Colored Lights/Smoke Machines/Strobe Bright Lights

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

Sister Alvear Rocks! YEAHHHH!!!


LOL!


Personally I can do church without musical instruments much less lights and fog... but SURPRISE! everyone is not as enlightened as I.

Well, I'm tryin, I'm just not there yet. Maybe someday!

[chaotic_resolve]

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 colored lights, smoke machines, and strobe bright lights 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.

What about keyboards, drums, guitars, the bass, background vocals and lead singers? Pretty sure they can be found at some clubs also. I'm not meaning to degrade you, but just wondering where do you draw the line?

Do you really believe colored lights, foggers and strobe lights are evil and sinful?

This reminds me of what folks do with the verse in Deuteronomy about women wearing men's apparel. It's all about being selective at what you want to be right and what you want to be wrong ... and ignoring the rest.

Now to answer the questions ...

Originally Posted by 1Corinth2v4

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

In most cases these are used at youth events. The motive would be to create an atmosphere the youth are comfortable with. Understand, that stuff is secondary and will never replace the ministered gospel of Jesus Christ. It's something used to relax them and get them to let down their guard, so when the message is given, they're more open to receiving that message.

Originally Posted by 1Corinth2v4

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

I mentioned it above, but it allows them to relax and drop their guard so when the message is given, they're open to receive it.

Originally Posted by 1Corinth2v4

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

Again, I have a problem with your picking and choosing of media. Music as a whole is used in clubs and at concerts. Guitars, drums, keyboards, etc. To answer the question, it's not so much about creating a club/concert atmosphere as it is using various media to bring the gospel to them.

Originally Posted by 1Corinth2v4

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

I know it's taboo to answer a question by asking a question ... but I take it you feel lights and fog are sinful. In this scenario, every church has taken the world's utensils for rock n roll (drums, guitar, bass, etc) and have infused the church with them, God forbid!

Originally Posted by 1Corinth2v4

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

This is where discernment comes in and where you find out whether ministry is truly about the gospel of Jesus Christ or just another sideshow. There are times when I didn't use the lights and fog. A good ministry team will know when it's time to turn off the lights and fog and just focus on worship and the gospel.

Originally Posted by 1Corinth2v4

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

I guess for you living for God isn't cool. God forbid we actually encourage them to enjoy their walk with God. That it's the most incredible and awesome experience they'll ever know. It is absolutely cool to live for God, but that's not the main message.

Originally Posted by 1Corinth2v4

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?

I like how the question is completely biased against the use of these media by making it sound so negative and ungodly. Again, the lights and fog will never replace the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's not, or shouldn't be, the main attraction. It's simply using media, such as we use musical instruments. The answer is no ... it won't and it's honestly rather an absurd question.

Answer these, please, if you will:

1. How you justify taking musical instruments, such as drums, guitars and bass, from rock bands and clubs and using these in church?

2. Do you truely believe that lights and fog are sinful and ungodly?

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by dizzyde

Well, I'm tryin, I'm just not there yet. Maybe someday!

Don't count on it. Many are called but few are chosen.

[Cindy]

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 colored lights, smoke machines, and strobe bright lights 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?

I do not feel colored lights, etc. can accomplish more than a regular lit building with a preacher preaching and a sovereign move of God. I do believe they can be used to draw some young people to your church if used occasionally.
And you don't have to be loud to get God's attention. He can hear a whisper too.

[Nahum]

Did Jesus use a pulpit?

A Bible?

A microphone?

Did he say "turn in your Bible to?"

Did he even use a text?

Did he use a Penetcostal preacher's "hitch" in his voice?

[SDG]

I smell eau de Pharisee ... up in here!!!

[Nahum]

Seriously, what was the early church 's pattern for church services?

Was there a pattern?

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

I smell eau de Pharisee ... up in here!!!

Get a nose job.......

[1Corinth2v4]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

did you answer me?

what about SS artwork? books? doing gestures as they sing?

I say if it works do it...winning souls is what it is all about...
Now I am not talking about stupid things...dressing in ballet clothes but letting HG filled kids have things on their level...why not..

I even like puppet shows...
Whatever..pick corn on the Sabbeth...preach to a man in a tree, mix mud with spit, turn water to wine...walk on the water...do something...whatever it takes to win souls...

Jesus sat on a well and met the lady of the town...didn´t look the best thing to do...but he did it...

Sister Alvear,

That comment wasn't directed at you, but now I'll address you. My beef isn't with art work, nor do I mind puppets for the kiddies either!

I understand the goal is winning souls, but how far should we go to win them?

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?

Should I call a famous rappers to perform at church so I can draw the youth, and then hit them with the gospel?

How far should I go?

When I read the bible's text, I see men of old full of boldness preaching on streets and in prisons, and not once did they utilize worldly attractions.

Paul said his speech and preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.

It was the power of the Holy Ghost drew and saved crowds, not fancy words, lights, or concerts. Shouldn't we utilize the bible as an example?


Society has pulled away from biblical example and has implemented their own method. Churches are starting to substitute prayer, gifts of the spirit, bible teachings, by introducing certain attractions, and this ought not to be so.

But, I would understand if these churches lack anointing, biblical teaching, Holy Ghost, commitment, etc. I mean, all they would have is color lights and rock concerts to draw people. This is the same method rock bands use to recruit people, there's no difference.

[bishoph]

Originally Posted by chaotic_resolve

Answer these, please, if you will:

1. How you justify taking musical instruments, such as drums, guitars and bass, from rock bands and clubs and using these in church?

2. Do you truely believe that lights and fog are sinful and ungodly?

While I was planning on not entering the fray on this thread, IMO this type of reasoning is part of what is wrong in our churches. Somewhere, someone decided that we took musical instruments from the world and tried to make them holy. This could not be farther from the truth. Nearly all of the music heard (outside of some weird stuff)today originated in the church. Even rock and roll evolved from country, (which evolved out of gospel) and as with most things; when man becomes involved in the evolution of anything it usually ends up in perversion, which is where much of the secular music has gone today.

Remember, every good and perfect gift comes from God. It is what man does with it that determines whether or not it continues to give glory to God, or if it is going to be perverted and used for the master of deception.