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Ship of Fools: Gateway Christian Centre, Liverpool, England

The Mystery WorshipperThe Mystery Worshipper Shipmate
edited September 12 in The Mystery Worshipper

imageShip of Fools: Gateway Christian Centre, Liverpool, England

Enjoyable hands-in-the-air praise, but the prosperity gospel sermon rings alarm bells

Read the full Mystery Worshipper report here


Comments

  • Terry TeeTerry Tee Shipmate Posts: 16
    So ... what were the QR codes for? I guess for financial donations. Or did I miss something?
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    The MWer doesn't actually say so, but I would guess you're right.

  • ThenewThenew Shipmate Posts: 3
    Money is the real god of the pentecostal churches.
  • SpikeSpike Ecclesiantics & MW Host, Admin Emeritus
    Thenew wrote: »
    Money is the real god of the pentecostal churches.

    Please don’t be rude or disrespectful about other denominations and/or traditions.

    Ta

    Spike
    MW Host
  • SeoirseSeoirse Shipmate Posts: 10
    Spike wrote: »
    Thenew wrote: »
    Money is the real god of the pentecostal churches.

    Please don’t be rude or disrespectful about other denominations and/or traditions.

    Ta

    Spike
    MW Host

    indeed. i have a lot of time for pentecostals as a whole — their passion for the gospel often puts us episcopalians to shame. they were among the first to have integrated services in jim crow america, and were notable in having women in church leadership from the very start.

    valid theological concerns can be raised about ‘emotionalism’, but i tried to be as fair to this pentecostal church as i could.

    i don’t believe the prosperity gospel is inimical to pentecostalism and it upsets me on behalf of my siblings in christ in those traditions that the prosperity gospel has infiltrated them so much. there were a lot of kind people at this church, and it was sad to see how they were being treated.
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    Thank you @Seoirse - fair points.
  • Baptist TrainfanBaptist Trainfan Shipmate
    Our non-Pentecostal church hasn't taken up a collection since Covid. But, for those who wish to give on a Sunday, there's a "donation point" by the door with a mone-box and also a printed QR code.
  • Baptist TrainfanBaptist Trainfan Shipmate
    Or even a money-box!
  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    Baptist Trainfan wrote: »
    Our non-Pentecostal church hasn't taken up a collection since Covid.
    Nor has our Presbyterian place. Even before Covid, relatively few people were putting money in the plate, as most people give electronically, so it made “taking up the offering” seem a bit unnecessary and meaningless. We have baskets by the doors and and info for online giving.


  • Amanda B ReckondwythAmanda B Reckondwyth Shipmate
    Yes, I've also noticed in a lot of churches that most people let the plate pass by without even glancing at it, let alone depositing anything in it. On-line tithing seems to be quite the thing now. But doesn't that somehow spoil the idea of presenting your offering here and now, in real time? It makes it more like paying one's dues than making one's offering.
  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    Amanda B Reckondwyth wrote: »
    Yes, I've also noticed in a lot of churches that most people let the plate pass by without even glancing at it, let alone depositing anything in it. On-line tithing seems to be quite the thing now. But doesn't that somehow spoil the idea of presenting your offering here and now, in real time? It makes it more like paying one's dues than making one's offering.
    We’ve had extensive conversations about it at our place, and about the pros and cons.

    I think there’s a good conversation to be had on this topic, but it would getting far afield from the MW report. I’ll see if I can formulate an opening post for an appropriate thread in Ecclesiantics.


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