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Praying or Falling Prey
in Christ"—highly recommended. Author John Hannah is Senior Professor of Historical Theology at Dallas Theological Seminary. PRAYING OR FALLING PREY Many churches have fallen prey to cultural assimilation. They have degenerated into self-serving enterprises whose primary celebration is to exalt God as giver and the validation of a message of cultural narcissism and personal advantages. Such churches have accommodated themselves to things that are not eternal. Genuine worship is not like that. It realizes the worth of God and our dependence on him. It is not a celebration of a favored socioeconomic status within a decadent capitalistic state. Any sane person might tip his allegorical hat to a God who is merely a cosmic provider, but Christian communities do not exist to wonder at their physical abundance. They exist to adore the God who is abundant in mercy and forgiveness. — John D. Hannah, TO GOD BE THE GLORY. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2000, p. 9. ISBN 1-58134-171-7 ["For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen." Romans 11:36] Have a great week, Chip Stam Director, Institute for Christian Worship School of Church Music and Worship Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky www.carlstam.org www.sbts.edu |