Monday 25 June 2007

So, um, yeah, thats alot of 'why's

I found this video on youtube:



and I'm not really sure what to make of it, I would appreciate your thoughts (ignore any previous comments that may have said I didn't really want your opinions, I was just having a bad day).
For me the questions it kicks up are things like:

Those people at the 'revival' are experiencing God...well, they at least *think* they are. Marjoe is 'praying' for them and they are falling down, now my point isn't whether falling over is a God thing or not, its the fact these people are reacting to what they think is God. Either they are faking it, they think it's real but its actually all in their heads or God is doing something.

I think is I had to, I would sway with the second option "they think it's real but its actually all in their heads", and so from there I'm starting to think about my time in church, is it all the hiss and fuzz of a band and singers? Could it be the lighting? And why does the air conditioning come on at the same point in the same part in the meeting, (the bit where the preacher starts to whip up the crowd.) The whiping up of the crowd doesn't really happen in OG, but I would say there is something very powerful in the music. Why does the worship leader play their guitar softly when they pray? Why is it that when the music stops we start talking about what we are going to do with the rest of our days that 'God's presence' seems to disappear? Surely if God is dwelling amongst the people he wouldn't just disappear when the music stops. But I suppose you have the people who continue being prayed for while we go off to get our teas and coffees. "God is still working on a couple of people around the room", why only a couple? Again, if God has turned up why aren't we all completely changed? Why do we (I), after 'meeting with God', still struggle with the same hang ups and the same issues? Why isn't it dealt with there and then?

9 comments:

Phil said...

I think God works in spite of us some times.

Just becuase the main guy thinks it's a facade, doesn't mean lives weren't touched.

Anonymous said...

hmmmm an interesting one. I think God can use all people - even when they think they are doing something apposing God, he can use it for His glory. So just because Marjoe thinks its false, doesnt mean God cant use it. Having said that there are times when people do allow themselves to get "whipped up" in it all. We've had conversations about that type of stuff at Soul Survivor and the like. I think only the individual and God can know what is truly happening in each person.... to a certain extent I think we should test things and find out if it really is God, for if we are truly seeking, we will find Him. God wont touch all the people all the time, as for some the time or the purpose wont be right. We need to remember God's time is perfect and trust that He will touch us when He knows it's right.

Flips

sparkles said...

I don't like it at all.

I would avoid ever stepping foot into that church, and encourage others to do the same.

I agree that God could work there still, and I'm sure he was, but it was all so hyped and unnecessary.

Power of persuasion. Leads to people thinking that can only meet God when they go there.

The whole time I watched it I felt uncomfortable and unsettled.

I wouldn't trust that church

sparkles said...

It's quite sad really that everything has to be false. It will come out that he doesn't believe in it, and that will majorly damage the congregation.

Dave said...

Yeah, I felt really uncomfortable too.

I dunno if I said this already, but this happened in the 70's. The whole documentary was re-released on dvd in 2002.

sparkles said...

May have happened in the 70s but it still happens now, been to a couple of similar events and felt just as uncomfortable. But I've never really figured out whether it's just me and my stuff that makes me feel uncomfortable

Laura said...

It's not just you Helen!

I hate atmospheres like that, the whole mood music etc, it makes me very uncomfortable when things like that are used in churches. It's really difficult to listen to God with incessant music playing anyway!

That type of atmosphere reminds me of Elijah on Mount Carmel with the Baal worshippers (Kings 18). Elijah was quite a good whipper! I see those people so lacking in wisdom that they can't see what they're really following - the atmosphere and the leader rather than God. I love Psalm 51 because it's such a great example of wisdom-filled, humble repentance that is pure and focused on what God really wants.

Though I'm skeptical of the authenticity of people's experiences while under the influence of atmosphere, God can use any situation to lead people to him - this is from Phillippians 1:

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

I guess just as we can be inspired from unbelievers' lyrics, music etc we can be inspired by any type of preaching, whether given by someone faithful to God, someone going through a period of doubt or an atheist/agnostic/whatever.

All the questions this brings to your mind, Dave, are good to think about and be aware of. Don't be afraid of questions like that until they start to rock your faith more than they should! Why doesn't God deal with your hangups there and then? Maybe because he wants you to keep coming back to him, or maybe he knows that we're fragile souls and wouldn't cope with such life changing experiences in such a short timescale. Maybe he just knows better. And why don't we recognise his presence when the music stops? Because we're human!

Laura said...

oops I think I rambled a bit, sorry!

sparkles said...

nah, they were good comments to read.

Ultimately, hyped stuff isn't gonna last. You've gotta work on your relationship with God, not your relationship through anyone else.

(bashes self on head to pay attention to that too)