Quote:
Originally Posted by UntoHim
So I'll ask again. Those of you who still practice "calling on the Lord", could you please tell me how it differs from what is practiced in the Local Church? Please be as practical as you can.
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Calling on the Lord is practiced in a few different ways in the LC, which I vaguely touched upon in my last post.
"Oh Lord Jesus" is a very common way they begin to pray: "Oh Lord Jesus, we love You. Lord Jesus, thank you for this time" etc.
I still do that myself. Addressing the Lord in prayer. "Lord Jesus, I don't know what to do. Direct my path."
But they also practice at least three other ways that I don't agree with:
1. The repetitive 7th inning stretch type calling: "Let's call on the Lord 5 times" which to me is just like doing jumping jacks. stand up, pump arm, yell out, repeat 5 times. Both are to get people out of their seats, to "get the blood pumping" and to wake people up. I think I would almost consider this an instance of taking His name in vain, because it's not giving it due honor, but simply using it as a tool rather than in recognition there is a Person behind it.
I am not totally sure because I haven't watched the whole thing, but I think this particular practice is also used in instances, say, where LSM holds a kangaroo court, and then gets everyone out of their seat to call on the Lord together, which is simply a form of group control to unify the whole room together in a common action. It produces implied agreement with whatever was just spoken. Bad news all around.
2. They also call on the Lord to shut people up or to express disgust when looking down their noses at someone. This is also using His name in vain, IMO.
3. They also, as the last spate of posts covered, teach people to call on the Lord 3x as an effective form of salvation.
All of these use the exact same three words, but only differ in volume, tone, context, and, well, "heart" to put it one way. Hard to convey those particular nuances over a forum. My calling on the Lord is like the first one, in prayer, but not like the numbered 3.