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PaperclipPerfector  1mo ago (text post)   26010 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of March 9, 2026

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Have any of your churches ever utilized a smoke machine during a worship service?

Ha! One did, back in my college days.

Uh oh, I may have to diagnose you with megachurch American.

I can’t judge though - I was baptized in a megachurch, which didn’t even do me the favor of keeping any baptismal records. This became a slight issue when I needed documentation of baptism. Fortunately I had videographic evidence.

In a lot of ways the broader evangelical orbit has become megachurch-y, even if most of the clearly negative elements like pastoral financial enrichment are absent. I’m well aware of the social movement in evangelical circles towards imitation of whatever gets people to keep coming.

That said, there’s also a clear movement away from the Jesus rock/stage entertainment model of evangelical services, and I know of evangelicals converting to conservative Anglicanism and Presbyterianism, as well as some unusual Baptists who believe Baptists should have liturgical prayer. Lutheranism and Catholicism are less porous, perhaps for sacramentalist reasons, although as a rather high church fellow I insist on baptismal regeneration.

Uh, does over-enthusiastic loading of the thurible with incense count?

Alternatively, do they have bands playing which sound like a third rate copy of U2?

Wait, is this "smoke machine as in theater" or would a Catholic censer count?

Genuinely "smoke machine as in theater." I would also count it as a yes if any of his churches have ever conducted a men's conference featuring monster trucks.

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