PTM WEEKLY UPDATE -- APRIL 28, 2008
What our readers and listeners say
Worship Wars
Because I prefer classical music to some of the popular noise, my bias is toward great music. In our church we have members of all ages so we try to worship with music to please everyone. I think that's great, if the words are meaningful I can concentrate on what I say to God and rejoice that the younger generation is excited about the music. We should pray that they feel likewise when they hear contemporary Christian music. I have been in churches who enjoy western music and I felt that their worshipping was very meaningful. What I find most distasteful is for some worship leaders to insist on trying to teach hymns that may sound great when performed as a solo by someone with a great voice, but is not suited for a congregational hymn. They should clue in that few people are singing because they are teaching something difficult. -- Alberta, CanadaReligious exclusivity
Philip Yancey writes in his book The Jesus I Never Knew as follows: In the fourth century an exasperated St. Augustine wrote about the fractious church, "The clouds roll with thunder that the House of the Lord shall be built throughout the earth; and these frogs sit in their marsh and croak -- 'We are the only Christians.'" When will we ever learn? -- Manitoba, CanadaReligious life took over
I wanted to tell you how alive in Christ I have been feeling. Maybe it's having the religion taken out of me and the relationship put back in!! I do feel that I have a new lease on life, Greg! It's amazing-- I'm feeling new, just like when I first discovered I could have a relationship with God, when I was 15 years old (several decades ago!). That first spiritual love, excitement, enthusiasm -- until later when the religion drained it all out of me and then "my life with God" became a matter of what I could do for God. Religious life took over the relationship of just "being" with God in the course of the day -- it happened so gradually. As a new Christian you are excited to find a group of fellow believers, but then those human relationships take over too, and the whole "church culture" takes over, until that relationship with God you were soooo excited about, has to tag along for the ride instead of being the centre of what everything else fits around. Thanks for all you and PTM are doing in terms of our relationship with God, his amazing grace, as opposed to the competition of religion! -- United KingdomRETURN TO PTM WEEKLY UPDATE CONTENTS PAGE
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