The Basement

If you are around this area, then you may familiar with the local church-like phenomena, the basement. The basement holds claims to many claims of one finding Jesus, or coming closer to Him. However the basement also has minor controversy behind it.
However the controversy comes more from within the Christian Church, than outside the Christian Church. Many Christians urge other Christians to "come to the basement one Tuesday night" while others dismiss it as a "cult."
I am the kind of person who tries finding good in things done for the glory of God. I personally have never been to The Basement, and do not have first-hand experience as to what it is like. Generally speaking, I try to accept these sorts of events as good forms of Christian worship. However I also do not assume that any way of worshiping is necessarily one that can bring glory to God. Although I have never been to The Basement, I know plenty of people who have. I have never talked at length to anyone who has, but have heard second and third hand reports of what it is like. Going by the best I can see, I will give you my opinions on The Basement.
First off, I would encourage everyone who attends The Basement to question everything speaker Matt Pitt says with the Word of God. Of course, you should question anything anyone tells you with the Word of God, whether it be your Pastor, teacher, friends, or even parents- not just Matt Pitt. However, God does give some people the responsibility to teach the Word of God to others, and there are people God places in your life to help you in your life. In saying this, do not elevate anyone above the Word of God, nor put them level to the Word of God. However, remember that God has put some people in your life for the purpose of preaching His Word. In growing as a Christian, you should learn discernment on these accounts.
In saying this, I believe that any person who is lifted as a public speaker of the Word of God, should have accountability within the church. Anyone could talk at length about the Word of God, even quoting Scripture. However, having accountability is also important. I do not know of Matt Pitt’s experience. From what I have heard, he has some sort of training. However I am not sure what level of accountability he really has earned. Given the recognition he is receiving locally now, and what could grow out of this area, he and others around him should be careful. You should be careful too. Once again, validate (or deny) anything he, and others, say with the Word of God.
There have been reports that speaker Matt Pitt would often alter the Bible’s wording slightly, or perhaps fail to back his opinion with the Word of God, while still claiming he knows where the Bible would defend his point. There have also been reports that he is improving on these such areas. I hope he is. However this is not all of my concern, questions, or opportunities of praise for this ministry.
I have heard that Matt Pitt has said that the basement is not a church, and that those attending should be in church. I agree, and am glad to hear reports that he says this. I do not feel that what happens at The Basement on Tuesday nights could replace what should happen on Sunday morning. Because of this, I do not hold the basement to the same standards as what I would Sunday morning worship service. It is great to have a mid-week church-like function for teenagers apart from their typical weekly service.
However if the basement puts itself up as a place of corporate worship before God, there are some guidelines that they should follow, ultimately rooted in Scripture. What if the speaker (hypothetically) said, "Let’s praise God by eating dog food!" God would not be pleased with this attitude. The Bible is clear that there should be order in any form of corporate worship. The Bible is also clear, that if there is a place of corporate Christian worship, that it should reflect the how the church universally should be. The church should be distinguished from the world, and should be very serious minded toward the Gospel. In the same way, a corporate worship service to God should not be blended in with the world. I have heard second and third hand of The Basement taking songs by the rapper, Usher, only to change the words into Christian meanings. I do not feel as if this presents the best worship attitude before God Almighty.
I could not point to a place in Scripture and tell you from one specific verse what would be wrong with that scenario. However I could not point to one verse to validate or deny many things done by Christians or hated by Christians. Rap music, generally speaking, rightly or wrongly, has an image that should not want to be held by Christians. Therefore, I feel that it essentially waters down the Gospel to play Christian rap, or to say "I hate all rap except Christian rap."
The same could and often does, in my opinion, go for rock music as well. However soft rock, as opposed to punk-sounding rock, does not have this sort of image. For this, I have nothing against light Christian rock. I believe that one can listen to it, and essentially be brought closer to God. God gave us music to glorify His name. I believe that there are places even in corporate Christian gatherings where such music could be played. It is obvious that many are brought closer to God through the playing of these sorts of songs. However, I also feel that in The Basement, as well as places similar to The Basement, a watered down version of the Gospel is portrayed, often beginning in the music. The Christian theme song of today seems so light compared to what it should be. If the "Christian theme song" (for lack of better terminology) was a classic hymn such as "We are God’s People" or "Holy, Holy, Holy," then we would be much better off as a church worldwide.
One reason many feel that contemporary music is better is because it is more attractive young people and non-Christians. However, it is not good to become like the world in order to attract more people. If people "join" Christianity simply because the music sounds good, and not because of what it means, then they are probably not in it for the right reasons. There is nothing wrong with trying to make a Christian arena attractive to young kids or to non-Christians. However, I have concern when the church tends to blend in with the world.
At the same time, the church should not simply be on the sidelines to the world. Often, the Christian has a tendency to either blend in with the world, or be too far away from the world. We should not be spectators holding signs that say, "Join the club or you’ll die in hell!" We should offer an alternative to the world and sinful lifestyles, found only through Jesus Christ. To do this, we must be distinct, and then act. I feel that The Basement acts, and I commend The Basement for that. However, I also have concerns as to if the way they act is the best way to bring glory to God.
Furthermore, if the basement is a place for teenagers to come in worship, I feel that eventually these kids should grow as a Christian. Our youth today is caught in the middle of American individualism, and American emotionalism. I believe that the children are not attracted by deep theological ideas, but rather, community, acceptance, and their emotions. First and foremost, the church, especially a place such as The Basement, should be there on these accounts. The basement has done just that. They give the children a place where they can come and feel loved despite what their past is, and a place that will fire the emotions in a person. However, after this, the church should respond to teaching theology, so that the Christian may grow. I am not sure if The Basement is doing this. Emotionalism should not be the only thing that a church answers to or teaches.
It is hard to both adhere to the emotions of people, and consistently teach their minds. However they can go together. What often happens in a sinful world, is either you attract a lot of people, who seem to grow, but long-term do not grow much, or, rather, a place that will attract very few people, but whose members grow long-term in their relationship with Christ. Basically, the question is quantity or quality? For the strengthening of the church as a whole, both are needed, and both can go together. It is just often hard to find that ground. Once again, as a growing Christian, you should grow in your discernment on these accounts.
So in closing, I give my blessings to The Basement for all good that they have done, and hope to see this grow, if indeed this is a service to God. However I do not feel that any place that has the supposed intent on worshipping God necessarily does it in the correct way. Furthermore, if giving glory to God was measured purely on attendance or earthly success, then any church on television would be a wonderful glory to God. However many Pastors on television wind up laughing their way to the bank. Also, though, God in His infinite wisdom can use people who are even flawed in themselves. Even if The Basement does do things that is not right in God’s sight, or if Matt Pitt himself is hypocritical, God is still infinite, and works even in ways that may not seem good at first. God could take an apparent curse and turn it into a blessing.
If The Basement has led one person to Christ, then it has served some good purpose to God’s kingdom. Of course, this could either be because the people of The Basement have set out to give glory to God, and through God’s grace, God’s kingdom grew, or because God worked through flawed people with different intentions. If you attend The Basement, then I encourage you to still attend weekly service elsewhere. Going to The Basement may not be a bad thing, but it can not replace what should happen on Sunday mornings. Continue to base all your thoughts on the Word of God, and on your faith. Continue to lift high the cross, so that the world may know Jesus Christ is God.
You may want to look at the following blog on The Basement written by Cliff Prosser:
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=130099894&blogID=283895140
You may also want to read the other blog I posted just before this on true, weekly, Christian corporate worship (dealing with the traditional Sunday service).
Some of what I touched on in this blog is found in those two blogs. Some of the comments in Cliff Prosser’s blog bring up good points.
UPCOMING BLOGS:
I have plenty to write about. I will try to post a blog on the election. I will also try to post a blog on what government really is, and why God gives us government. I would also like to post a blog on the popular book and movie series, Harry Potter. I saw one of the movies recently, whereas before that, I had not watched any of the movies, nor read any of the books. I know that this is controversial amongst Christians, so I will give you my ten cents worth on the popular book/movie series. I will probably post a couple of personal blogs, as well as some sort of devotional, moral-social idea, etc. Thank you!
Ryan