In my Oratorio Society of New York, more than a few singers have passed away since my participation with the choir. Statistic-wise, there are fewer singers under 30 unless perhaps they are music majors. Not to mention church choirs deserting quality music pieces for pop songs with emotional manipulation.
Churches nowadays love the size of members and therefore tolerated pop culture. One would have imagined Chinese churches knew better because of the Chinese disciplinary background; but unfortunately, the reason they immigrated to this country is far stronger than Soli Deo Gloria.
There is a saying in Chinese "Blinding from the heavens to cross the sea", the closest English idiom I know is "to bury one's head in the sand". Such is the attitude of churches today. Finding excuses to justify their evil acts. Mal 2:17 Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?
Is it because of mere satisfaction that I persistently cry out against America in my journal? Nay. Is it I see the lacking of TRUE preachers, that I have such urge of criticism? I can affirm one thing, some pastors have become so corrupted they cannot think to bless other churches HONESTLY. The key word being: Honestly. Hence, they rather keep their congregation members from leaving despite the cause. I must stress, missing a person and telling someone not to leave just because you don't want your church to become smaller are two very very very distinct matters. One is not a sin, but the latter one is.
A church should have such quality that people would choose to come over football games, pop concerts, etc. Such quality is not a mixture of these entertainment activities. This quality should be pointing in the direction of God's Throne. If the elders do not promote eternal qualities that seems dull to the fallen mankind, what then is the value of their cries? their tears?
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