Brand of Jesus: Their website says they are a "non-denominational worship experience" that meets at a Baptist church, and is led by a Baptist minister. It's hard to escape the Baptists around here (unless, of course, you are at a Church of Christ).
The Pros:
- The coffee was significantly better than that at Woodmont Hills family of God. Yes, I know this is not the criteria on which one should choose a religious experience, but hey- it's the first thing I noticed. Plus, I really needed the caffeine that night if there was to be any taking in of the Good Word.
- I actually really liked the message, led that night by the assistant pastor.
- No weird shenanigans in the name of the Lord (as mentioned previously, defined by me as laying-on of hands, speaking in tongues, handling snakes, etc.)
- Attention to detail- they actually had a life-size replica built of the Ark of the Covenant, carried out by 2 scruffy youngsters.
- The preacher was pretty funny, for a preacher.
- It was dark, which hid my rather condescending glances around during the concert/ praise/ singing/ what-have-you.
- Luckily, I happened to be wearing flip-flops, or I wouldn't have fit in.
- The music was seriously over the top (and, in my opinion, lasted way too long). The drummer was behind a screen (with extra mics), they had full concert lighting and backdrops (including the big side screens with rotating colors and backdrops), and a freaking smoke machine. I mean, really? REALLY? I think they might have taken the phrase "Jesus rocks" a little too literally.
- Diversity? Nope. Unless you consider the fact that I counted at least 1/2 a dozen different Hollister shirts diversity. The guy sitting next to me was probably 40, and I felt a little awkard for him, seeing as how he was probably the oldest dude there and all.
- It was LONG. From 7:00- 8:30 on a Tuesday night? I guess that's why they have good coffee.
- There was this one couple that was all over each other pretty much the whole time (at least during the worship songs). Quite frankly, it was gross. I seriously thought they were about to "know" each other Biblically- right there in the floor seating (oh yeah- as any good concert should have, there was both stadium and floor seating. My friend and I lucked out with like 5th row seats!). Ironically, the song that was playing when I first noticed this creepiness had lyrics saying something like "There is no greater love than Jesus." Maybe this couple was trying to prove them wrong?
- Speaking of the music, there was way too much of the forced, awkward "rhyming" typically found in so much modern praise music. Blech.
When I first saw the "Kairos" link on the Brentwood Baptist website, I assumed it was some kind of African mission ministry. Turns out that it's pretty much just Southern Baptist catering to today's (white) youth. This was definitely a "Rocker Jesus" crowd. I thought someone should be passing around a beach ball in the floor seating, especially with all those raised praise hands. Interestingly, though, the message didn't sell out (it was on the Fear of God). I would go back, but I think I'll go late next time and skip the rock concert.
More info about Kairos can be found on their website:
http://www.brentwoodbaptist.com/kairos/
No comments:
Post a Comment