SPIRITUAL AMUSEMENT PARKS

Churches have what I call an "entertainment mentality" today. They certainly aren't what they used to be.

To begin with, it's difficult to find a church that still sings the old-fashioned hymns in harmony style using hymnals. It's unison singing from a TV screen led by a worship team rather than a song leader. And some of the worship teams are quite skilled in entertainment -- both in dress and actions. When the first choruses were introduced, they were quite worshipful, both words and music. One could even harmonize with the music. Nowadays, rhythm, beat, and noise have replaced true music. Offbeats are emphasized and the words often fail to rhyme. Melody, too, has disappeared as a musical phrase is repeated over and over. And with no notes to follow, how in the world is one supposed to learn the new tunes, if, indeed, one can call them tunes!

Then religious movie scripts were introduced. We have to keep the people's attention, you know!

Many churches have dropped Sunday School classes. Kids attend school during the week -- they need Sundays off. And many sporting events are now held on Sundays which keep many people from attending church services.

I really should classify this last paragraph as a Pet Peeve. My blood pressure jumped to over 220 when I first learned that on Easter Sunday our church is not having the usual hymn singing and adult Bible Study class. No, they're going to "feed their faces" with an Easter breakfast instead of feed their souls on the Word -- and on the most holy Sunday of the year. So the women are all trying to come up with breakfast casseroles of one kind or another. Oh, yes, they're also going to have an egg hunt for the kiddies. Poor kiddies -- they don't get ehough candy and such at home and at school! How are our children ever going to learn the real meaning of Easter?

Guess it's all part of the "Entertainment Mentality." Call me old fashioned if you will, but I'm not participating!

Sunday is not a day for church, anymore -- it's time for a trip to a "Spiritual Amusement Park."

Preacher's Kid