Colored Lights/Smoke Machines/Strobe Bright Lights

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

He trumped you by going to Cornell, Columbia and UGST

That is why it was so devastating to have him belittle my intelligence. It is one thing for one of you uneducated knucklheads to do it but something else when someone with his credentials proclaims you unintelligent.

[Narrow Is The Way]

Originally Posted by Rico

Paul used some pretty strange methods himself, ya know. He used an altar that had "To The Unknown God" and preached Jesus. He appealed to Ceasar, undoubtedly knowing it would mean he'd stay jailed, just so he could preach Jesus. Using unconventional methods isn't anything new.

Yeah but the Apostle Pauls methods weren't a silly rip-off of what the world is promoting.

[HeavenlyOne]

Originally Posted by 1Corinth2v4

My intent isn't to degrade those that utilize these methods. However, I'm wanting to understand the drive behind your motive.


I'll boldly state I disapprove of drums, trumpets, saxophones, and white lights of any kind being utilized at any youth/adult event.

I've studied their origin, and you'll mostly find these instruments within a night club.

I hope we can a civilized dialog after my questions have been asked.


1) What are your motives behind bringing these instruments into the church?


2) What do you believe these instruments would accomplish for youth or adults?


3) Are you trying to create a club/concert atmosphere for people? (understanding 99% percent of these instruments are utilized at a club/concert)


4) Are you trying to infuse the church with the world's utensils for attraction?


5) What ever happen to plainly preaching the word without utilizing any form of club/concert attraction?


7) Is your message "living for God is cool"?


8) Do you feel your colored lights, smoke machines, strobe light concert filled Christian rock music can accomplish more than a regular lit building, with a preacher preaching and a sovereign move of God?

When we change the words above to things that are gladly welcomed in the church, the same can also be said of those things. What say we about them?

[Narrow Is The Way]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

I am certainly a fan of colored lights, smoke machines, lasers, and thumping (but well tuned!) subwoofers -just not in church. I used all of the above as a DJ and am even doing some crazy things in a few small sections of our new house with colored LEDs and black lights. I love special effects and being creative!

But I also will go to a large church with all of the above and think "you know, they could have BUILT a small missions church over seas for what they paid for all this!". I also find it very distracting to the move of the spirit. Other then a well-designed sound system, I am very conservative about what I think is proper within an American church building. Just my humble opinion.

Good post. Strobe lights and Smoke machines are used to promote the flesh. What ever happened to an old fashion move of God.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Narrow Is The Way

Good post. Strobe lights and Smoke machines are used to promote the flesh. What ever happened to an old fashion move of God.

As others have said, I think it CAN be appropriate for use in church dramas and special events, but I really do not like it during the course of a normal service.

[HeavenlyOne]

Originally Posted by 1Corinth2v4

Should I have an occasional beer with a sinner to reach them, or should I hang out at strip bars and testify God's goodness?

This is the problem with your logic. We don't partake in their sin while trying to reach them. There is no comparison to using strobe lights and drinking a beer.

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by HeavenlyOne

This is the problem with your logic. We don't partake in their sin while trying to reach them. There is no comparison to using strobe lights and drinking a beer.

But we might break out the disco duck............

[Narrow Is The Way]

You guys have now convinced me. You have finally won this mean, strict, and ugly conservative over. I think we should reach the world any way we can. I think we should try, beer drinking, dope smoking, and bikini contests. After all we will pull in the masses for Christ. Who needs to draw the line. Don't be so judgmental. What is wrong with these things. I never read anywhere in the Bible where Beer drinking, dope smoking, Strobe lights, and good ole heavy metal music was wrong. Can you show me chapter and verse where these things are wrong you judgmental christians? I am trying to win people to God folks. Come on over to my church. We aren't any different than anyone else. Wow talk about Revival.

Then all of a sudden we could dust off that ole Bible and show them Acts 2:38

Then we can call our buddies and tell them we had a million in Sunday school. AFF would be rocking.

I think we have found the answer to reaching a lost world right here on AFF we will have all 7 billion of them in the bank in no time.

Any way we can folks, any way we can.
Look like them
Act like them
Sing like them
Watch television like them
Throw parties like them

I am doing it for Christ people. Don't you dare jump on here and criticize my methods of reaching the lost unless you have specific chapter and verse as to why it is wrong. If it is not plain like: Thou shalt not smoke dope... then you are making your own doctrine if you say it is wrong.

Does it make you any holier than me if you don't practice soul winning this way?

Don't dare be judgmental.

[Sister Alvear]

Well, I just got in from prayer meeting...I showed during the meeting some slides of the sufferings of the saints...so we had only my projector light on...It is 3:30 in the morning here in Brazil...We had an awesome prayer meeting.
Well, I just read the last couple posts...but am amazed how far extremes people do to...
Wonder where is balance?
We don´t have to look like a night club but using lights during a play or something does not make us a sinner...
Yes, I do know some go to extremes but not everybody....

[1Corinth2v4]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

1Cor's argument was "you can find these in clubs" and that means they are wrong. He totally missed the irony though. If the above is true then it is true always and not subject to personal bias, which is what I think this is really about.

As it was pointed out, you can find musical instruments in these clubs. So if we were consistant here musical instruments have to be wrong regardless of what the bible says. But since we know the bible mentions musical instruments in a good light this disproves the notion that just because you find it in a club it is wrong. That effectively removes the foundation of his argument.

Ever been to a concert outdoors? No lights or fog but lots of speakers and amps and musical instruments...that cancels out any campmeeting, even the one in Ventura.

The world is not an object. It is a world view and a mindset. Christians have a Christ based world view and sinners have a self based world view and mindset. John wrote "All that is of the world, the lust of the eyes and flesh and pride of life is of the world"

Colored lights? I hope some of you christmas celebrants are repenting now. Another word for colored lights is ambiengt lighting...you see that at Disneyland, Magic Mountain or other venues. You also see that at fine dining restaraunts.

Yes Paul used a pagan alter. No he did no build it, but he used it to get the attention of the people so he can preach to them. Most churches only use these elements to attract more attention and then they preach to them.

Early pioneers used brush arbors and tents. Imagine a huge tent being erected...it would get attention.

there is nothing morally wrong in colors or lights or fog, that is absurd...in fact that sounds very gnostic.

That is why TVs are not evil objects. They are just boxes of electronics...you are not gonna go to hell by walking past them at Best Buy.

BTW I've only seen things like fog and strobes used in a way to entertain, not as part of a worship service. I have seen them at concerts and plays. I have seen colored lighting used at worship services though for youth. No biggie.

BTW they have regular lights at clubs. They have chairs. They have a lot of things, just because they use them does not make them worldly anymore than instruments..

Oh yeah..they did not have bass or regular guitars or drum sets in bible days. They had something like a guitar in the harp and probably had drums more like what you see pagan tribes using while dancing around the fire.

In a club/concert you’ll find speakers, amplifiers, microphones, and instruments which play a significant role. Yet, the strobe lights, colored lights, smoke machines, alcohol and private rooms are utilized to set a more pleasurable seductive scene.

Have you ever seen a pulpit or bible at a head banging concert? Has Metallica or Led Zepplin ever opened their concerts with prayer? They haven’t nor would they ever! They have enough brain to know there’s no common ground between both worlds.

Why do colored lights, smoke machines, and strobe lights play a role within church services or “Christian youth concerts”, because Christians chose to imitate the world, and aren’t smart enough to know the difference!