EAUK.org
Share
RSS Feeds
Did you like this FNT?
Make a gift - help spread the word.
Chris Moyles Talks Up Church - podcast
Download: Chris Moyles Talks Up Church - podcast 
(Note: Right-Click / Save Target As...)
Chris Moyles Talks Up Church - PDF
Other FNT's you may be interested in
| ||||
Topic(s) for this FNT
Data Protection Act 1998: By providing your personal details you agree to allow the Evangelical Alliance to contact you by mail, email, telephone or SMS text message in connection with its charitable purposes. The Evangelical Alliance does not make personal data available to external individuals or organisations.
Chris Moyles Talks Up Church
19 June 2009
It's not that often that Radio 1 DJs extol the virtue of church, but that's precisely what Chris Moyles did on his breakfast show recently. He'd seen on TV a service at Kingsgate Community Church, Peterborough, an
There was a Sunday service on the BBC. They were baptising people in a big pit, in a big kind of mini swimming pool. And it was the most fascinating thing I have seen in a long time.
It was amazing. I've never seen anything like that in this country. This band were playing, singing about Jesus moving mountains and the whole congregation were all hands in the air, whooping and clapping.
These people, everybody, everybody was taking part and it was really bright and colourful and everyone was having a good time.
But it was amazing, it was amazing. I mean, being brought up as a Roman Catholic, you go to church and it's like boom boom but this was like, woooo! I've been to gigs with less atmosphere.
People were queuing up to walk into this mini swimming pool…I've just never seen anything like it, not in this country. I mean… I know it exists but I just didn't… I mean it was amazing… I don't know. Soph and I were lying in bed watching it on telly going this is unbelievable. Very uplifting.
I want to go, let's all go and get baptised.
I just thought it was amazing, it was amazing.
To watch the service and hear Chris' comments, have a look here.
But once again all of this raises questions for us: What does it say about the way people see the church? Did any of us expect this reaction - are we perhaps a bit ashamed of our churches when in fact we are hiding something amazing? How can we invite people to church so they are pleasantly surprised rather than feel press-ganged?
Either way, it might just be worth discussing it with your friends this weekend.
Justin Thacker, Head of Theology
Latest comments
:
(The views below are the authors', and not necessarily those of the Evangelical Alliance.)
| Written by Bill Smith on 22 June 2009 at 11.46 |
| Talking to a rather loose living woman, Jesus said" You (Samaritans) do not know what you are worshiping (You worship what you do not comprehend). We do know what we are worshiping ( we worship what we have knowledge of and understand), for (after all) salvation comes from (among) the Jews. A time will come, however, and indeed it is already here, when the true (genuine) worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshippers. God is a Spirit( a spiritual being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth(reality.) John 4:22-24. (Amplified) God is not really interested in the form of our worship. He is passionate about the reality of it. However you express worship to God, the paramount thing is the genuineness of it. If it is quiet, reflective, liturgical, or loud, demonstrative, does not matter of itself. It is true worship that God seeks. He sees the heart. He is the judge of its genuineness. Because we do have different ways of expressing worship, there will inevitably be some people who object to A and B but are comfortable with C. A, B, C, do not need to apologise for how worship" happens," nor should it be compromised to accommodate people. Worship is for the pleasure of God, not the people!! Go find somewhere you are happy with. It does not mean division, it simply means different ways of doing the same thing. Division is a matter of the heart. I have been in various expressions of the Christian family. Each having its own form of worship. There is good and bad in each. I believe I have progressed through the years, and these experiences, to where I am now. What the future will bring I wait in excitement to see. I know it will be good and will bless my Father's heart evn more than n ow. That is the whole purpose. As for the unchurched, as they come to love Jesus, they will find in themselves, through the Holy Spirit, ways of expressing their devotion to He who is beautiful beyond description. Never be apologetic for loving Jesus and showing it. |
| Written by Jethro on 22 June 2009 at 11.22 |
| I think I'd have to concede that, Tom Adams - and apologise to Kim for carping. I suppose Chris Moyle's admiration for the baptismal 'gig' (sic) he watched is no different from an atheist enjoying a concert of religiously inspired classical music. That sounds like a sneer, but I don't mean it that way. Maybe it should be 'Vive la difference!' |
| Written by Phil Crouter on 20 June 2009 at 15.28 |
| Why are we so self-conscience about how unbelievers and casual observers see church services? There is no one correct way to conduct a church service. 1 Corinthians gives good guidelines on the use of tongues and prophecy in meetings etc, but otherwise lets just worship Jesus and be joyful in it. I was encouraged by Chris Moyles comments. Hearing somebody on the airwaves saying something positive about Christianity is almost a miracle these days. Why are we surprised if non Church attenders have little idea of what goes on inside churches. I have little idea of what mosque meetings are like. |
There are 8 additional comments for this page.
Comments for this article are now closed
Subscribe to 
for those comments!
Subject: Culture and society | Church | Evangelism
Author: Thacker, Justin
© Evangelical Alliance
