefs. But also, I guess frankly alot of these churches I'm referring to are IFB and have criticized many other pastors and Christians and families for being "different" and using their liberty in Christ. So I guess I'm not understanding why its okay for them to use their liberty by having Party Sunday while other churches are wrong for using their liberty...

I've heard churches blast people who have a "singalong" instead of church...but then they'll have Party Sunday. Ya know? Or they'll criticize that a church uses a guitar in a proper way (not rock music) but then they'll sing around a bonfire and call it church.

I guess I'm pointing out that sometimes the most critical and narrow minded churches will also do some of the most borderline and controversial things. And it can be confusing.

And I would agree 100%!! I don't think you're straining at gnats, Suzy. I do think that people who proclaim that just anything done on Sunday to bring in the lost are, though. And, whooo, boy...your last statements say a mouthful!

[John81]

Sorry, John, but that's not EVEN a good comparison. I've been quite clear that motives are important. And, BTW - the angels do not rejoice when one gets saved. The Bible very clearly states that the rejoicing is done in the presence of angels, not by them. I would agree: doing wrong or unwise in the name of doing good is wrong. But doing nothing and looking down on those who do is wrong also...

No doubt motive is important, which is why the comparison is valid, as they proclaim their motive is to reach the lost. For some at least, this appears to be true as they turn down more profitable venues in favor of performing where they believe they can reach more with the Gospel.

[HappyChristian]

Why are you making this personal? I've said nothing with regards to your church or pastors.

With regards to liberty in Christ, this liberty is within the bounds of His commands. Sometimes proclaiming something as a matter of liberty is biblically correct, but oftentimes it's not. We are also told that if our liberty offend another we are to willingly give up our liberty for their conscience sake.

I'm not making it personal, John. I was just commenting on your post of having never seen such in scripture...and that they would share it with you!

I know that our liberty is within the bounds of scripture. And I do know that many people claim liberty as an excuse to sin. And, no, just because someone is offended at certain things doesn't mean we have to give it up: or we'd all need to quit talking about Christ, and we'd all need to quit going to church, and we'd all need to quit...you get the idea. The offense is if it causes a stumbling block for a Christian who isn't strong in the faith. And we've had a lot of those come to our church, including the activities, and grow strong in the Lord.

And those verses I posted are just part of His command to reach the lost...which is what our goal is.

[John81]

Matthew 28:19-20
Acts 1:8
Just for a few...

Both of these referring to going to the lost; not bringing them into the church gathering via entertainment.

I'm all for taking the Gospel to the lost. This can be done door-knocking, witnessing/passing out tracts at public events, street preaching, passing out Gospels, visiting folks in prison, nursing homes, hospitals, etc., via missionaries, local, domestic and foreign, etc.

[trc123]

I guess I'm pointing out that sometimes the most critical and narrow minded churches will also do some of the most borderline and controversial things. And it can be confusing.

Upon this point you will have 100% agreement from me!

[HappyChristian]

Both of these referring to going to the lost; not bringing them into the church gathering via entertainment.

I'm all for taking the Gospel to the lost. This can be done door-knocking, witnessing/passing out tracts at public events, street preaching, passing out Gospels, visiting folks in prison, nursing homes, hospitals, etc., via missionaries, local, domestic and foreign, etc.

Yep, they sure are. And we go - doing all that and more. But we also bring them in. In one of Jesus' parables, He told the story of the king's banquet. It is a picture of Heaven. And many gave excuses why they couldn't come. The king then told them to go out in the highways and hedges and compel them to come IN. And so we do. And so do many other churches. Entertainment? If it were during the service, then there would be room for complaint. But there is nothing in scripture to indicate that it is a sin to have some good clean fun after the service. Nor is there anything in scripture to indicate that it is a sin to create good clean fun for the lost after the service.

[Salyan]

Re Homecoming Sunday:

My church had one last year - 30 years - but we made it into a Homecoming Weekend, with games & food & prizes (again, food). Most of the fun stuff was done on Saturday, and most of the 'homecoming' visitors came then too. They couldn't come Sunday, because they had their own recently-or-not-so-recently-planted churches to take care of!

Our church has been blessed to help with at least 5 church plants, providing pastors for 3 of them, and several of our members have left to bolster up the pastors in the new churches. It keeps us small, so we don't have a lot of the outreach programs a bigger church could. So I guess that keeps us free on Saturdays to have our 'parties' then. :thumb: