en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/917796 Comments by anotherjimmoore http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/leaving-church-before-its-over/#IDComment108641743 We humans respond to architecture as much as any other art form. I accept the orthodxy that the Church in this age lives in everyone of us. But I do see buildings as an expresssion or physical utterance of what a particular part of that body is about. It seems like a lot of American Christians would be happy if all we leave behind us is worn out sofas and dirty coffee mugs. Raw, what I'm saying is there is room for it all. You don't have to be sad about how much money is spent. We serve a God who would cover the ground with gold if he chose to do so. Do your thing exuberantly. Encourage your friends to do theirs just as exuberantly. The Kingdom has come! Enjoy it and let the Holy Spirit lead as He chooses. I'll bet one day we see that God was doing all things in all directions at all times and we just didn't know it. Mon, 8 Nov 2010 23:00:54 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/leaving-church-before-its-over/#IDComment108641743 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/leaving-church-before-its-over/#IDComment108641703 So how would you deal with Haggai where God exhorts his followers to "finish the building"? "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,' says the LORD. 'You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?' declares the LORD Almighty. 'Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.'" Look what you described is what I want too - and what I get to do at my megachurch - but I have to push back when Christians criticize each other over their church choices. From biblical prophesy and orthodox tradition it is very clear that God's bride is meant to restore, build, create beauty and spaces of worship both physical and emotional. Mon, 8 Nov 2010 23:00:35 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/leaving-church-before-its-over/#IDComment108641703 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/leaving-church-before-its-over/#IDComment108638072 I think that would be great but historically even that was rather remarkable. Within 30 years Paul was exhorting the rich to give in the same way the poor did. Recently a pastor (of a megachurch) suggested that he and the elders were considering getting rid of insurance and using the funds to care for the needy and trusting each other to care for their needs. Even in this very mature church that got serious push back. I think that's why God loves generosity so much. It really is so hard. Mon, 8 Nov 2010 22:40:45 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/leaving-church-before-its-over/#IDComment108638072 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/leaving-church-before-its-over/#IDComment108631586 Tam, you called mega-churches a weird phenomenon. You said they defeat everything about what church is about. I haven't said anything negative about any particular worship choice. So how am I pushing my ideas on you by defending what you are attacking? Just so you know, I assume that you aren't doing "it" wrong but I do worry about your willingness to attack a brother. Mon, 8 Nov 2010 22:10:30 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/leaving-church-before-its-over/#IDComment108631586 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/leaving-church-before-its-over/#IDComment108630429 That's good since every single church in the New Testiment was completely disfunctional in one way or another. The more things change the more they stay the same. I find a lot of comfort in the fact that today's church is no more or less messed up than the 1st century chruch. Mon, 8 Nov 2010 22:04:43 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/leaving-church-before-its-over/#IDComment108630429 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/leaving-church-before-its-over/#IDComment108598485 "I'm not big on anything that's billed as exciting, dynamic, relevant etc." I understand what you mean, but honestly, is there anything about following Jesus that isn't exciting, dynamic and relevant? Isn't the opposite of exciting, dynamic and relevant boring, static and irrelevant? I know you don't like that either. So I'm guessing you like exciting, dynamic and relevant as long as it isn't "billed" that way, right? Mon, 8 Nov 2010 19:17:00 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/leaving-church-before-its-over/#IDComment108598485 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/leaving-church-before-its-over/#IDComment108597690 How about "numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand"? If you don't like "mega" you're really going to hate heaven. God's really into mega... Mon, 8 Nov 2010 19:13:03 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/leaving-church-before-its-over/#IDComment108597690 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/the-rarest-church-musician-of-all-time/#IDComment107812935 If you want to make a music director mad call them a "worship leader." They hate that. ;) Thu, 4 Nov 2010 17:22:41 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/11/the-rarest-church-musician-of-all-time/#IDComment107812935 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/10/me-cnn/#IDComment106394640 You know, my take away from the comments section is just how hard it is for a Christian to say anything pursuasive to such a muddled and confused world. Jon, one of the things this blog does really well is identify the Christian culture we all live in and encourage us to strip those cultures (because there are many) away from the Biblical Gospel of Jesus. In spite of your skill people still get confused, angry and dismissive. That's why words, no matter how well spoken or loving, just don't change lives. Loving acts is the only way we can penitrate the miasma. Wed, 27 Oct 2010 17:01:56 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/10/me-cnn/#IDComment106394640 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/10/having-our-ideas-stolen-by-pop-culture-finally/#IDComment103682943 thats not even good theology! Tue, 12 Oct 2010 18:52:45 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/10/having-our-ideas-stolen-by-pop-culture-finally/#IDComment103682943 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/09/letting-go-of-the-barns/#IDComment101521385 Those Little ole' Ladies might be onto something... nice turn of phrase. Wed, 29 Sep 2010 16:55:54 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/09/letting-go-of-the-barns/#IDComment101521385 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/09/3686/#IDComment99403800 Jon, You can take a vacay now. We have a backup writer! Plus the post vacation "SCl on the Road" blogs are potentially hilarious. Fri, 17 Sep 2010 17:30:19 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/09/3686/#IDComment99403800 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/09/handbells/#IDComment96783884 Why black at all? Is it a beatnik thing? Did Jim Morrison have a handbell phase in Haight Asbury in the early 60's? Fri, 3 Sep 2010 17:30:06 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/09/handbells/#IDComment96783884 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/09/handbells/#IDComment96783665 You haven't lived until you've heard "Blessed Be Your Name" on handbells. I'll bet some saint will be banging this out under the Tree of Life for 50,000 years or so. Fri, 3 Sep 2010 17:28:32 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/09/handbells/#IDComment96783665 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/09/handbells/#IDComment96783285 Now that is bittersweet Fri, 3 Sep 2010 17:25:51 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/09/handbells/#IDComment96783285 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/07/the-most-dangerous-vehicle-on-the-road/#IDComment88092936 Awesome story. That's hilarious. Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:37:18 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/07/the-most-dangerous-vehicle-on-the-road/#IDComment88092936 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/07/3375/#IDComment87548029 So no fondue at passover? Wow, that really puts a new spin on things. Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:08:15 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/07/3375/#IDComment87548029 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/07/too-much-grace/#IDComment86675778 I don think all Christians fight the urge to not "get soft of sin" - for instance your post on becoming more conservative than you used to be is evidence of the struggle. People who are concerned about being too soft on sin are modern Pharasees plain and simple. We demonize Pharasees in our sermons but the truth is we are far more like them than different from them. Part of the brilliance of the Gospels is they were written to attack the pharasiacal bent while sharing the Gospel with the lost. Something for everyone. Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:01:26 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/07/too-much-grace/#IDComment86675778 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/06/not-using-snopes-com-or-google/#IDComment81962197 submission issues . . . ;) Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:09:57 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/06/not-using-snopes-com-or-google/#IDComment81962197 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/06/not-using-snopes-com-or-google/#IDComment81961666 Agree. Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:06:12 +0000 http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/06/not-using-snopes-com-or-google/#IDComment81961666