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Here We are Now, Entertain Us.
Thu, 2010-09-09 19:39 — moderator
We're posting some conversation-stirring quotes every Tues, Thurs, and Saturday. This week’s theme is humor, levity, and amusement.
Today’s quote comes from the notable disciple of Spurgeon, Archibald Brown. Pastor Brown warns:
The devil has seldom done a more clever thing, than hinting to the Church that part of their mission is to provide entertainment for the people, with a view to winning them. From speaking out the gospel, the Church has gradually toned down her testimony, then winked at and excused the frivolities of the day. Then she tolerated them in her borders. Now she has adopted them under the plea of reaching the masses!
...In vain will the epistles be searched to find any trace of the 'gospel of amusement'. Their message is, "Therefore, come out from them and separate yourselves from them... Don't touch their filthy things..." Anything approaching amusement is conspicuous by its absence. They had boundless confidence in the gospel and employed no other weapon. (The Devil's Mission of Amusement)
Below are some questions to get things going in the comments section. Again, the questions aren't high school English essays - they're supposed to be conversation-starters. So . . .
Agree, disagree? Why?
What are some examples of the “gospel of amusement?
Is Brown right that "anything approaching amusement" is completely absent from the epistles?
Note: As always, please use a variation of your real name when posting (e.g. John, JDoe, John Doe) and a working e-mail.
Comments
What is truly amazing is that
What is truly amazing is that Brown could have written that a century ago. What words would be adequate for the condition of the church and her preachers today?
This all is the fruit of
This all is the fruit of shepherds wanting to be liked, having grown up in a culture where self-esteem is king. Therefore, the assembly is all about wowing ourselves and the worship of God is barely on the radar screen. The proof that we want to be liked can be seen in how we have compromised the Word of God, especially Genesis, so that we can fit in and be accepted by the masses outside the faith. We even have Bible translations today (the TNLT) which have violated the admonition of Psalm 1:1--"How blessed is the man who does not walk according to the council of the wicked.." (unbelieving Jews were listened to when putting together that translation, especially in the gospel of John).
Many of the trappings of
Many of the trappings of revivalism, including the adoption of "too much" of the world's style of music, would certainly fall into amusement, as well as some of the manipulative methods used to get people into church.
There is also the use of famous people to "lure" people to faith--many of whom then fall into grievous sin because they aren't discipled. Then you've got entertainment "ministries" to youth (and others, sigh).....
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