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A Closer Look at Christian Music, Joshua Law, 1991
A Closer Look at Christian Music. by Joshua Law June 1991
Music is a language.
Some people, unwittingly, believe that music is a universal language mainly because music generally has a pleasant appeal. To me, music is an enhanced encoded language. Music needs to be learnt in order to be understood. And to be understood, music needs to be decoded. (Music can be very uncertain: I Cor. 14:8) However, since pure music is abstract, the message it gives is ambiguous, The listener is free to interpret it the way he feels at the moment. Therefore, music often arouses a variety of emotional responses. However, not all music appeal to all people. The same piece of music can arouse contrasting emotional responses. Continue reading
Worship and Music, River of no Return
I am writing this article not without substance and preparation. I am attempting to objectively lay it out to plead for change. I do not want any reader to belittle what I have to say in this matter. But to hear me, and in all sincerity give this issue an objective evaluation. Hopefully we could do something in resolving the problems caused by this blessed but yet divisive medium, called music. Therefore, I need to qualify myself. Continue reading
Why does God allow Injustice?為什麼上帝允許不公?
Why does God allow Injustice?
為什麼上帝允許不公?
How long, 0 LORD，must I call for help，but you do not listen? Or cry out to you，”Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Habakkuk 1:2-3
「先知哈巴谷所得的默示。他說、耶和華阿、我呼你、你不應允、要到幾時呢．我因強暴哀求你、你還不拯救。你為何使我看見罪孽．你為何看著奸惡而不理呢．毀滅和強暴在我面前．又起了爭端和相鬥的事。」哈巴谷書1:1-3
Definition of INJUSTICE:
Acts or conditions brought forth by forces of natural or human evil that result in people suffering, hardship or loss undeservedly.
不公的定義：由自然或人為力量所帶來的行為或情況，結果產生出邪惡，痛苦，困難或不公的損失. Continue reading
Straight Talk About Christian Peculiarities
How do Chinese Christians share their calling and gifts? In Chinese Christian circles, if you introduce yourself or advertise yourself, they usually don’t want you. Or, if you are known as certain title, they will limit you in that particular category. They will be very skeptical about you if you do anything else, even if you are exceptionally good at it because they don’t believe that anybody can do more than one thing well. To develop your ministry, you have to “Wai, Wai, Wai” (唯威喂) [1] and pretend or display “Christian humility,” and act like a “humble big shot” and “humbly” blow your horns as a “Scientist’, or a “rich ($$) Christian,” a medical doctor, or a well educated man with highest degrees. (in most cases, only Ph. Ds. are respected) in order to get respect [2] and more appointments. (ministry opportunities, which they called “calling.” ) And they call that being spiritual!! When you had to apply for a position, they only want full-time servants (ministers) whether you are paid or not, called as full time or not. [3] And your boss, [4] will most likely lord over you and show no mercy if you do not practice PC with them, (political correctness) but nobody can “speak the truth in love.” [5] without being cast out. Continue reading
Mega Churches
Faithful and good pastors or not, in the beginning, most every person called of God to the ministry are sincere, (every believer is called to the ministry, only these folks think they are special, and “full-time,” “separated out,” “unconteminatable,” “clean/holy hands,” “won’t work for their keeps,” “only the Lord is their boss.”) unless their calls are clouded by the desire to emigrate to the US or any other “better” country. (So what!!? Shouldn’t everybody aim higher to develop their careers?) Otherwise they would start humbly ministering (serving as a servant) with their God given gifts, if any. (God will equip those whom He calls, full time or not, this doesn’t mean anyone who is a failure in real life should feel the holy call of God to full-time ministry, Paul made tents, Jesus worked as a carpenter till He was 30 Yrs old) Continue reading