Jahfin Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 CHARLOTTE - To get people to attend his new church campus, Robbie McLaughlin is sending his message to where the people are. Next Friday, staffers from Next Level Church of Matthews will go to bars in the Ballantyne area of Charlotte to hand out shot glasses which ask patrons to "give us a shot" and bear the slogan, "Real church for real people." McLaughlin, the pastor, said he is confident that it will be controversial, but he said the goal is not necessarily to impress people who already go to church. Next Level is a nontraditional church that encourages members to dress casually and snack on coffee and doughnuts during services. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanna be drummer Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 Isn't "nontraditional" contradicting Christianity as a whole? What a bunch of morons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maven2blue Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 Isn't "nontraditional" contradicting Christianity as a whole? What a bunch of morons So, you have to be traditional to be a Christian? I hate tradition. I like to see people break out of the mold and do something different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquamarine Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 So, you have to be traditional to be a Christian? I hate tradition. I like to see people break out of the mold and do something different. I think Christianity started that way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redrum Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 Doesn't the saying go: 'God watches over fools and drunks?' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Dawg Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 I think Christianity started that way! Absolutely right- 'You can't teach an Old Dawg a New Trick.' If was not for sinners there would be no need for redemption. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanna be drummer Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 So, you have to be traditional to be a Christian? I hate tradition. I like to see people break out of the mold and do something different.To break from tradition is to keep changing. The Church shouldn't have the change a whole lot. The Catholic Church kept its core beliefs and infratsructure the same way for 2000 years. Why change it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maven2blue Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 To break from tradition is to keep changing. The Church shouldn't have the change a whole lot. The Catholic Church kept its core beliefs and infratsructure the same way for 2000 years. Why change it? That may work fine for the Catholic Church and its members but the church in this thread is not Catholic. In the article it says it is a nontraditional church. Why knock them for trying something new? I know alot about tradition and change. I grew up in a family that lives and breathes tradition. I watched family members go quietly insane and I vowed to escape that destiny. If I hadnt, then my spirit would have withered and died and I would be thoroughly miserable today. Besides, change in conjunction with learning and to growing is something everyone needs that from time to time, even churches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanna be drummer Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 That may work fine for the Catholic Church and its members but the church in this thread is not Catholic. In the article it says it is a nontraditional church. Why knock them for trying something new? I know alot about tradition and change. I grew up in a family that lives and breathes tradition. I watched family members go quietly insane and I vowed to escape that destiny. If I hadnt, then my spirit would have withered and died and I would be thoroughly miserable today. Besides, change in conjunction with learning and to growing is something everyone needs that from time to time, even churches. One must ask, "How exactly are they nontradition?" If they're beliefs are non-tradition, then I consider them a joke. I'm sorry, but to simply leave the Catholic, Protestant, or Orthodox Churches beliefs and create your own is unadvised. Those three churches haven't changed for quite some time (except some of the Protestant ones) and changing now, rather than 2,000 years ago would appear to be folly. What makes us have more insight now rather than way back when? On the other hand, if they are nontradition simply because they allow donuts to be served and whatnot, but their beliefs are not changed, then thats another thing. Hats off to them for trying to attract new people, but really now, what's so bad about sitting through mass for one single hour out of the week with some decent clothes on? I'm not a huge fan of thise "modernizing" thing as I'm sure you can tell. We can't change simply because pop culture has. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maven2blue Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 I can tell that we are quite different but thats cool. Here is the link to the Next Level Church website, their doctrine page. They seem to be Protestant doctrinally. Their outreach program is where they differ from the average church. http://www.nextlevelchurch.org/products/po...hp?linkID=11851 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquamarine Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 One must ask, "How exactly are they nontradition?" If they're beliefs are non-tradition, then I consider them a joke. I'm sorry, but to simply leave the Catholic, Protestant, or Orthodox Churches beliefs and create your own is unadvised. Those three churches haven't changed for quite some time (except some of the Protestant ones) and changing now, rather than 2,000 years ago would appear to be folly. What makes us have more insight now rather than way back when? On the other hand, if they are nontradition simply because they allow donuts to be served and whatnot, but their beliefs are not changed, then thats another thing. Hats off to them for trying to attract new people, but really now, what's so bad about sitting through mass for one single hour out of the week with some decent clothes on? I'm not a huge fan of thise "modernizing" thing as I'm sure you can tell. We can't change simply because pop culture has. I'm not being flippant, but that's what Jesus's followers did with the Jewish faith, which had also been around for quite some time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanna be drummer Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 I'm not being flippant, but that's what Jesus's followers did with the Jewish faith, which had also been around for quite some time.Good point, but let me rephrase. Unless God incarnate gives you specific instructions on how to change from the core churches, I would advise against it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanna be drummer Posted January 15, 2008 Share Posted January 15, 2008 I can tell that we are quite different but thats cool. Here is the link to the Next Level Church website, their doctrine page. They seem to be Protestant doctrinally. Their outreach program is where they differ from the average church. http://www.nextlevelchurch.org/products/po...hp?linkID=11851 Difference is not a bad thing odd church but whatever floats your boat I guess.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jahfin Posted January 15, 2008 Author Share Posted January 15, 2008 Way back in the 80s at a club I used to frequent members of a local church would show up to harass the patrons about the "evils" of rock n' roll and how we should all come to their church on Sunday morning. They didn't like it one bit when we threw it back in their faces by saying, "how would you like it if we showed up at your church encouraging you all to attend rock shows at the nightclub?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanna be drummer Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Way back in the 80s at a club I used to frequent members of a local church would show up to harass the patrons about the "evils" of rock n' roll and how we should all come to their church on Sunday morning. They didn't like it one bit when we threw it back in their faces by saying, "how would you like it if we showed up at your church encouraging you all to attend rock shows at the nightclub?" Good for you. Nobody has the right to tell someone what to do, especially when they aren't hurting anybody Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Bonnie~ Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 The major reason I stopped going to church was because the problem with so many churches is that unless you are already "perfect", they won't accept you. Hmmm....Doesn't the Bible say Judge not, lest Ye be Judged? And a lot of those people were the biggest hypocrites I had ever met. If actually read the Bible, Jesus was out there trying to reach the Lowly, the Sinners. So I say Kudos to this pastor who is trying to do the same thing! But that's just my .02 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo the Rover Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 One of my favorite drinking buddies was our parish priest back in my home town. I learned more sitting on a barstool next to him than I ever did sitting in pew at mass. He left the priest hood and got married, he lives back in Ireland and is very happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo the Rover Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 It is impossible to attain Samadhi and regularly consume alcohol. ... and a drunk can never attain Moksha (spiritual liberation). - S I think I knew you in another life...well, another form at least. Nice to see you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ally Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Way back in the 80s at a club I used to frequent members of a local church would show up to harass the patrons about the "evils" of rock n' roll and how we should all come to their church on Sunday morning. They didn't like it one bit when we threw it back in their faces by saying, "how would you like it if we showed up at your church encouraging you all to attend rock shows at the nightclub?" I wouldn't want to be harrased by these guy's (or anybody for that matter) but if they're bringing the shot glasses, I'd invite them to buy a few rounds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jahfin Posted January 17, 2008 Author Share Posted January 17, 2008 I wouldn't want to be harrased by these guy's (or anybody for that matter) but if they're bringing the shot glasses, I'd invite them to buy a few rounds These were religious zealots of a different sort that definitely weren't brandishing shot glasses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ally Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 These were religious zealots of a different sort that definitely weren't brandishing shot glasses. Point taken. I'm as concerned as you are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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