I was involved in the Charismatic arena many years ago and what you've said about worshiptainment is exactly true. The experience is everything. I do fear that conservative church denominations are allowing for worshiptainment.

Pastor Matt. you hit the nail right on it’s head. Far too many churches across the country are too much into entertaining and not preaching and teaching the Word.They will stand one day and give account for it

This is an absolutely relevant topic. God bless!

I have also watched 'the Red Pill" Video. I must say that I agree with what you are sharing. Also, I will share this...I think a lot of what you are warning us about has a lot to do with what is in our hearts. I think because of the way a Hill Song , Bethel Music, and or Elevation 'church' promote this kind of Rock star mentality. At our church we work at keeping the group small and intimate....we encourage the church to sing with us for the purpose of blessing God's heart and making much of Him. Even though we are a small Calvary Chapel I believe our services to be Christ-centered. We have Sunday night prayer for our missionaries once a month and we will not even turn on the sound system just to stay focused on the main thing. You are correct in your warning. I think that Pastors can fall into the trap of being entertaining from the pulpit too. Thank you for being faithful in what you are sharing.

Wow….what an eye opener.

The rapid cutting from one image to the next was invented, I believe by director Sergei Eisenstein and used in the 'stair' scene from the movie, Battleship Potemkin.

Thank you for an excellent summary of the issues with the modern use of entertainment, and it’s tool and techniques, in place of worship in the church. One issue that I have found is if you listen to the lyrics of a lot of the modern Christian music and even worship, the focus is on the listener and not God. There is certainly a place for songs that extol the blessings of God directed towards us but in the natural progression of worship there should come a point where the focus is solely on God and not for what God has done or is doing, but who God is alone. His status as God should elicit worship, not just when He has done great things for us. I have recently found your channel and videos and am greatly enjoying the content. It is exciting to me that though we come from different traditions (Pentecostal on my part) we stand together in the service of God and the mission of scripture.

The term, a cappella, means (as I understand it) 'from the chapel' -- that is, singing in the way that people sing in church, without instrumental accompaniment.

A clue you’re about to enter a place of a worshiptainment, the parking lot is full and people entering are not carrying their bibles , donuts and coffee in full view for consumption , ear plugs are available and the sanctuary is so dark, you need a light off your iPhone to find a chair. That appears to be what most often passes for “ church” and for keeping people coming and staff employed.

The main thing is this: How can we be "one accord" if we are each insulated from one another by a loud sound barrier? It's difficult to be sensitive in the Spirit realm when the Still Small Voice is being drowned out by the "soulish realm." What Spirit are we being bonded with in that environment? What about the hearing damage being done to infants in the sanctuary who cannot absorb the sustained high decibel levels? What about being good stewards of our body, the temple of His Holy Spirit?

I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior in a "feelings based" church. The entertainment aspect wasn't the thing back then, but speaking in tongues, raising hands, and constant Amens and Hallelujahs were a big part of every service. If you didn't "feel" the presence of the Holy Spirit in and around you, you weren't truly worshipping God. I was Saved in an entirely different church where the gospel was the focus and taught word for word, verse by verse, and the worship team was a pianist and three vocalists behind him. The words were printed out in our programs, and there were never any solo performances. I practiced religion in the first church I attended. I became a Christian at the second one.

Preach it pastor Matt

2:03 Makes sense. 3:20 True. 4:48 Everybody is entertained that's true. *Everybody is supposed to stand still and do nothing but move a little or utter something.

Wow! I guess I need to be asking myself those important questions

Nailed it.

I totally agree with you on this. I do have a question though. I am very much a classical music lover especially of the sacred variety and I wonder how we might categorize high quality sacred music such as Handel's messiah. It is concert music but very much worshipful. As a long form of course it would not have a place in the worship service but shorter ones could be used as call to worship or some thing on that order. I tend to think that in general the music in the worship service should be Psalms and Hymns sung by the entire congregation but I wonder about things like prelude, postlude, and call to worship much like (but not in place of) scripture readings appropriate to the focus of the service. Any guidance you can offer on these matters?

What’s your view on introduction of choirs into many churches worship services. I don’t see them in early church history or support for anywhere in the Bible, particularly where it’s just the choir singing and everyone else is listening. My understanding is it should be the congregation singing in worship, not one group to another.

Brother Matt, I get what your saying. Each church does things a bit differently though. I've been to services with this kind of "worship" and then heard a solid gospel message. There are many churches that operate like this and have a correct biblical worldview. I think the focus here should be on the gospel and bringing up families in the faith. The singing doesn't make or break the church. Worship is more than just singing. Love you bro!

What do you think of the song called “the Blessing” it seems to fit within RPW, maybe less the instruments.

There is also a lack of preaching the Old Testament. Which I hate that it is “left” out. You have to know the OT before the NT. I’m currently in Seminary for my MDIV and the topic you are discussing is being discussed in seminary currently. We have hit this topic and the one I mentioned about the absence of the OT preaching in the church this day and age.

"the feels"? What? Did you mean "feelings."

Don't agree, its a style you either like or don't. No electricity? Pull out the acoustic instruments. Culture driven? Lots of well known hymns started out as popular songs in Pubs/Bars and simply had the lyrics changed to Christian ones and now theiate considered sacred. The feels? Whether singing great hymns or contemporary music i would hope you experience some emotion or you're imitating mr spock from star trek.

worship is a lifestyle, not just singing a couple of songs

Are your sermon series ever recorded for KZfaq? I never seem to see any.