"I WILL SING WITH THE SPIRIT
When the apostle Paul wrote these words to the Corinthian readers he was stating an important principle in leadership. Of all the men in the congregation who should sing with the spirit and understanding, it is the minister. Even if the particular hymn is not familiar to us, we should enter into the spirit of the poem. While the tune is an important part of the hymn, and some hymns are spoiled by poor tunes, yet that which is more important is the message of the words. To hold a book and apparently pay no attention to what is being sung gives the impression that this exercise is neither uplifting nor necessary, whereas the contrary is the clear truth. The Psalms, which constituted the Hebrew hymnbook, constantly call upon the worshiper to sing the praises of the Lord. And the admonition in more than one place is to "sing unto the Lord a new song."
To see members of the congregation not entering into the full spirit of worship is bad enough, but it is worse when the minister and his associates on the rostrum set this example of nonchalance. Singing is as much a part of worship as is prayer, and this clear counsel is given to us:
The singing should not be done by a few only. All present should be encouraged to join in the song service.—Evangelism, p. 507.
And it is good that we encourage our congregations to sing in harmony, for "the nearer the people of God can approach to correct, harmonious singing, the more is He glorified, the church benefited, and unbelievers favorably affected."—/bid., p. 508. Then let us urge, teach, and lead our congregations in singing the praise of God.
R. A. A.
BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIANS
In characterizing the American Christian church today we would take cognizance of its efforts toward tolerance. A consciousness of good public relations has left far behind the once blatant, know-all critic with superficial background. Today it is unpopular, if not unethical, to tear apart another Christian group. And yet the tendency to do this continues. A few feel it is their God-given right to mount the judgment seat, declaring for their group, "We are the people!" We wonder!
Well-meaning writers have coined such expressions as "right-wing Protestantism," "main-line Protestantism," "fundamental Protestantism," and so forth, in contrast with what they term "dissident" groups. Groups of Christians who have conscientiously reclaimed Reformation truths that have been either missed or forgotten are referred to as "offshoots," or as being "novel." The cry to return to the "pure faith" is apparently taking on increasing proportions. Adventists recognize the need for the cherch to re-evaluate her beliefs. We also detect the enliny of truth lurking in the distance. These days call for clear vision and sound thinking.
Attempts to produce unity and a better understanding among born-again Christians must not be discounted. We truly welcome this effort on the part of fellow Christians, and as a denomination respond sincerely. But it still leaves some of us puzzled to know which branch of "main-line Protestantism" has a corner on all this. We do not visualize the battle of semantics ending on this side of eternity. Each religious body has developed its own connotations with new convictions of truth. Whether a main-line group recognizes it or not, it is the other group's prerogative. While the give-and-take spirit must bring understanding to both sides, might it not be better for each not to expect too much from the other? God is the judge, and not church leaders, whether majority or minority.
Let us strive for an added measure of the grace of tolerance toward those whose views differ from ours, remembering the admonition of James, that it is the perfect man who can bridle his tongue.
L. C. K.
A SECRET OF JESUS' POWER
Charles Kingsley II is said on occasions to have introduced his sermon by saying: "Here we are again to talk about what is really going on in your soul and mine." This identification of the preacher with his congregation is very important. We must not have the mistaken concept of preaching like the little girl playing she was a preacher and very crisply commanding: "Peoples stand up—peoples sing—peoples sit down—peoples be good." Our ministry is not merely telling people what they ought to do, but it is leading them, together with ourselves, into the worship of God, into a mutual fellowship of applying the principles of His redeeming grace.
One of the great secrets of Jesus' power was the close identification of Himself with the needs and interests of the people to whom He ministered. His unselfish ministry is the example of how truth should be presented in such a way that it N, ill be "intertwined with" the "most hallowed recollections and sympathies."—Evangelism, p. 55. Jesus "taught in a way that made them feel the completeness of His identification with their interests and happiness."—Ibid.
J.A.B.
A TEST FOR PREACHING
It has been said that there are three classes of preachers—those you cannot listen to; others you can listen to; and a few you cannot help listening to. However, the real test of preaching is whether the preacher can get men and women to listen to Christ. This is one of the secrets of ministerial success, for the purpose of preaching is to bring God and man together. If a preacher can get his people to listen to God, he is bringing human nature into contact with the divine. This is the union of human with the divine, a union upon which all true Christian experience is based.
A searching question at the close of every sermon could well be: "Did my people meet God today?" Paul expressed the great heart desire of the true ministry when he said, "that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus" (Col. 1:28). J. A. B.
PREACHING THE PRESENT TENSE OF GOD
Dr. Halford E. Luccocx tells the story of a minister who once astonished his congregation by asking the question, "Have you met God today?" This could well be a very timely subject for one of our Sabbath sermons, for the doctrine of the Holy Spirit certainly implies that we can meet, and ought to meet, God every day of our lives. The fact that God has given us His Holy Spirit indicates that He is constantly waiting to meet us—in the present tense. As Dr. Luccock puts it, "to believe in the Holy Spirit is to believe in a God not located back in the past nor off in the future, but a God in the present." —A Treasury of Faith, p. 25.
One of the tragedies of this modern world is the tendency of professed Christians to push God into a past tense or into some far-distant future experience. Too many omit the "today" part of religion. After our Lord read the scripture from Isaiah as recorded in the fourth chapter of the Gospel of Luke, the first word of His comment was the word "today." It is most significant that Heaven desires that today the Scriptures may be fulfilled in our own personal experience.
Not only is the church of God to become the meeting place of His people with God, but each in-di vidual member is to find the power of fellowship with God within his own inner self. Only as God is present and active within our lives day by day can the church truly become the living body of Christ. One of the greatest needs is the stirring consciousness of God's presence with us, quickening and empowering us for living His life today. The breath-taking wonder of the gospel of Christ is the active presence of God by His indwelling Spirit fulfilling the divine will in the individual heart. The great urgency of these times requires that God's people achieve the maximum Christian experience which is expressed by the apostolic phrase "filled with the Holy Ghost."
J. A. B.