Amens

[5dumplings@home]

That always smacks of emotionalism over anything else to me. We cannot help but let our emotions get involved because it is our nature, but we shouldn't be working the emotional up at the expense of the discerning spirit.

[Anon]

Doesn't it seem petty to be slamming preachers for asking for amens or putting their photos on their webpages?

I think last time I checked, preachers were to be shunned for preaching wrong doctrine...not having an outgoing exciteable personality or for putting their photo online. :roll

[chev1958]

Uh, I don't think I was "slamming" preachers for putting their photos online. I'm just uncomfortable with putting my photo on the internet. I think all the replies basically told me I was being silly, and so I took it as such. I simply don't like my photo taken at all, so you won't see it on the internet either.

Mitch

[Anon]

Uh, I don't think I was "slamming" preachers for putting their photos online. I'm just uncomfortable with putting my photo on the internet. I think all the replies basically told me I was being silly, and so I took it as such. I simply don't like my photo taken at all, so you won't see it on the internet either.

Mitch

I wasn't referring to you, I was referring to posts assuming that pastors who had their photo online were in it for the money and the ego trip.

[JerryNumbers]

Uh, I don't think I was "slamming" preachers for putting their photos online. I'm just uncomfortable with putting my photo on the internet. I think all the replies basically told me I was being silly, and so I took it as such. I simply don't like my photo taken at all, so you won't see it on the internet either.

Mitch

Mitch, She was pointing that towards me. I just don't see no need of putting a picture of the pastor on a churches web site. That space could be used for better things. Unless as I have said, they want to put pictures of church events on their web site, I saw such a sight sometime back, it was a very good way of sharing pictures from a church event with all members.

[Will]

Bouncing off a poll about amening: Is it appropriate for women to say "amen" out loud?

I see no reason why not.

[Anon]

That space could be used for better things.

:roll

[Danny Carlton]

For what it's worth, almost all of the women I've seen shouting 'Amen' in church are those that have rather forceful personalities, and seem to be trying to assert themselves, more than anything else. Now, I do occasionally hear a woman do it out of sheer joy at what the pastor has said. The first kind are annoying. I have a hard time criticizing the second kind.

[Madeline]

Personally, I think most pastors might possibly have a problem with anyone making unsolicited noises in the congregation when they're trying to teach - but then my approach on most things is a bit "different", so to speak. It's really up to the pastor/teacher what he will/won't allow in this respect. I have seen some who are very strict about any disturbance, and others who get upset if the congregation is not vocalizing their assent. I don't think Paul envisioned a situation where men could say "amen!" but women could not.

Love,
Madeline

[JerryNumbers]

True, I know a pastor who does not like any amen's or that's right brother. But it seems from my experience most like it.

But in a Bible study class, no, but open discussion is great and it seems to me a Bible class does better when the teacher allows open discussion as long as the teacher keeps control of the class.

What did all of God's men say?

15 Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.

16 Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

17 Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.

18 Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen.

19 Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.

20 Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he uncovereth his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.

21 Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen.

22 Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

23 Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen.

24 Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen.

25 Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.

26 Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Deut 27:15-26 (KJV)

[John81]

While I've not heard anyone shout "amen" in our church, I know the pastor can tell if the congregation is paying attention or not because if someone yawns or looks like their falling asleep during his sermon, he'll mention it during his sermon! :Green

As you might imagine, there are few yawns and even fewer falling asleep!

[chev1958]

From a preacher's standpoint, though, hearing responses from the congregation helps reinforce his message. Now I know certain phrases and statements are pretty much automatic "amens," but a pastor who puts his heart and soul into studying the message God has given him appreciates that the message is touching someone's heart. And when that "amen" comes out, it can be encouraging to the preacher.

Now, if the pastor doesn't want responses, then that's up to him. For some, it can be distracting. My small church is not much in amening, so I got used to it. I preached at a preacher's meeting one time, and the amening was distracting at first. But as a young-in-experience preacher, it became encouraging that these older preachers were appreciating the message.

One of my former pastors said, "Saying amen to a preacher is like throwing a bone to a dog." I'm not quite sure of the analogy, but I can appreciate the sentiment.

We visited a Southern Baptist church once, and the preacher made a statement that caused me to say, "amen." Several people in the congregation looked at me, a couple with scowls on their faces. The pastor actually hesitated for a second and looked my direction. I got the impression that "amen" wasn't approved of. As we left, I shook the pastor's hand and apologized for being "disruptive." The pastor told me that he appreciated it, and he hadn't heard one in so long that it startled him. He said he wished more of his congregation would do that, because that's the style of church he was raised in. But, he said, amening was just not that church's style.

Mitch

[JerryNumbers]

Besides that, a good hearted amen will wake up those dozing off :uuhm: . Maybe the reason its got unpopular, those dozing off don't want to be disturbed. :cool

[Madeline]

From a preacher's standpoint, though, hearing responses from the congregation helps reinforce his message. Now I know certain phrases and statements are pretty much automatic "amens," but a pastor who puts his heart and soul into studying the message God has given him appreciates that the message is touching someone's heart. And when that "amen" comes out, it can be encouraging to the preacher.

Now, if the pastor doesn't want responses, then that's up to him. For some, it can be distracting. My small church is not much in amening, so I got used to it. I preached at a preacher's meeting one time, and the amening was distracting at first. But as a young-in-experience preacher, it became encouraging that these older preachers were appreciating the message.

One of my former pastors said, "Saying amen to a preacher is like throwing a bone to a dog." I'm not quite sure of the analogy, but I can appreciate the sentiment.

We visited a Southern Baptist church once, and the preacher made a statement that caused me to say, "amen." Several people in the congregation looked at me, a couple with scowls on their faces. The pastor actually hesitated for a second and looked my direction. I got the impression that "amen" wasn't approved of. As we left, I shook the pastor's hand and apologized for being "disruptive." The pastor told me that he appreciated it, and he hadn't heard one in so long that it startled him. He said he wished more of his congregation would do that, because that's the style of church he was raised in. But, he said, amening was just not that church's style.

Mitch

It's really up to the pastor/teacher. If you are trying to teach something to a group of people, you want them to pay attention and learn it. It doesn't matter if they are getting an emotional "buzz" from one thing you said because they understand it or agree with it or whatever. When it comes to teaching the scriptures, all truth should have the effect of encouraging, reproving, motivating, delighting - at least to some degree, so why isn't there constant "amening" where that is the rule? Indeed, if I say "amen" to one point, does that mean I don't agree with or don't care about another point? And why am I calling attention to myself in any case, and distracting other believers from learning what they have come to learn? Better to keep this in your heart than call attention to the fact that YOU are enjoying a particular point. Amening is to me a symptom of the wrong thing coming from the pulpit and the wrong attitude/response from the congregation. Pastors who want an enthusiastic, overt, and obvious response from their congregations are going to end up doing and saying things designed to elicit such responses instead of teaching the scripture. They are going to be tempted to "preach sermons" rather that "teach the Bible". Indeed, the desire of men in the pulpit to be stroked this way is a big part of the reason why there isn't much Bible teaching going on, and the desire of the congregation to be entertained in this way instead of being taught only contributes to this trip down the slippery slope of bread and circuses instead of truth and spiritual growth. Since in event there is very little solid information coming from 99% of pulpits and since 99% of congregants are not interested in learning anything about the Bible anyway, I suppose this is much ado about nothing in practice.

Love,
Madeline

[John81]

One thing I've noticed in some churches which "amen" a lot is that often the "amen" is to something the "amener" thinks applies especially to their spouse or someone else. I've often noticed the look the "amener" gives the spouse and it's clear they are trying to get the idea across that "this is for you".

Of course, this is not to say all, or even most do this, but I have noticed this to be the case with some.

It's similar to the idea on some threads about marriage where one spouse will constantly toss Scripture into the other spouses face about how they are supposed to act while ignoring what Scripture says about how they themselves are to act.

I yet know someone today who, upon hearing a particular message preached or reading something in particular, their first thought is "this applies to so-and-so", rather than viewing the message as it pertains to them.