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Repentance and Faith: A Twofold Turn
There is a brief health update at the end of this message. ===================================== Please see the news about music/worship study at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. ===================================== A FREE PIANO SCORE for "Still, My Soul, Be Still" is still available at http://www.gettymusic.com/still_my_soul.pdf ===================================== Over and over again in the Old Testament, God told his people to forsake their idols and turn to Him. Through the prophets the LORD warned the people of Israel, "I will not share my glory with another or my praise with idols" (Isaiah 42:8, 48:11). Jesus taught, "You cannot serve two masters" (Matthew 6:24). He demanded singular and complete commitment. Today’s WORSHIP QUOTE is a clear reminder from pastor/scholar John Stott about the "two turns" that are necessary for true conversion. Authentic Christian worship reminds believers of these crucial "turns"—repentance and faith. REPENTANCE AND FAITH: A TWOFOLD TURN Repentance and faith are in fact the constituent elements of conversion, when viewed from the standpoint of man's experience. For what is conversion but "turning," and what is "to be converted" but to turn? The Greek verb is often used in the New Testament in secular, non-theological contexts to describe someone's action in turning round from one direction to another or turning from one place to another. When used in more technical, theological passages the verb has the same meaning. "You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God." "You were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls" (1 Thes. 1:9, 1 Pet. 2:25). Conversion involves a twofold turn, a turn from idols and from sin on the one hand, and a turn to the living God and to the Savior of Shepherd of souls on the other. The "turn away" the New Testament calls repentance; the "turn toward" the New Testament calls faith. So repentance plus faith equals conversion, and no man dare say he is converted who has not repented as well as believed. -- John Stott, "Must Christ Be Lord and Savior?" ETERNITY (September 1959, Evangelical Ministries, Inc.), p. 5. SOUTHERN SEMINARY MUSIC/WORSHIP STUDY: Perhaps you have heard about the recent changes in music study at Southern Seminary. I can’t tell you how many people have contacted me, asking if I would come teach somewhere else since my job had been terminated. FUNNY! Here is the real story: The School of Church Music and Worship and the Leadership School at SBTS have been brought into a single school which is now called The School of Church Ministries. Dr. Thomas Bolton is stepping down as dean (after nine years), and he will continue to teach after a well-deserved sabbatical. I have been granted tenure and look forward to getting back to the classroom and the podium this semester. I will continue to serve as the director of the Institute for Christian Worship. Dr. Esther Crookshank has been named director of the new Academy of Sacred Music that will oversee the Seminary Music Academy, the R. Inman Johnson Concert Series, and certain lectures on hymnology and the like. Dr. Douglas Smith plans to retire in December. Dr. Greg Brewton will oversee the music portion of the new school. Dr. Ronald Turner and Dr. Sandra Turner are still here and going strong. That gives you a little glimpse of things ahead. We are still admitting students and look forward to many, many years of training church musicians for service in the Lord's precious church. Please pray for us and let me hear from you if there are prospective students whom I should contact (carlstam@aol.com). ===================================== HEALTH UPDATE & PRAYER REQUEST FOR CHIP STAM, CANCER PATIENT ===================================== Dear Praying Friends, All is well. I go back to the clinic on August 14, and there will be periodic scans and tests as the months go by. We are overjoyed at the great results of the treatment and in my progress towards a full schedule of activities. Join us in praising God for these great blessings. I have been able to lead worship at Clifton Baptist Church the last two Sundays. Classes begin at the seminary on August 17. God is good. If you haven't done so already, please read the important note above about recent changes in music and worship studies at our seminary. Thanks for praying that my "cancer free" status will be a PERMANENT reality. There are lots of photos and longer journal entries at www.caringbridge.org/visit/carlstam. See also www.wqotw.org for past updates and comments. Chip Stam Director, Institute for Christian Worship School of Church Ministries The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky www.wqotw.org www.sbts.edu/icw =========================== WORSHIP QUOTE OF THE WEEK: To subscribe, unsubscribe, or view a complete index of worship quotes, please visit http://www.wqotw.org. =========================== |