MULL WITH ME..... When we all insist upon MY kind of music, others invariably are 'turned off', even to the point of animosities and church splintering. A fair BLENDED FORMAT seems best.
A blended approach includes in equal proportions the 'oldie-goldies' with their substantive expressions of truth (may the Church ever value them) along with newer styles with meaningful LYRICS , not just frothy empty and worn expressions. And there exists a growing body of such. May the Church welcome them.
It doesn't take a genius to put such an agenda together. It does take leadership that values ALL the gathering saints, refusing to cater to just one segment of a congregation. Such an approach allows ALL the saints to gather at any stated service. This makes for cohesiveness and oneness among God's people. And such is what Holy Scripture enjoins. Ephesians 4:1 - 4:6 states it clearly. The Apostle declared....
"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."
In keeping with the above passage, the divisive tactic of different services for different tastes can happily be laid to rest, and hopefully, a many measured long rest. (Pun intended).
- Dick Christen
FAITH, for the believer in Christ, is the sight of the inner eye. It sees what the physical eye cannot. When sight cannot confirm it and when the mind cannot fathom it, faith stays positive and says 'all is well.' And, this which is my present difficult experience, 'is as it is,' but comes from a God too loving to be unkind and too all-knowing to be wrong! The character of God can always be trusted. He cannot fail.
Faith follows God implicitly, albeit with trembling on occasion; while sight calculates, considers, cautions and cringes. Faith declares: God said it, I believe it, that settles it! Where God speaks, faith is dead to doubt, dumb to discouragement and blind to impossibilities.
Spurgeon expressed it this way: "Faith is reason at rest in God."
Proverbs says it like this: "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own" (MSG. 3:5).
Years ago I read this from Oswald Chambers. It was deep to grasp, but thinking about it gives insight to the root substance of faith:
He said, "The real trial of faith is not that we find it difficult to trust God, but that God's character has to be cleared in our own minds. Faith in the Bible is faith in God against everything that (seemingly) contradicts Him. I WILL REMAIN TRUE TO GOD'S CHARACTER WHATEVER HE MAY DO!"
Job said, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him."
God cannot and does not fail, even though He allows loss, disappointment, hurt, sorrow and hardship to touch me. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones put it this way: "Faith is a refusal to panic." It has the characteristic of remaining firm, no matter what.
A lady in one of my congregations once gave me the following poem when I was traversing a difficult period in my life. It has meant so much to me. And this, because in life, try as we may, situations arise which we just cannot figure out. And in such a season, we must simply believe God, accept the situation, stay engaged and never doubt the essential character of God or any of His ordained experiences. The poem is by Hannah Hurnard:
In acceptance lieth peace,
O my heart be still;
Let thy restless worries ceae
And accept His will.
Though this test be not thy choice,
It is His....therefore, rejoice.
Cease from sighs and murmuring,
Sing His loving grace,
This thing means thy furthering
To a wealthy place.
From thy fears He'll give release;
- Dick Christen
