How is 111 Different?
One Eleven Fellowship does not stand in judgment of other congregations and their methods of worship. And, we recognize many people are attracted to the more up-to-date styles of worshipping God. We, however, have held to what some would refer to as a fundamental form of worship. Some live with television and computer screens all week long and find it to be a pleasant break to have them out of their lives during a worship service. Rock music may speak peace to some, but others have found it to be more of a hindrance and less reverent in their worship of God.
When I was "thirty something" living in Southeastern Michigan, I recall learning about neo-evangelicalism. The advocates' goal was to reach people that didn't like church and ease them into an atmosphere that would eventually present the gospel in a less "preachy" way. The ideas were originating in places like Chicago and along the west coast of America. It was about the time the Tiger Stadium wave and entertaining mascots were being introduced in ballparks across the nation. Strange new sounds were being invented for popular music and strange new devices were being invented for listening to these radical new sounds. Strange new drugs were being mixed for strange new feelings. I'm not sure about the dates of these new phenomenons, but as I look back, it seems that it was pretty much in the decade of the 80's. The great Ronald Reagan was delivering us from "socialism" which diverted our attention from the new and growing "spiritualism." It was a time when the post-literate age was in full swing. It was a time when information was more easily gathered in front of a TV screen followed closely by the computer screen--as opposed to exercising and expanding reading skills. It paved the way for big screens in big churches.
Communism was collapsing (or so we thought) while a new sense of freedom was being enjoyed. The new freedom, however, was defined as being liberated from rules and regulations, boundaries and basics as well as morals and mores. We were free to do as we pleased rather than free to do what was right. We soon discovered this new freedom to be nothing more than a bondage to excesses we had no control over, and soon our new freedoms led (and continues to lead) to greater government control and less self control.
Back to Baseball. During those same 80's the Tigers brought to Detroit that great manager from the Cincinnati Reds--Sparky Anderson. To hear him talk you wouldn't have pictured Sparky as the sharpest knife in the drawer--but he knew the game of baseball. And, what he knew about the game took Detroit, as well as the Tigers' teammates, by surprise. He began to teach those "professional" ballplayers something called "basics." They were taken aback at first by his antiquated ideas, but soon they discovered the way to go up is to first go down. The way to go forward, to take a step backward. The way to conquer the future is to remember the past. Sparky was teaching his team how to throw the ball, catch the ball, hit the ball, and run the bases as though they were little leaguers once again. He took those arrogant baseball prima donnas back to a level of excellence. Instead of a superstar hotdog making a one handed catch behind his back, they became a synchronized team--all on the same page--that would win the 1984 World Series. It was a time I'll always remember when a simple manager took a bunch of pretentious superstars back to basics and developed a winning team.
Back to Big Screens. Unquestionably, there is a place for visual aids in communicating the message of the cross. But, I'm thinking of the theater like atmosphere with the computer prodigy in the booth that coordinates each move on the stage with each word on the screen that greatly impresses the people in the pews. A high-tech monster monitor covers the front of the sanctuary where the old rugged cross used to hang. The praise and worship team on stage with the toothy smiles and glorious expressions are very uplifting. The drama team is good enough for Broadway; it stands to reason they would be good enough for Jesus. Creative dancers bring a sensual interpretation to the spiritual atmosphere induced by the Christian rock band. The real cool atmosphere excites a tingly new sensation that old time preaching would not likely produce.
Back to Basics. Just as teaching "all-star ball players" how to throw a baseball is crazy, preaching Jesus Christ and Him Crucified to the unsaved is foolishness. There is a place in God's church for talented musicians. At One Eleven Fellowship we want our congregational hymns and special songs to glorify God as in Colossians 3:16 "...psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Back to basics is not to be equated with tradition. Even Sparky used the most up-to-date gloves and bats. The basics of the Gospel are fundamental truths that bring conviction to the lost and edification to the saved. Back to Basics will always culminate with the preaching of the Word as God's men are ordained and ordered to do. Faith only comes by hearing. And, not just any hearing--it must be the Word of God. This brings about what we basically call "old time conviction." To new age church goers that have not yet heard the message of salvation, "old time conviction" means an awful sense of sin accompanied by a terrible feeling of guilt that can only be removed by the One we Preach--Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.
Back to One Eleven Fellowship. Lest you think we are a boring bunch, quite frankly we are a happy church family that joyfully worships the Lord together on Sundays and enjoys studying the Word of God together on Wednesdays. It seems rather bizarre, but the "old paths" we preach and teach at One Eleven Fellowship now appear to be the "alternative" forms of worship. So, if you opt out of the new techniques for worshipping God, we are located at 6200 Hwy 111 north in Cookeville, TN. "... if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!" I Corinthians 9:16
Pastor Roger Cooper