Time for one more Pastor Billy question Protestant Evangelicals why...?

Question

Why do Protestant Evangelicals turn worship of God into a study hall with binders and pens in tow taking notation as the preacher in front of them speaks? Am I merely confused about their version of worship or is this the actual worship they consider valid? How much of the service is spent in prayer?

explain to me why the lack of solemnity and reverence please.
explain the required note taking.
explain the prerequisite of carrying a 600 page bible to church every Sunday.

to clarify: I'm not asking what each individual likes to do I asking what is demanded or what is look upon as higly favorable. What if one decide not to carry a bible to service and merely listen to the pastor quote bible verse is that a problem? In Judaism and Christianity this type of oral transmission is common place why is it seemingly rejected by many Protestant Evangelicals? Is it a lack of trust in the pastor reciting the exact text? Is there confusion over the validity of bible versions with the multitude available today? everyone please explain further.

Chris you should understand by now that Father K is of the Anglican community and I'm of the Roman Catholic community. Althought I admire Father K for his calling to his own faith tradition we are not in full communion yet I have the greatest hope we will be one day. My hope for unity with you however is always in the hands of God and I turn to prayer where that is concerned for it will take much.

Father K I wonder if you've even hear the story of Michael Cumbie?

http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/dload1.asp?rafile=jh_040802.ra&source=frmselectseries.asp&seriesID=&T1=Michael%20Cumbie

Paulie I have been to these services and from what I recall alot of talking was going on in the pews that to me was a sign of missing reverence. When one enters a house of God a hightened decorum should be commonplace.

cmw interesting I might following you up on some of your comments later

Renata it is precisely because of these false claims of distraction made by you and others that I raise the question regarding Protestant services lacking reverence, solemnity and prayerful contemplation. Perhaps you need to open your eyes a wee bit.

Answer 1

Billy, evangelicals carry their Bibles to church with them because before or sometimes after the worship service there is usually a separate adult Bible study period. I can answer only for a Southern Baptist worship service, as that was my former denomination, but their worship includes several periods of prayer and also hymns or praise music -- sung together, or by a choir or soloist.

In practice, the sermon has very little directly quoted Scripture but is the pastor's homiletic application of Scripture to some aspect of Christian life. He may say "turn to the gospel of John, the first chapter ..." and everyone does so, because they happen to have their Bibles with them, but what is read aloud is at most a verse or two.

Solemnity is absent, because the Eucharist is absent. But reverence can be found during the periods of prayer.

Answer 2

I have never been in, or heard of, a church where note taking or carrying a 600 page bible was required. A "bible only" Protestant is probably going to want to take notes on a scripture lesson though, and I believe that studying God's word is a form of worship. I do know that there are churches out there that are very irreverent and I wouldn't darken the door of one if I knew that to be the case, but I thing you have shown just how much you don't know about Protestantism by this question.

Answer 3

I cannot say for all, but I'll say what I think.
If the Pastor is teaching, not preaching, it might be a good time to take notes. Even together, so comparison can be made later.
Note taking is not required. Usually the ones most serious in their study will take notes.
People will bring their Bible with them in order to make notes in the margin sometimes, or reference it themselves.
I used to fill mine with sermon outlines.
Not all services are like this. There is prayer, time for testimony, business, hymns, etc.
There is no lack of reverence or solemnity, but in some of the more "modern" or "emerging" churches, I do see a lack.
I think what troubles me the most is the time and effort put into the music in those churches...the pulpit is transformed into a stage, and people are entertained. I have seen places complete with the stage lights too. I wonder how many are really up there for Christ.

Answer 4

Oftentimes the pastor will say something that you would like to look further into so they take notes. It's not hurting anybody so what's the big deal? Not everyone 'worships' that way, and looking at how each and every church has a different atmosphere during the worship hour I guess it all depends on the message being brought. I don't know of any church that 'requires' note taking--the important thing is how you apply the message to your life. Maybe these people need lots and lots of notes--who knows? I think it would be easier just to ask the preacher for a taped message of that day's sermon--many churches record their services for shut-ins or whatever.

Answer 5

I don't believe that you can equate note-taking to lack of solemnity and reverance. I take notes because the pastor has studied the Bible in more depth and I, and I want to remember his main points. I don't find it disrespectful to God- it keeps me focused. My church does song service first, we worship God with our voices, and then we study His word.

Note-taking is not required. It's a personal choice. Some people chose to listen, others to take notes. Nothing wrong with either way.

I carry my Bible to church because I want to be able to follow along with the Pastor. Rather than trying to remember what verse he is talking about, I look on in my own Bible. I can also mark the page or passage, underline certain words, etc.

Pretty much all of our service except the sermon is spent in prayer. It just depends on how much the individual wants to pray during the singing and time before and after service.

Answer 6

Guilty as charged, at least on the first and last counts.

I take notes when I hear something I particularly want to remember or incorporate into a lesson of my own. I don't pray much during the sermon, I'm too busy listening.

Not certain how you would categorize solemnity and reverence other than actively listening.

The 600 page Bible is so I can read along. Multimedia. Reinforcement of the Word. Helps me remember.

Answer 7

There is no place in the Bible where we are told exactly what to do in a corporate worship service. What it actually does say is "fellowship."

Worship, praise and glorify are all words used in the Bible, but always in the individual sense. One could argue that the preacher/priest should not even be delivering sermons or messages.

The church service is manmade anyhow, so I don't see what difference it makes if you take notes or not.

Pastor Billy: If you do, send me an email. I'd like to see the Q&A.

EDIT: Would the people giving me thumbs down please email me and tell me the verses in which we are told what are the elements of a Christian worship service?

Answer 8

I've seen services on TV where it does look like a study hall, but the two Evangelical churches I have attended were not like that.
Having received a Catholic education, I felt a little nostalgic at first for traditional devotional things found in a Catholic church, like the smell of incense, statues, candles, etc, especially around Christmas time. But I view them now as distractions from worship. I used to take my own bible to church because I know where to find things quicker in my own bible, but now I use the one provided in church.
My mother, a Catholic, attended a Sunday service with me one time and asked me why the Pastor "keeps telling us to turn to a passage in the bible". Maybe her concern was was like the one you expressed, that the congregation couldn't trust the Pastor to read it to us. My answer was that it was a way of letting the people in the pews know that the bible is for everyone, not just the "professionals".

Answer 9

I dont take notes I just take my daily Missal and follow along while the liturgy is being taught orally, as Jesus did. I find just listening broadens the depth of the verses and if I have a question regarding what is spoken I can refer to the missal and I always come home and follow up with a bible study

Answer 10

yes thanks, looks like you have struck a nerve with ole Chris eh? They do not have any idea what the true worship is. If they did they would look at the book of Revelations with new eyes. But of course they have to have the old eyes "Fall from their eyes like scales".

When one is truly worshipping at Mass---Jesus the Lord is present and you are in adoration---the last thing you think of is taking notes. They take their Bible and study it and write things down because that is the only "Word" of God they have at their service but, the Catholic Mass truly has the Word in both his word and His True Presence---BODY, BLOOD, SOUL, AND DIVINITY.