The evangelical churches have neither understood their position nor heard the “loud bang”. Now art should awaken the favor of the sheep. The deep fall of Protestantism is not yet over, but it cannot be stopped either.
Inhalt / Content
New rites and ceremonies
Representatives of the Catholic Church have very little to offer on the teachings of the Roman institution that one could wholeheartedly agree with. Their previous reversals of the gospel, to the point of the opposite, were just too thorough for more. Just as consistently as the distortion of the biblical messages of salvation, the Vatican also promoted ecumenism. The success so far is impressive. The former Protestant churches have now all been assimilated. No wonder, then, that the institution and the clergy of the Protestant Church are increasingly approaching the rites and customs of the Roman parent organization.
It even happens that various “theological outpourings” of these “dignitaries” can also be approved. As is the case in a specific case in the evangelical church in Austria. It no longer matters whether it comes from the Protestant or Catholic house. The difference is marginal and can only be determined on the outside. But even these little differences are fading away.
The church needs art
The church depends on art
Pastor Benjamin Battenberg from the Evangelical Church in Schwechat, Austria, wants to give art a higher priority in his church. “I think art is a medium that’s great for talking about faith,” says Battenberg according to the Internet portal of the Evangelical Church in Austria.
The Protestant pastor is currently experiencing a “Kairos”. This is a favorable, possibly God-given moment to give art more importance in the service. After the “last post-pandemic year”, people have a great need to be able to listen to live music again. In addition, the “musicians” would have an equally great need to be able to perform again. The churches could “offer great spaces for this – especially to invite those who are far from the church and to bring the Christian faith into the conversation,” said Battenberg.
Two new projects are currently underway in the parish of the pastor. Both are artistically inspired. One project is the “Chillout Church” for evenings in the church with “live lung music” and also musical devotions in cooperation with a music school.
The second project is participation in the international Christian “artist network Crescendo”. The founder of this network is the Reformed pastor Beat Rink in Basel, Switzerland. “The church cannot do without art” is the motto of this network.
International art network
However, the pastor from Schwechat is not alone in his understanding of faith and art. Marie-Louise Weißenböck, professional pianist and worship musician in the Evangelical Church of Grace in Vienna-Favoriten, also argues that faith and art are closely related. She is also the head of the “Art, Culture and Faith” forum.
As a “Christian artist” she has had deep personal experiences. In a special way, the Christian faith can be “experienced” through art, according to Weißenböck. Music, pictures, dance, drama and much more are a great enrichment for community life.
Connection between empty teachings and ceremonies
I can only advise you to take a completely impartial and objective look at the various major and minor religions and compare their teachings, rites and ceremonies. A connection between dogmas and rites is immediately apparent if only the Bible is used as a reference work. There must always be some fixed standard in a comparison, otherwise you very quickly end up in vague areas such as “defending western values”. The Bible serves as a standard here and the churches that call themselves Christian should actually understand this.
The result after consideration is clear. The scope of rituals and ceremonies increases in inverse proportion to the teachings represented. The more false, meager, erroneous or lacking in content a teaching, the bigger, pompous, colorful, ornate and extensive are the ceremonies. Freely based on the Bible: “Whoever does not proclaim the truth must somehow compensate for this”.
Gospel would be a sure-fire success
The statement of Scripture is clear. The proclamation of the gospel, the message of salvation, i.e. the truth, becomes a “self-runner” for people with an open heart. The reason why isn’t even a secret. Here it is the work of the Holy Spirit on man when he really loves the truth. Man cannot do anything himself, let alone change anything about himself. All he has to do is “invite” the Holy Spirit into it by committing himself wholeheartedly to Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:8:
God himself works faith, but only after man, whose own will is no less important to God, has opened his heart to God and the truth by his own choice.
Unfortunately, the opposite case was not an exception then, nor is it today.
2. Timothy 3:8:
God will at some point open the hearts of those who “notoriously” reject the truth to the lie. With the following statement it becomes clear that in the end there can only be believers or unbelievers, but not a kind of neutrality.
2. Thessalonians 2:10-12:
This verse also makes it clear that it is fatal to condemn such a person. People are not entitled to a conviction anyway, they are not even in such a position. When a person condemns such a “notorious unbeliever” he runs the risk of actually condemning the actions of God.
Art Supplies – He’s right about that
Faith should be inspired with the right beat
The Roman Catholic Church is clearly the lone world champion in the areas of quality and quantity in relation to pomp, ostentation and rituals. With so much falsehood in the doctrine, a corresponding amount of counterweight must be created. Daniel already described it in chapter 11, verse 38:
John also described this “whore of Babylon” in Revelation 17:4:
I can only agree with the thesis that the Church is dependent on art. Starting from its fallen state, this “church of faith” is no longer able to preach the gospel in its entirety. This institution is therefore dependent on such “theological proliferations” for the preservation of a remaining stock of sheep.
Itchy ears need to be satisfied
In the case of the Roman Catholic Church, in its nature as the flowing continuation of pagan Rome, its pomp and devotion to “Baal” is understandable. The returned daughter still has some catching up to do. Introducing such nonsense of art, pictures, music and possibly soon “gospel dancing” as well, this former Protestant and now fallen institution is clearly walking in the territory of its Roman mother. This church has nothing left for the true message. She just watches her “itchy ears” (see 2 Timothy 4:3-4) to satisfy their disoriented followers.
Bible verses from King James Version
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