Evangelical Christians are adopting — and adapting — the rituals of Advent, the four weeks leading up to Christmas that are traditionally celebrated by Catholics, Lutherans, Eastern Orthodox and other liturgical churches.
They're giving a new, personalized spin to the prayers, candles and calendars to track the building excitement, and set a spiritual tone day by day. This year Advent begins on Sunday.
Max~you bring up an interesting point, the drive to put aside theological differences. Across this nation, many inter-faith services are taking place, including a service at the cathedral of St. Andrew in Grand Rapids, Mi. Those in attendance included Muslims, Catholics, and Jews. One Rabbi claimed ~quote~all religions and their basic beliefs have a common thread of good and the theme is universal. This interfaith service not only acknowledges the community's differences, it embraces all beliefs in a true spirit of unity~unquote.
"Because NARROW is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" Matthew 7:14
The Liturgical Movement has its roots in Rome. It stems from the Oxford Movement in Victorian England and the Roman Catholic Benedictine Monastry at Solesmes in France. It is a Ecumenical movement that strives to influence how church is done across all traditions.
Its logic being if we eradicate difference in worship styles then we can put aside our theological differences. The churches that are influenced by it are blindly marching toward Rome. If reformed churches adhere to the regulative principle then that should safeguard them against liturgical contamination.
Be viglant resist romanist influence and remain protestant!
GG wrote: Good, it's about time that y'all caught up with 2000 years of Orthodoxy. Now if we could just get you to believe God's own word in John 6.
GG I didn't know that you guys in the Roman Papistry knew about the Bible.
There is hope for you yet GG.
BTW talking about John 6 did you read this bit - "44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." Which of course negates your old Roman dogma of salvation by works. Good news eh, GG.
"Interpretation & Teaching" disqualifies Covenant-theology churches because they are "inconsistently literal." Since not even Dispies are capable of being *consistently* literal w/o surrendering sanity, IHCC should be disqualified as well!
"Lordship Issue" I've never *anyone* teach that a person can be forensically justified w/o a regenerated heart. Probably a strawman. Only a changed heart has the faith which justifies!
"Other Important Factors" No Scriptural rationale is provided for any, though indeed, some may be. This is very telling (to me, at least).
Nathan wrote: As every day goes by it appears the labour pains are bearing down on many true christian as they are forced out of their mother church into the real world to walk on their own two feet with Christ. It seems ever more greater an impossiblility that I will ever find myself in a church again as the cancerous apostasies flow through the very veins of the body rendering it almost dead. For 14 years I have been attempting to find a body of believers I can fellowship with, it's like flogging a dead horse. Pentecostal, Baptist, Presbyterian, Anglican etc. I've been hearing the Lord speaking for some time, reach out to those in the same situation. Gather my people together. This call gets clearer every day.
Ditto Nathan! Thank the Lord for Sermon Audio! All we get fed around here is lactose free skim milk!
As every day goes by it appears the labour pains are bearing down on many true christian as they are forced out of their mother church into the real world to walk on their own two feet with Christ. It seems ever more greater an impossiblility that I will ever find myself in a church again as the cancerous apostasies flow through the very veins of the body rendering it almost dead. For 14 years I have been attempting to find a body of believers I can fellowship with, it's like flogging a dead horse. Pentecostal, Baptist, Presbyterian, Anglican etc. I've been hearing the Lord speaking for some time, reach out to those in the same situation. Gather my people together. This call gets clearer every day.
The issue here is not what "somebody" wants to do privately; it's what churches may Biblically do as part of public worship.
If pastors think they have the liberty to cook up anything they like for the church meeting, then I have the same liberty, ad hominem, to absent myself from it & maybe worship God at high places instead. After all, "anything goes" works both ways!
So long as it is not required for salvation, I see nothing wrong with it. If somebody wants to celebrate advent, fine. If not, don't. One thing for certain, Christ will come back and this can certainly be a good topic in the advent season. This is what Advent means to me anyway. Christ is coming back. Are you ready or are you still unprepared? Repent while there is yet time.
""Evangelical Christians are adopting — and adapting — the rituals of Advent, the four weeks leading up to Christmas that are traditionally celebrated by Catholics, Lutherans, Eastern Orthodox and other liturgical churches.""
THEN they are NOT evangelicals!!!
Simple truth which not all church goers can perceive. Many come to church - but not to Christ.
Matt 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
No surprise. The Church Calender (aka Liturgical or Church Year) is becoming increasingly popular, even among many "conservative" Reformed churches, who of all people, should know better: "Festival days, vulgarly called Holy-days, having no warrant in the word of God, are not to be continued." - Directory for Publick Worship, 1645
COMMENTS | 
