Last Facebook post re. David’s Tent Worship Festival—Thought on worship and on Britain as a Key Player in the Evangelization of the World I had coffee with my friend Jules this week. She told me a story of how a few years ago a builder working on her house told her about Jesus, how he came as a sacrificial lamb bearing the sins of the world. How because of his sacrifice we now live under an open heaven with direct access to God. She became a Christian. Her husband became a Christian. Her friends became Christians. She entered the ministry, and is now an ordinand. She will bring many with her. She will be a blessing What a ripple effect. Evangelism is a blessing. Because the way of Jesus is absolutely the sanest way to live. And we would not stumble upon that ourselves. Someone has to tell us. * * * At David’s Tent, I kept listening to all the accents, German, Dutch, Scandinavian (Okay, I know Scandinavian isn’t a language, any more than “Indian,” is, but you know…) Apparently, there are no 24/7 worship and music festivals in Europe, so people caught a flight to the UK. England seemed central as in the days when it was the centre of an Empire on which the sun never set. Many amazing young singer-songwriters flew over from the US, John Mark McMillan, Jonathan Helser, Jason Upton, Sean Feucht. I went to some of the breakout sessions they led, and their talks were rich, meaty, full of passion for God. I said to Roy, “These young Americans are pretty amazing, huh?” And Roy said, “Well, they are the cream, the best of America.” Well, America, your best is very good, indeed!! Of course, being a successful Christian singer-songwriter requires a mind-boggling combination of skills. A good voice and stage presence, musical and compositional ability, writing ability, business ability, and, if you are also a up and coming leader to watch like Sean Feucht, leadership and dynamism. * * * Anyway, what interested me was how Britain was a bridge between America and Europe, drawing both. It has a unique position in the world because of its former empire, and because the formerly colonies regard the Mother Country with some affection, both countries massively colonized by the English, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, and the countries in Asia and Africa that were conquered by the British. India, for example! The English are charming—their range of accents, their eccentricities, their essential decency, their hobbityness, and, more recently, the pure passion with which they chase God. I was near tears several times at David’s Tent, seeing thousands of young people, in their twenties and thirties, spending four days doing nothing but worshipping God. Worship is the purest expression of the spiritual life. Prayer includes an element of telling God what he’d like him to do for us, and that is okay. Scripture study, at its most utilitarian, gives us knowledge on how to live successfully and happily. Besides, someone who knows her scripture thoroughly gains respect—(and occasionally power over others). But worship is pure. Pure love. The purest picture of it is Mary who smashes her alabaster jar of pure nard at the feet of Jesus. She gets a broken jar, spilt perfume, a house filled with the fragrance of that perfume, and the knowledge that she has wastefully, extravagantly demonstrated her love for the one she loves. When you feel full of love, nothing is too good or too much for the one you love. Worship is like that.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 19:25:26 +0000
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