… an Army that recognises variety in worship.
It has been our great experience over a number of years to experience a number of worship styles both within the Salvation Army and in other gatherings. I remember with great fondness attending a church event a few years ago where each worship session was assisted by a different group of musicians, one group comprised of guitars keyboard and drums, whereas the next session was helped by a classical string quartet. Each was appreciated and the response to their performance worship as well as their accompaniment was deep and sincere.
Reducing worship to a musical style is both inaccurate and disrespectful to God.
The essence of worship is doing what we are doing as a worthy offering to God. So our sung worship should be heartfelt – so very often it is.
However sSome people do not understand music – truly! How do we engage them in worship? Do we consider, art and drama, written prose and poetry as viable forms of worship? We dip our toe into this pond via 24/7 prayer rooms and Messy Church events but what about those who are seeking a regular outlet for this style of worship? Truly most Corps would struggle to present an alternative music based worship experience let alone a non musical worship experience. We do, however, need to value all forms of worship and not sit in judgment on those that we do not understand or appreciate on a personal level. We are not all the same and therefore have differing worship needs, the recognition of this ensures a stronger and more diverse fellowship.
It is the worth that we give God in all that we do that makes it worship rather than the notes we sing or play.
Thursday 20 October 2011
Saturday 15 October 2011
What sort of an Army ? (6)
… an Army that sees personal repentance as more important than public relations.
Now here’s a tricky one! Or is it?
Without any doubt there is a need for us to experience personal repentance in order to have a real experience of Jesus in our live: the need to confess our need of Him within us and to list our sins before Him in order to empty ourselves of our selfish ways and allow Him to enter into fullness within us. No personal repentance – no real relationship with Christ.
However what appears to happen within the Church is that we feel we need to be on a constant marketing campaign for our own fellowship, church or Corps. We end up preaching ‘churchianity’ rather than Christ. We promote the quality of our music, the diversity of our community ministry, the depth of the teaching when the truth is held within our Biblical doctrine: ‘He that believes has the witness in himself’
If we confess Christ with our lips and reflect Him in our actions we don’t need fancy gimmicks or justifications (it is equally no need to be slack either) for Jesus attracts all people to Himself – it is our attempts at being His PR agents that stop so many people seeing Him. So many people have judged the Church on it’s representatives – let each give their family, friends and neighbours opportunity of encountering Christ by making ourselves vulnerable by speaking His name and the new life we have discovered in Him.
Now here’s a tricky one! Or is it?
Without any doubt there is a need for us to experience personal repentance in order to have a real experience of Jesus in our live: the need to confess our need of Him within us and to list our sins before Him in order to empty ourselves of our selfish ways and allow Him to enter into fullness within us. No personal repentance – no real relationship with Christ.
However what appears to happen within the Church is that we feel we need to be on a constant marketing campaign for our own fellowship, church or Corps. We end up preaching ‘churchianity’ rather than Christ. We promote the quality of our music, the diversity of our community ministry, the depth of the teaching when the truth is held within our Biblical doctrine: ‘He that believes has the witness in himself’
If we confess Christ with our lips and reflect Him in our actions we don’t need fancy gimmicks or justifications (it is equally no need to be slack either) for Jesus attracts all people to Himself – it is our attempts at being His PR agents that stop so many people seeing Him. So many people have judged the Church on it’s representatives – let each give their family, friends and neighbours opportunity of encountering Christ by making ourselves vulnerable by speaking His name and the new life we have discovered in Him.
Friday 7 October 2011
What sort of an Army? (6)
… an Army that places personal discipleship at the heart of all we are.
To be a follower of Jesus is to walk in His footsteps wherever we may find ourselves.
We discover more about people by spending time in their presence, hearing there words and responding to their actions and values. In human terms this sometimes leads to disagreement but can also lead to developing character and shifting of opinions. A mind that is closed is a mind that will atrophy and eventually be seen and heard as being stuck in the past.
When we walk every day with Jesus we pursue Christlikeness - we call it discipleship. It essentially is a reflection of every aspect of our living for Jesus: in the workplace, the schoolroom, the queue at the bank, the car park. Discipleship is about every moment of everyday. Having a heart that is open to His prompting and guidance in the daily grind. Knowing that with him the tasks of the everyday are opportunities for witness and ministry, rather than for energy sapping effort.
When the spirit of Christ invades every part of ur being we discover that the response of the faithful disciple is natural not forced.
Every day with Him is learning every day to be like Him
To be a follower of Jesus is to walk in His footsteps wherever we may find ourselves.
We discover more about people by spending time in their presence, hearing there words and responding to their actions and values. In human terms this sometimes leads to disagreement but can also lead to developing character and shifting of opinions. A mind that is closed is a mind that will atrophy and eventually be seen and heard as being stuck in the past.
When we walk every day with Jesus we pursue Christlikeness - we call it discipleship. It essentially is a reflection of every aspect of our living for Jesus: in the workplace, the schoolroom, the queue at the bank, the car park. Discipleship is about every moment of everyday. Having a heart that is open to His prompting and guidance in the daily grind. Knowing that with him the tasks of the everyday are opportunities for witness and ministry, rather than for energy sapping effort.
When the spirit of Christ invades every part of ur being we discover that the response of the faithful disciple is natural not forced.
Every day with Him is learning every day to be like Him
What sort of an Army? (5)
… an Army that not only provides a social service but involves itself in integrated social ministry.
I found myself leafing through a book of SA ceremonies recently and came across the concept and idea of spiritual covenants. The one I was particularly looking at was relating to personal spiritual renewal but it triggered the whole idea of covenanted living and where that covenant can take us – and what it can lead us into.
William Booth at the most pivotal time of his life declared ‘God shall have all there is of William Booth’. Those nine words were a profound covenant between the former pawnbroker’s assistant and future General of the Salvation Army and our God. Those nine words took him from wayside preacher to social reformer with the salvation of mankind as his driving force.
The two issues need to go hand in hand – our community and social provision needs to have at every stage of it’s development and presentation the truth of the gospel: Jesus’ love is for all and in serving the poorest we serve Him.
Provision of social and community service has been and will remain to be a hallmark of Salvation Army ministry – where we need to focus is this: where is the integration of that practical provision and the clear and true gospel message?
Would anyone who comes as a recipient of our service provision be unaware of the reason behind that provision? How do people ‘hear’ the gospel when they arrive for mother and toddlers, lunch club, after school activity, night shelter etc ?
In other traditions the question may be asked: ‘What is the appropriate liturgy for this setting?’, we may ask ‘Where is the process from ‘entry point’ to introduction to Christ?’.
Booth’s personal spiritual covenant became and integrated and intentional part of his life – and we know the results. Our holistic ministry must be equally integrated, intentional and definitely covenantal.
I found myself leafing through a book of SA ceremonies recently and came across the concept and idea of spiritual covenants. The one I was particularly looking at was relating to personal spiritual renewal but it triggered the whole idea of covenanted living and where that covenant can take us – and what it can lead us into.
William Booth at the most pivotal time of his life declared ‘God shall have all there is of William Booth’. Those nine words were a profound covenant between the former pawnbroker’s assistant and future General of the Salvation Army and our God. Those nine words took him from wayside preacher to social reformer with the salvation of mankind as his driving force.
The two issues need to go hand in hand – our community and social provision needs to have at every stage of it’s development and presentation the truth of the gospel: Jesus’ love is for all and in serving the poorest we serve Him.
Provision of social and community service has been and will remain to be a hallmark of Salvation Army ministry – where we need to focus is this: where is the integration of that practical provision and the clear and true gospel message?
Would anyone who comes as a recipient of our service provision be unaware of the reason behind that provision? How do people ‘hear’ the gospel when they arrive for mother and toddlers, lunch club, after school activity, night shelter etc ?
In other traditions the question may be asked: ‘What is the appropriate liturgy for this setting?’, we may ask ‘Where is the process from ‘entry point’ to introduction to Christ?’.
Booth’s personal spiritual covenant became and integrated and intentional part of his life – and we know the results. Our holistic ministry must be equally integrated, intentional and definitely covenantal.
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