Disappointing Service - But Still Some Enlightenment

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Dear All:

I went to Cleveland to visit my brother’s family in Cleveland. I had guided him to the Cathedral there and it seemed he was headed back to the Catholic Church for a while. Well, he wound up at CVC, which I think is a non-denomination church recently and refused to go to a CC this weekend. To make a long story short, I wound up attending with him just to see what the fuss was about.

I have to say that I was extremely disappointed after hearing so much about this church. The entertainment value far exceeded the spiritual value. Since attending, I have come to a painful conclusion… Protestantism, as a whole, has succumed to every whim of western society - birth control, divorce, abortion, homosexuality are the obvious problems, but another of our “whims” is that WE WANT TO BE ENTERTAINED!!!

If what I saw at the church was “worship,” then we should all just stay home and watch a Veggie Tale. I guess I can understand what some of the fuss is about, but I don’t think most people understand that there just wasn’t much beneath the surface of that “show.” Clever, cute, creative - no question there. Instituted by Christ, NOT.
 
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maesoph:
Dear All:

I went to Cleveland to visit my brother’s family in Cleveland. I had guided him to the Cathedral there and it seemed he was headed back to the Catholic Church for a while. Well, he wound up at CVC, which I think is a non-denomination church recently and refused to go to a CC this weekend. To make a long story short, I wound up attending with him just to see what the fuss was about.

I have to say that I was extremely disappointed after hearing so much about this church. The entertainment value far exceeded the spiritual value. Since attending, I have come to a painful conclusion… Protestantism, as a whole, has succumed to every whim of western society - birth control, divorce, abortion, homosexuality are the obvious problems, but another of our “whims” is that WE WANT TO BE ENTERTAINED!!!

If what I saw at the church was “worship,” then we should all just stay home and watch a Veggie Tale. I guess I can understand what some of the fuss is about, but I don’t think most people understand that there just wasn’t much beneath the surface of that “show.” Clever, cute, creative - no question there. Instituted by Christ, NOT.
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True - I never heard anyone say any of the Apostles played guitar, never heard of anyone waving the scrolls of the Torah around like they were at a concert, and certainly never heard of Jesus dancing on pews.

I have never attended one of these services, I have seen plenty on TV. I figured the best of them are on TV, I am constantly surprised how little Scripture is read - or even talked about - in the supposedly “Bible Churches.”

What was you experience there regarding how much of the Bible was discussed or read?
 
The sermon was on greed… I could have just as easily went to Bible.com or my Bible on CD and searched for the word “GREED” and read the verses myself. Very little scripture read, mostly entertainment.
 
Its the identitfying mark of a man-made service; namely, If its emotional, then it must be spiritual. Also, if you believe in once saved always saved, you are more apt to be physically emotional at such a service as you have fooled yourself into believing that you are getting everything for nothing more than belief that you will get it.

Quite often in a Catholic church, the atmosphere can be one that is subdued, perhaps even a bit depressing. This is because people who “work out their salvation in fear and trembling” are going to mass to “commune” (i.e. communion) with the Lord for strength. Dedication, devotion, charity, and other such actions that are “giving actions” by nature can can be demanding, so quite often the Christian at the Catholic mass is weary and in need of that strength the Eucharist can give.

Also remember that since the Catholic church is the mystical body of Christ, that same church that Jesus said the “gates of hell” would not prevail against, this also means the gates of hell are going to try their best to prevail against it. This means that Satan will throw everything he has against the church; especially against the souls who are in it. If one is a Protestant, one does not merit so much of Satan’s attention if you are already divided from the body following a man-made heretical philosophy and living in schism.

Since the Catholic tends to receive more abuse in life, (much of which comes from Protestant attacks against them and the church) the Catholic is more apt to be subdued by the time he makes his way back to the real presence for support.

Thal59
 
I used to be on staff at a protestant church, working in evangelism. The pastor often said that we had to focus on “meeting people’s needs” - (he was talking about their emotional needs, rather than survival needs like food and clothing). So who doesn’t want to have their needs met?! It’s a heady feeling to have a staff focusing their energy on meeting your emotional needs!
 
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Thal59:
Dedication, devotion, charity, and other such actions that are “giving actions” by nature can can be demanding, so quite often the Christian at the Catholic mass is weary and in need of that strength the Eucharist can give. . . the Catholic is more apt to be subdued by the time he makes his way back to the real presence for support.
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That’s true Saturday night I went to confession before mass, my sins weighed heavily on me, and I felt unworthy, sinful, and ungrateful for all the Christ has given. It made me thankful for His mercy, rather than making me want to dance around like I deserved something I didn’t. His presence is comforting indeed, great observation.
 
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maesoph:
Dear All:

I went to Cleveland to visit my brother’s family in Cleveland. I had guided him to the Cathedral there and it seemed he was headed back to the Catholic Church for a while. Well, he wound up at CVC, which I think is a non-denomination church recently and refused to go to a CC this weekend. To make a long story short, I wound up attending with him just to see what the fuss was about.

I have to say that I was extremely disappointed after hearing so much about this church. The entertainment value far exceeded the spiritual value. Since attending, I have come to a painful conclusion… Protestantism, as a whole, has succumed to every whim of western society - birth control, divorce, abortion, homosexuality are the obvious problems, but another of our “whims” is that WE WANT TO BE ENTERTAINED!!!

If what I saw at the church was “worship,” then we should all just stay home and watch a Veggie Tale. I guess I can understand what some of the fuss is about, but I don’t think most people understand that there just wasn’t much beneath the surface of that “show.” Clever, cute, creative - no question there. Instituted by Christ, NOT.
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This is exactly what I’ve been saying all along; most Protestant denomination “worship” is soley based on FUN, FUN, FUN! They don’t even realize how un-holy their services are! It’s scary!

If anyone lives in NYC and has tuned in to that well known protestant station (I won’t name it because I’m not sure I can) well, this “religious” radio station sounds more like the “morning zoo” than what it is suppose to be; a religious radio station.

It’s awful and very “un”-religious in my opinion! Protestant “religious” music sounds more and more like the Pop garbage you hear anywhere, except that now and then they throw in the name of Jesus! It’s laughable they think their “music” is worship. Do they really think God is moved by this music saying “oh yeah man - now these are the perfect Christians!!” I have to laugh every time that station pops on - then I shut it off!

When in-between CD’s in my car, the radio pops on and that is the station set because I cannot find a Catholic radio station in my area - so I change CD’s quickly or shut off the stereo completely so I don’t have to listen to that garbage! It’s more secular than religious - and Protestants are so blind they don’t even realize it! Same with their religious services. It’s all about being entertained than being serious about worshipping and loving God.
 
I can agree that many Protestant services
on-denominational services are mostly fluff, but there are many dedicated pastors out there not giving so much fluff and giving it their best in Bible study.

Though this isn’t worship in the sense, it is something that we can learn from, as Bible study is something we as Catholics need to share more of. Many people go to Mass worship Christ, but in their ignorance of Scripture are led away to a church like the ones or similar to those described here. They want some study and some understanding of the Bible so they can answer questions.
When someone comes up to them with Ephesians 2: 8-9 they aren’t stopped in their tracks without an answer and can answer "read the rest of the passage because it makes a lot more sense with (2: 8-10). Instead they feel without answers because they are hit with a couple verses from their friends and are at a loss for a reason for the faith.

God Bless
Scylla
 
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scylla:
I can agree that many Protestant services
on-denominational services are mostly fluff, but there are many dedicated pastors out there not giving so much fluff and giving it their best in Bible study.

Though this isn’t worship in the sense, it is something that we can learn from, as Bible study is something we as Catholics need to share more of. Many people go to Mass worship Christ, but in their ignorance of Scripture are led away to a church like the ones or similar to those described here. They want some study and some understanding of the Bible so they can answer questions.
When someone comes up to them with Ephesians 2: 8-9 they aren’t stopped in their tracks without an answer and can answer "read the rest of the passage because it makes a lot more sense with (2: 8-10). Instead they feel without answers because they are hit with a couple verses from their friends and are at a loss for a reason for the faith.

God Bless
Scylla
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No doubt that this is a problem. I would like to say though that the idea that fundamentalists are any more biblically literate than catholics is a myth. I’m an ex-evangelical and still have regular discourse with many of our separated brethren. They are very good at memorizing verses but not good at understanding them. Far more Scripture is read at a Catholic Mass than any protestant service, where usually they get one or two verses and then a sales pitch for money.

I can honestly say that we have little to learn from modern day protestantism. In fact, we need to be wary about embracing too much of what appears, at first site, to be good. We have everything we need in the Catholic faith. Going to outside sources for ideas about worship, bible study, etc. will just serve to corrupt that faith. They may be our brothers and sisters in Christ, by baptism, but they are in a “gravely deficient” situation to quote Church documents. I generally try to stay as far away from those Megachurches as I possibly can.
 
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