Some years ago, a man argued with me that drums in worship were of the devil— especially the snare drum. Why? Because they were used in dance halls. It reminded him of women’s bodies shaking.
Well, we’ve come a long way baby.
Although the former Pentecostal movements of the 1940s-1960s may have gone too far, the pendulum has now sung the other way where many Christians are turning back to the rich liturgy of the 14th Century.
Please consider this— that both have gone to the extreme in reformatting their expressions of faith to accommodate the worshiper.
Over the years and through my travels I have observed that our Christian faith to be aligned to fit the expressions of the host culture.
Latin American expressions of faith are different from many North American expressions. African expressions differ from Western and Eastern expressions. And Chinese expressions are as diverse as the country is vast.
So, how do you express your faith, both within the church and out there, among normal people? I pray its’ expression is neither too archaic nor too avant-garde. Our faith should be communicated in the idioms and expressions of our host culture, no matter our geographic location.
But ALL must have certain common concerns.
1. A broken heart for the poor and needy.
2. Proactive in seeing social justice done.
3. A heart for God; not simply a head.
4. A deep passion to draw others to the feet of Jesus.
5. A love of life!
6. A hunger to immerse ourselves in God’s WORD!
7. A calling to involve ourselves in this neutral or aggressive pagan world around us.
8. A deep longing to see God.
9. Joy in being with God’s people.
10. A practical prayer life that summons the power of God to intervene.
However you reshape your faith, make sure these ingredients are contained in its new awakening.
Honor God, honor people, make a difference,
Gary
Dr. Gary Davis, President
NEXT— Isolation
Clueless Christianity 