Several years ago, Carol and I visited a church in California. It was the largest church in town with four weekend services: one Saturday evening and three on Sunday. I was really looking forward to hearing the pastor to see what was drawing the people.
One of the Sunday services was designated for the youth, and one parishioner said, “You don’t want to visit that one – it’s the loudest kid’s service in this part of the state!”
Well, that explained one drawing card. It’s too bad that neither the kids nor the church staff understand the destructive effect that high decibel levels have on our physical bodies – including our heart and nervous system.
Here is some information regarding noise levels measured in decibels (db).
Calm conversation level between 2-3 people is around 50 db.
60 db is 10 times louder than 50.
70 is 100 times louder than 50.
80 is 1,000 times louder than 50.
90 is 10,000 times louder than 50.
100 is 100,000 times louder than 50.
And so on.
Hearing damage starts at a continuous 80 decibels.
We hear about 85 dbs from locomotives going 45 mph about 100 feet away.
Motorcycles produce about 95-100 dbs.
Chainsaws produce about 105 dbs.
Many churches try to stay between 95–115 dbs during their music.
Clubs and concerts try for 105-125 dbs.
Jet engine at takeoff is about 140 dbs.
150 db can burst the eardrums.
185 db can kill a person.
Hearing degrades dramatically after only two minutes of exposure of 110 dbs without ear protection,
I also found that the church has many weekly and monthly games and activities for kids; various support groups for people; outings for men, women, and senior’s groups; and a school. The church is serving as an overall social organization for a large part of the community with some of the kids’ activities mirroring those provided by the non-Christian world. At least some hurting folks are receiving help, and that’s good.
We discovered something else interesting about that church. The pastor openly proclaimed in his message that we do not need to believe the Bible; we don’t need to live by any moral rules – either health or Biblical; and we don’t need to adhere to Bible doctrine. We don’t need any of that in order to go to heaven. How we live – be it as a prostitute, liar, whatever – has no bearing on our relationship with God.
I communicated with the pastor by email later that week to learn more of his point of view. He informed me that we can live any way we want to, by any code of ethics we choose, participate in any activity we want – be it evil or holy – and believe anything – Biblical or not – that we want to. It won’t make any difference in whether or not God will accept us, because God has already chosen us for heaven or chosen us for hell. Period. And there is nothing we can do about it.
I asked him if we should believe what Jesus taught in Scripture, and he said we don’t have to.
He asserted that it doesn’t matter whether or not people repent and turn from their sin and live a holy life, because if God didn’t choose them, they would go to hell anyway. Obeying the Lord and living for the Lord is not necessary.
I will state emphatically: That is not the God I find in the Bible. And that pastor does not represent Jesus who died for us. John 14:21 says, “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
2 Peter 3:9b says, “…But God is being patient with you. He does not want anyone to be lost, but he wants all people to change their hearts and lives.”
I believe that pastor is confused and is defrauding the people. It’s a large social club, and I am concerned for the people attending those social clubs.
Gene Linzey 