Evangelicals adapt to change.

Let me add that while labels are for okay for general identification of the whole they have somehow morphed into rigid guidelines for describing individuals within that whole. Not all Christians go to church, listen to Heritage Singers and eat only vegetables. Why oh why do we place such importance on WHAT WE DO OR DON'T DO??? Human nature's inclination to stereotype I suppose.

If we put more emphasis on getting to know our Creator instead of being preoccupied with the charachter we inherited from Adam and Eve, we'd have the law of love written on our hearts naturally and by our lives we would be sharing the Gospel to all who saw us.

No matter what church you belong to, wouldn't it be awesome to be known as the man or woman who serves his or her neighbors? The man or woman who always has word of encouragement for the broken-hearted? The one who loves at all times?

That is the only kind of stereotype that will change the world.

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I hate labels as well Stacie. The ones that really irk me are 'conservative' and 'liberal'. I mean really! How can you possibly pigeonhole such a vast array of personalities and beliefs into two neat little categories? You can't, plain and simple, and it's a disservice to us as God's unique and individual creation to try.

Take me for example. I'm an average guy, 5'9" 170 lbs. Would you say I'm tall? Compared to someone who is 5'4" yes. Compared to someone who is 6'4" no! Am I heavy? Compared to someone who is 120 lbs yes. Compared to someone who is 250 lbs no! My point is, you can't just describe someone as tall or short and heavy or light and assume that accurately describes who you are talking about. There are many particulars that go with so many different types of people who come in various shapes and sizes. It's to general to just use those generic terms. The same with conservative and liberal.

At first glance, someone could assume I am a conservative because I always wear a dark suit and tie to church. But they would be quite mistaken once they got to know me and realize that I am a fun guy who loves to joke and relate to people on thier level. There is nothing stuffy or rigid about my personality at all. My theology is conservative, but not entirely so-it just depends what you are comparing it to. No one can peg me accurately, and many have tried, believe me! Theology students love labels, and it drove many of them nuts when they could not pin me down in one, absolute camp. They would hear me preach about the three angel's message and say to themselves; 'Ah! He's one of us! Conservative to the core!' Then they would find out that I endorse women's ordination and celebration worship and then they would gasp in confusion; 'Oh no! He's one of them!' I explained to them that it was futile to label me. I wouldn't have it, and loved to shatter thier preconcieved ideas and stereotypes. One stereotype that I despised most of all was the one which stated that all Theo guys were bookworm geeks, who were just looking to get married in order to get a job. Oh it made me so angry when I would hear that, and I made it my personal mission to blast that ridiculous notion any chance I could. It's like;'Hey! Do any of you realize that for four years I played drums in a rock band and had hair down to the middle of my back?' (I looked like a Def Leppard reject! Ah the eighties! How I long to forget them...)

People look at my CD collection and go 'WHAT the!' I have classical, Mozart Requiems, Beethoven Masses, Gregorian chant. I also have Michael W Smith (my favourite!!) Michelle Tumes, Mark Schultz, Rebecca St. James, Nicole Nordeman, Steven Curtis Chapman, Jaci Velasquez, tons of contemporary Christian. I also have Enya, Loreena McKennit, Sara Brightman, movie soundtracks like Titanic, Braveheart, Gladiator...I have all different sorts of artists, I love so MANY kinds of music. Why would I want to limit myself to one kind?

I live my life how I choose to, and don't let anyone's biases and stereotypes influence me. It's the only way to be happy and true to who you are, instead of trying to be what other's expect you to be!

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Alright, I thought Marco was my twin...and now YOU!!!!!!
You and I have a lot in common and that is a good thing believe me. No wonder you are here:)

Don't you love the fact that no one can figure you out?!
See, this makes you all things to all people, it is a good thing.

Tell me, what is this celebration church thing anyway? Shouldn't we be celebrating God to begin with? Let me guess, it means we sing songs not found in the hymnal and there is a drum set on the platform yes? Tell me.

You crack me up Michael and that is hard to do:) For some reason not too many people make me outright laugh...Marco is one...you are another...and just a handful of others (Ok, just the look on Bill Murray's face makes me laugh)

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'Celebration' has become a dirty word in Adventist circles Stacie. (And that says volumes about our churches, which are on the verge of needing electro-shock paddles in order to bring life back to thier services.)Of course, you're right-we should celebrate God. However, some Adventists find enthusiastic worship threatening to thier sedate, reverent ideals for the service. I was raised in the Catholic church, so I know about awe-inspiring, reverent music and atmosphere. I do believe that there is a time for it. But there is also a time to CELEBRATE our God!

I concede that Charismatics have taken things too far, and have made things difficult for the rest of us. Churches such as Willow Creek and Hillsong have also pushed the envelope with distorted electric guitaurs and borderline heavy metal music accompaniment. I think that we should have some common sense. I have been to some youth services at Full Gospel and Temple Baptist churches that I found uncomfortable to sit through. The music was deafening, and the kids were jumping up and down on the pews amid the roar of Marshall amps. My wife and I had to leave, because it was too over the line for us. It is the house of God after all! I try to draw a distinction between what might be acceptable to listen to in my personal time, and what is acceptable in church. A certain amount of restraint and decorum is always appreciated when in the presence of the Lord.

Many people are fed up with the dead, stagnant worship found in many of our churches. They have voted with thier feet and left the traditional services to start thier own 'companies' where they can enjoy the music they want without condemnation and judgementalism. In fact, we have one here in Kelowna called 'Son Valley' Church. (They rarely have Adventist in thier names, as they are seeker services targeting non-Christians.) They use Bill Hybel's Willow Creek service formats as thier guideline.

I can understand thier frustration and why they do it, but I really don't think it's the way to go. We need more unity in our churches, and this does not contribute to it. As a matter of fact, it is really more avoiding the problem rather than dealing with it and coming to some sort of compromise. Perhaps alternating contemporary praise and hymns from Sabbath to Sabbath. It also disturbs me that the pastors that start these churches are usually hostile toward the mainline, conservative Adventist body. They are individuals who were raised in suffocating, strict Christian homes where they were force fed Ellen White and pounded over the head with her writings. This is an unconcious way of rebelling at how they were raised. Sad...

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This is late in the conversation, but wouldn't it be great if churches just went by the name "The Way" like in Acts. No labels that would give credit to man, but would lift up the ministry, life, death and resurrection of Jesus alone.

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Anonymous,

Agreed. How wonderful it would be if we saw unity through God's Son. I'm afraid Satan works too hard for that. :-(

Thanks for commenting!

- Marco

---
"HeavenlySanctuary.com - Surf The Innernet!"

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I'm glad to hear that even a person with a "wider" or "higher" limit of what music is appropriate for church, has limits. I have been labeled a "conservative" by some people because of my personal choice of what style or kind of music is appropriate in church. They have gone on to say, anything is ok.

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