My niece began singing blues in a church that meets in a bar

[CAROLOFTHEBELLS]

Last Sunday my niece, who is a part time blues singer (full time office worker) with her guitar playing husband, began singing at Sunday worship for an evangelical church that rents space in a bar for services. She was invited to sing and told it would be during services and she was provided with musicians. She showed video of her performance tonight to her mother, sister, and me. Her mother is very proud of her and her voice and accomplishments. I think her voice is wonderful, but dislike the type of music she sings (which never varies from sounding sexy).

I didn’t want to say anything, but I was fairly disgusted with the song she sang in this church. It was a similar song to the song Merry Christmas, Baby. I don’t see how that fits in with worship, yet it was specifically for their Sunday morning service. Perhaps there was a serman that tied into the lyrics, but I wasn’t told that.

My sister and I are both Catholic, although she never attends Mass anymore (mostly because she is so busy and does not make it a priority, not especially because she purposely choses to stay away). All her children grew up Catholic and were confirmed, but no longer attend Mass. She is very happy that this daughter is now going to be going to a church, as it sounds as if she will return for services. I won’t say anything, but would rather see her not get involved in this church if they encourage such songs at worship service or as an introductory to it.

I looked them up on You Tube. Her performance is not posted, but there is a video of some men performing Macho Man at a Sunday service, one without a shirt. Women can be heard hooting for them and someone in the foreground holds up a camera. It was done as a way to introduce the topic of men in a sermon.

When looking them up on line, I read that this is a church that believes in getting young people to attend by making it fun and appealing to people at their level. It is actually affliated with the Assemblies of God, but doesn’t like to admit that due to the fact that some people don’t like the idea of organized religion.

Since nobody seems to care but me, the best I can do is to pray for her.

 

[oldgraymare2]

Hi CAROLOFTHEBELLS,

I don’t think that what you are describing is all that unique, in an attempt to draw people back to church.

We have received post cards in the mail from a church that has been meeting in various movie theaters and large auditoriums and schools, while trying to get younger and newer members to join. It even advertises that way. It advertises that it plays rock music for the services, and that it wants to make it a “fun” experience for everyone.

There is another church here in our town too that offers a video feed during one of the services, where people can watch the service in another area/cafe environment on the church premises, while enjoying coffee and pastries.

 

[EasterJoy]

It sounds to me as if she’s being paid to be an entertainer. It is not immoral for a Catholic to work as a musician at a non-Catholic church, provided it does not violate the rules you’d have for any other employer (that is, what you will and won’t do).

 

[CAROLOFTHEBELLS]

Hi CAROLOFTHEBELLS,

I don’t think that what you are describing is all that unique, in an attempt to draw people back to church.

We have received post cards in the mail from a church that has been meeting in various movie theaters and large auditoriums and schools, while trying to get younger and newer members to join. It even advertises that way. It advertises that it plays rock music for the services, and that it wants to make it a “fun” experience for everyone.

There is another church here in our town too that offers a video feed during one of the services, where people can watch the service in another area/cafe environment on the church premises, while enjoying coffee and pastries.

Isn’t it usually Christian Rock, though? I have never heard of a Christian church inviting someone to sing a song that is basically about a relationship between a man and a woman that could be taken as sexual.

I’ve been invited to church concerts with well know Christian artists playing.

 

[EasterJoy]

Isn’t it usually Christian Rock, though? I have never heard of a Christian church inviting someone to sing a song that is basically about a relationship between a man and a woman that could be taken as sexual.

I’ve been invited to church concerts with well know Christian artists playing.

Well, but you don’t have a lot of experience with denominations that choose to meet in bars, though. That’s implies you may be dealing with an outlier.

 

[oldgraymare2]

Hi again,

I guess I missed the part about the song that she sang, being sexual in nature. No, I have never heard of that in a church environment.

Yes, I was talking about Christian rock music.

I was also thinking that I have heard of churches meeting in store fronts while trying to find a more permanent location, too.

 

[EasterJoy]

I was also thinking that I have heard of churches meeting in store fronts while trying to find a more permanent location, too.

A store front is not space in a tavern. It is of course possible to re-purpose a tavern for an entirely pious meeting, that is not my point. My point is that perhaps the venue was chosen on purpose, in order to be inviting to those who want to party instead of give thanks, worship, or praise to someone other than themselves. Inviting is fine–there are many people out there who do not feel comfortable in an “organized” church–but it is worrisome that the group does not believe in bodily modesty even during worship.

It is excellent to want to meet people where they are, to be willing to break bread with anyone and to preach the Gospel anywhere there are souls who have not heard it. That is good, so far. The danger that it is a self-centered and self-absorbed exercise instead of something that lures people out of themselves, gives them an appreciation of their sin that they can accept and want to repent from, and aims them at their true Savior. If the real Good News is not what is being preached, but some feel-good but false enticement to fall even more deeply into spiritual sleep, it does not matter how many people show up. It would be better for them to not be enticed into any religion at all than to be conned into accepting a false gospel as if it were the true one.

 

[oldgraymare2]

I am sorry Easter Joy. I should have made myself clear. I was not addressing you in my second post. I was addressing it to CAROLOFTHEBELLS again.

I live in a smaller sized town. If meeting space is at a premium, I can see a church using a bar/tavern to meet in. That is why I mentioned store fronts, as churches here have used store fronts to meet in. It just came to my mind. That’s all.

 

[CAROLOFTHEBELLS]

I read an on line newspaper article (Press Enterprise) about the location, which is actually the second of their three campuses. They began as a small church, then grew, invested money and time in building their first permanent location, then went into the different locations. So the renting of the bar is not absolutely necessary other than, perhaps, wishing to serve members in a location closer to their homes. This is in Southern California. The main church is called South Hills Church. The second campus is called Venue Two and is in Corona, CA . The third campus is in Riverside, CA. All three locations are in the same county (although a big one). All freeway accessible from the same freeway - very important in So Cal.

The article was favorable, but did state that a few hours prior to Sunday worship the table that had Bibles on them had bottles of beer sitting on them. Visualizing that did not really help me to keep an open mind. The actual bar is covered during services, but the walls have photos of rock stars such as Jimmy Hendrix.

I also listened to an ipod of one of the sermons, which was posted on their website. I had a hard time following it, as the pastor was talking very casually and joking, rambling on and on, not really relating anything to God. He finally quoted a bit of scripture maybe 12 minutes in. Honestly, if I was looking for meaning in my life and went there, I would be like, “What the heck is he saying?! It’s all gibberish and jokes. I don’t get it.”

 

[CAROLOFTHEBELLS]

I am sorry Easter Joy. I should have made myself clear. I was not addressing you in my second post. I was addressing it to CAROLOFTHEBELLS again.

I live in a smaller sized town. If meeting space is at a premium, I can see a church using a bar/tavern to meet in. That is why I mentioned store fronts, as churches here have used store fronts to meet in. It just came to my mind. That’s all.

This made me think of the movie Because of Winn Dixie. The father of the little girl who finds a dog and names it Winn Dixie is a pastor of a very small church that meets Sundays in a laundry mat, with folding chairs set up in rows. It’s very sweet. The dog follows her into church and he tries to get her to take the dog out, but he runs all over creating havick.

 

[Beryllos]

For a church that meets in a bar, this song would be most appropriate:
YouTube: A Soldier and a Sailor (pub song about prayer)
Don’t worry, this is a relatively clean, family-friendly version of the song; it mentions beer, but hey, it’s a drinking song!

 

[EasterJoy]

I am sorry Easter Joy. I should have made myself clear. I was not addressing you in my second post. I was addressing it to CAROLOFTHEBELLS again.

I live in a smaller sized town. If meeting space is at a premium, I can see a church using a bar/tavern to meet in. That is why I mentioned store fronts, as churches here have used store fronts to meet in. It just came to my mind. That’s all.

I can actually see a legitimate church with other choices choosing the bar. It isn’t the building that matters. It is that they know that it is the truth that saves, not a weak imitation.

After all, we all know the famous quote from the bank robber asked why he robbed banks:
“Because that’s where the money is.” Missionaries going for souls who believe themselves “turned off by religion” might well be flexible with the non-essentials. Fine and good–just don’t forget what the essentials are!

Modesty, a sense of the sacred, and confronting the reality of sin and the need for repentance and the Savior–these are essential. If they are unorthodox in non-essential ways, though, then whoever is not against him is for him. Msy they come ever nearer the fullness of truth, and may none of us be a stumbling block.

 

[crystal_waters]

Last Sunday my niece, who is a part time blues singer (full time office worker) with her guitar playing husband, began singing at Sunday worship for an evangelical church that rents space in a bar for services. She was invited to sing and told it would be during services and she was provided with musicians. She showed video of her performance tonight to her mother, sister, and me. Her mother is very proud of her and her voice and accomplishments. I think her voice is wonderful, but dislike the type of music she sings (which never varies from sounding sexy).

I didn’t want to say anything, but I was fairly disgusted with the song she sang in this church. It was a similar song to the song Merry Christmas, Baby. I don’t see how that fits in with worship, yet it was specifically for their Sunday morning service. Perhaps there was a serman that tied into the lyrics, but I wasn’t told that

My sister and I are both Catholic, although she never attends Mass anymore (mostly because she is so busy and does not make it a priority, not especially because she purposely choses to stay away). All her children grew up Catholic and were confirmed, but not longer attend Mass. She is very happy that this daughter is now going to be going to a church, as it sounds as if she will return for services. I won’t say anything, but would rather see her not get involved in this church if they encourage such songs at worship service or as an introductory to it.

I looked them up on You Tube. Her performance is not posted, but there is a video of some men performing Macho Man at a Sunday service, one without a shirt. Women can be heard hooting for them and someone in the foreground holds up a camera. It was done as a way to introduce the topic of men in a sermon.

When looking them up on line, I read that this is a church that believes in getting young people to attend by making it fun and appealing to people at their level. It is actually affliated with the Assemblies of God, but doesn’t like to admit that due to the fact that some people don’t like the idea of organized religion.

Since nobody seems to care but me, the best I can do is to pray for her.

Your neice is a denomination than you…her church may do things differently to how catholics do it…she was singing the song they asked her to sing so to say you are disgusted with her is quite harsh…if you say that to your sister or neice you may cause a huge rift in your family…why dont you just go to your own church and let your neice attend hers…remember the bible says judge not lest ye be judgef

 

[CAROLOFTHEBELLS]

My niece is not a different denomination than me. She is Catholic. If she attended her church, she would be going to Mass, since that is her church.

I was not disgusted by her. I was disgusted with the type of music she was asked to sing during the worship time at the place where she was invited to sing and her choice to go ahead and sing knowing it would be used during Sunday worship. I am also afraid of her being lead astray. She seems interested in attending this church, but not joining it. I am afraid of her being lead astray because she is being courted and her pride in her abilities makes attending tempting and makes her easy prey.

Read my OP correctly with understanding - instead of judging ME.