Congregationalist Casino Night
How bad is the rot in American Christianity? Is our heterodoxy, compromise, and worldliness a modern problem or does it perhaps go deeper, down into the DNA of a faith tradition formed more by revivalism than historic faith and practice? Over at Steadfast Lutherans, our friend and Modern Reformation contributor Mollie Z. Hemingway posted an article first published in the Lutheran magazine Witness back in 1916. The author of the article surveys a number of ministers and practices across the nation and asks, “Is this Christianity?” Here’s a sample:
The Episcopal Churchman, commenting upon the tendency towards sensationalism in the Reformed sects, later suggested that the streets may yet be brilliant with everchanging electric signs flashing forth, “The Congregationalistic Casino,” “The Baptist Hall of Joy.” “The Gospel Free Lunch and Picture Show.”
Leaving off comment about “Reformed sects,” it is interesting to note that the article wasn’t too far off. Casino Night has descended at First Baptist Church in Hammond, Indiana. Here’s Pastor Jack Schaap playing emcee to the congregation:
August 19th, 2010 at 8:12 am
I actually feel sick.
August 19th, 2010 at 5:23 pm
Shudder…don’t tar all Baptists with this brush, please!
August 22nd, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Where’s the lightning?
August 22nd, 2010 at 6:29 pm
Absent any theology of worship, good taste and good sense, and the memory of “how things were when we were kids” are the only things restraining the purveyors of liturgical novelties. Memories are unreliable and die with their holders, and good taste and good sense are in short supply these days.
August 24th, 2010 at 8:18 am
That has to be part of some skit/drama. Jesus swoops in and frees them from this sadness.
August 24th, 2010 at 9:03 am
Happily very few Baptists would find this acceptable, but note: back in the late 60′s when I was in college, I attended an independent Baptist church that invited an evangelist for a week of meetings who did almost the same thing. It isn’t new.
August 27th, 2010 at 10:06 am
One word. Yuck.