"A BIG FIRE"
By: R. Allan Anderson
One of our leaders not used to speaking before great outdoor audiences was visiting a certain place in Africa on Sabbath morning. He was scheduled to preach to about 15,000 people, and this was quite a challenge. He had never been accustomed to preaching in the open air, and like many another, he had been pampering himself for the last few years by never talking except through a public-address system. Pity the man who is glued to a mike! Well, when he saw this great sea of faces before him, his heart quailed. "How am I going to make them hear?" he asked the minister in charge.
"You do not need to worry about that," was the reply. "They won't understand what you say any way. Our translator will make them hear all right."
The African minister who was to translate was a good man and a great preacher. He was listening to all this, and then with perfect courtesy so characteristic of the African he said, "Bwana [pastor], I know I must make them hear; I know I must pull the train up the hill but how can I get up enough steam unless bwana here puts a big fire under me?"
He was wise enough to know that a translator needs more than words; he must catch the inspiration of the message. Only as the preacher is a living testimony of what he is preaching will other hearts be warmed. He himself needs to feel the fire of his evangel if he would lift souls Godward.
MUSICAL PRAYERS
By: R. Allan Anderson
When our congregations meet for worship, a number of features in the service are calculated to lead the people into a consciousness of God's presence. This is essential, because they need to be prepared to commune with their Maker. Their bodies are in church, but their minds may be everywhere else.
A little careful thought will convince us that the highest point in the worship service is the pastoral prayer, for there we are talking with God, and he who addresses the Lord should be expressing in words the many needs of the worshipers.
To get the picture clear, let us go with a peasant to the palace of a king. He has been charged with the responsibility of making request on behalf of a poverty-stricken village. Many formalities had to be observed before he reached the sovereign. It was a long journey to the palace, but he arrived at the appointed time. Having passed the sentries, he is ushered at last into the throne room. A feeling of awe fills his soul. Every moment is precious, and his heart is pounding with a sense of the importance of the occasion. Having carefully thought through what he must needs say, he is about to begin, when lo! right at that crucial moment a musical group starts to play! It is hard for him to gather his thoughts. His mind seems somewhat distracted by this intrusion of music. But he struggles on, and at last finishes. And then to his amazement the music also ceases. So it was not intended as an interruption, but merely an accompaniment! But he says to himself, "How much freer I would have been had there been an atmosphere of silent meditation!"
This parable may serve to focus our minds upon a trend that seems to be growing in popularity in certain areas. Do we need to have our prayers accompanied by music? We grant it is soft, meditative music, but is there not even in this somewhat of a distraction? Our Puritan forefathers, who took extreme positions on some things, would not permit musical instruments of any kind in their services. If those old warriors of the cross refused to have even the hymns accompanied by a musical instrument, what would they have said to musically accompanied prayers? This pattern, we hasten to assure ourselves, is far from general, but the trend is the thing that gives us concern, and that is why we are raising the question. Should we not guard against introducing anything into our worship services that would make it more difficult for the people to hear and speak with God?
Rather than add this feature of music to the prayer, would it not be wiser to encourage the congregation to spend a few moments in silent, reverent meditation just before the prayer is ex pressed? If it is thought wise, this silent period could have a quiet organ background. But the music should finish before the audible prayer begins, so as to have no distraction while the one who prays is presenting the congregation's petitions to God. A practice of this kind will bring a hallowed atmosphere into the meeting and help all hearts to sense that here is a service that is indeed the gateway to heaven.
HOW LONG?
By: Ben Glanzer
As the shepherd of the flock, the pastor knows more about the needs, the heartaches, the joys, and the sorrows of the individual members of his flock than anyone else. Living closely with his people, he bears their burdens. He therefore can pray the more intelligently for his parishioners. But how long has it been since your congregation has heard you, their pastor, offer the Sabbath morning pastoral prayer?
It may be a polite gesture to ask a visiting brother, a local elder, or a deacon to lead out in the morning prayer, but when this goes on week after week, and many times the congregation does not hear the voice of its own shepherd in prayer interceding on its behalf, maybe for months at a time, it cannot but tend toward a weaker pastoral ministry.
Would it not seem wise to plan so that you can lead your own congregation frequently in the pastoral prayer? If a pastor is a true shepherd, he will have the interests of his people genuinely on his heart. Who else can as effectively be their intercessor?
