Mission Praise or Missing Praise?

MISSION PRAISE or "MISSING PRAISE?

The above hymn book has been foisted upon numerous Assemblies over the last 28 years or so. It has caused immeasurable damage to the distinctive character of these Meetings. Such a statement may well yield both amusement and disbelief in some quarters; others may be outraged. But this is a serious attempt to address this issue.

Inter-denominational "efforts" always prove to be catastrophic for those who gather to the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ only, and that in simplicity as the scriptures use that expression.

"Mission Praise" was compiled for "Mission England" back in 1984. That particular venture is well remembered by many of us as a disaster. Any exercised soul, anyone professing faith in Christ, was to be directed to the nearest denomination to their home, to be fed spurious and false doctrine. A huge number of "conversions" were claimed to have taken place, but the subsequent years paint a different picture.

A hymn book may be deemed innocuous in having much if any influence on spiritual things. But that is very far from the truth. Even in our Assemblies we occupy much of our time when we come together in singing. If this is of little account why do why engage in it so frequently? We consider it to be an integral part of our worship and a vehicle for praise. Many of the denominations spend almost all their time singing!

It is impossible to escape the fact that some "truths" owe more to hymnody than the Word of God. Without question those hymns which are in accord with the Scriptures are of real profit. Thus it is of great import to choose our hymnbooks with due care and exercise spiritual wisdom.

(In my own experience the introduction of  "Mission Praise" was a major factor, perhaps the most significant one, in bringing the local Assembly to the dreadful condition it is in today.)

The preface of the book commences with "Music has always been vital to the expression of Christian praise and worship, and a dynamic church will constantly find new ways of expressing Christian truth in hymns and songs." There is not a single suggestion of  those elements in the N.T. Scriptures.

I will not make any further quotations from the preface or indeed the book, that is sufficient for me!

What I will comment on is that which obtains today as regards this publication.

Any and all denominations are happy to use it including Roman Catholics. Many "songs" are not able to be sung without musical accompaniment. None of the hymns contain any reference to the rapture. No distinction is made between the different dispensations. The Holy Spirit is directly addressed in numerous hymns. Familiarity in addressing both the Father and the Son abounds. In the preface there is not one reference to the Son, only "God" is used and that sparingly.

Copyright addresses include: American Catholic Press; Ateliers et Presses de Taize; Rev. Elizabeth M. Dyke; Iona Community and others with no obvious affiliation, and for which I do not have the desire to investigate.

Sadly, my "home" Assembly uses this book for Gospel and even Ministry meetings. But (by the grace of  God,) it has never been considered for use at the Breaking of Bread!) It continues to cause some few of us, and we are a small company, much heartache, but two "reasons" are given for its retention: It was already in use before the majority of the Assembly "members" arrived at Bethany; and (O so sad to hear!) the unbelievers who come to the Gospel Meeting like it, and are encouraged to choose the hymns that are sung on these occasions! 

Lovingly, I would entreat my brethren who have not fallen foul of this publication to shun it, and to those who use it at present please spend a little time in perusal of it and make a careful judgement. If you have similar reservations to mine, be bold and cease to use it, and I believe you will find a blessing. 



Wegweiser: Assembly Address Book

A "WEGWEISER" Listing

The Assembly Address Book for Europe

I felt it to be necessary, even profitable, to advise fellow believers who gather to the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that there is a listing in the above book that needs to be highlighted. The entry for Mataro, Barcelona, Spain is the one in question.

The "Meeting" there does not begin to equate with the Assemblies as we "know" them. They have a "Pastor," sisters are permitted to take an audible part in the "services," instrumental music is used, and the "Remembrance Meeting" for worship is "sandwiched" somewhere between a number of consecutive meetings on the Lords' day morning.

A sister in the meeting there in Mataro told me that there is a "traditional brethren assembly," (her words,) in another part of the town. Unfortunately I do not have any details.

We have "posted" this to preclude others from going to the meeting held there on a Lords' Day with a view to "calling Him to mind," the One whom we love, and thereby being disappointed.

If any brother or sister in the Lord has details of the Assembly in Mataro we would be grateful to hear from you please.
The full listing reads: E-08301 MATARO, Barcelona
                                    Avda. Jaume Recoder, 69-71


Olympics: Mans' Adulation of Man

OLYMPICS - MANS' ADULATION OF MAN

I felt a real perplexity just last night. I had continued watching more of the 2012 Olympic Games here in my country of birth. My desperately wicked, (but redeemed, praise my Saviour,) heart erupted with a sense of joy and pride at times during these games. My proud "British-ness" apparently eradicated "in Christ" came to the fore.

I had been cautious as the Olympics approached, realising the possibility of detriment to the souls of individual believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. I have no doubt that we may plead that they are legitimate; but for whom?

Many of us who love the Saviour wasted hours watching men and women lauded to immense heights. Commentators frequently ran out of superlatives as they attempted to exalt this one and that one.

Comments were made that defy belief. Almost every athlete interviewed had plans for the the future as if the future lay in their own hands! 

Roman-ism, erroneously termed "Catholicism," was unashamedly exhibited and permitted to give the impression that it was owned of God, as one by one they "made the sign of the cross," and pointed heavenward.

It was abundantly apparent that ambition, aspiration and adulation were the goal of the competitors, while achievement was their god!

Do these appear to be harsh words to the believer in Christ? These men and women from so many parts of this world that is loved by God, have sacrificed immense amounts time, talent, effort and finance to reach their desired reward. Little time, and very likely none, is afforded to things spiritual.

I heard one commentator say "This will be remembered for ever!" What arrogance, what presumption!

At the closure of "time," with the dawn of eternity, not one of these achievements that have dominated the hearts and minds of perhaps billions of people, will ever be recalled. 

Over the ambitions, aspirations and achievements of men God will have written "abomination!" We have seen men almost deified and it is but a portent of what is to come! Mankind will worship a man, the "man of sin," because they will not worship the "Man of Sorrows."

If we, believers may learn but one lesson from these "Games" ought it not to be absolute surrender of our time, talent, energy and finance to our lovely Saviour Who expended everything for us?

Anything that we achieve for His glory will be recompensed with that which is "incorruptible and undefiled and unfading." 1 Peter 1:4.



The Macedonian Call

THE MACEDONIAN CALL

Just recently it was reported that the Assemblies in both Minehead and Taunton had closed. No details are available and we are not happy to speculate. But where and while these closures continue to occur the thought arises as to why? Did the Lord Jesus remove the lampstand or was the closure an Assembly decision?
Of late it has also become apparent that more Assemblies are struggling; this is often because of age, infirmity or lack of support. Many companies of the Lords' people only number a handful in fellowship. Increasingly it has been evidenced that larger Assemblies in near proximity to a smaller, struggling Assembly remain reticent to give any support. It grieves my heart! If I am saddened by this lack of affection for other believers, how much more does it bring sadness to the heart of our lovely Saviour?
My own exercise has been for the smaller companies of Gods' people within reasonable distance from my "home" Assembly, and where I reside. In my experience I have found reluctance of many larger Assemblies to address the needs of fellow belivers even in the same town or district.
The "burden" of quite a number of these numerically small Meetings has weighed heavily upon my soul. Prayer is wont to be made for them, and encouragement given to them. Taking responsibility for preaching the Gospel and ministering the Word of God on occasions, relieves the few who would otherwise have to shoulder all the duties and obligations incumbent upon them, never forgetting for one moment the faithfulness of the Lord Jesus in upholding and advancing their testimony for Him!
Little meetings in the area familiar to me continue the difficult, but rewarding task of maintaining a local witness. But it is evident that some are threatened with closure due to fewness of numbers, frailty and feebleness of body. Some appear to lack necessary gift, this is no censure of them on my part. Often gifted brethren have moved away, citing differing and apparently legitimate reasons! But some of these reasons seem lacking in spiritual support.
I know of brethren who are recognised as elders, yet spend considerable time away from their respective home Assemblies. The Word of God teaches clearly that overseers are a local charge, not a gift to the body of Christ universally. One "elder" is spending the first 27 days hundreds of miles from his (alledged) place of service! Is it any wonder that so many Assemblies continue to lose heart, and often lose their way too.
A whole host of "Meetings" claim to be, (at least ostensibly,) Assemblies as we know them, yet their teachings and practices owe little to the New Testament principles of gathering. These frequently practice clerisy "appointing" Pastors or Ministers. In additon they have Senior Leaders, Associate Pastors,  Assossiate Ministers, Administrators, Worship-Leaders, (many of whom are women!) These are all unbiblical and therefore unscriptural; just as much as Vicars, Curates, Arch-Bishops, Arch-Deacons, Sidesmen, Church Wardens, Prelates, Cardinals, Popes and numerous others! Many are associated with other "churches," and linked with committees and organisations.When brethren in local Assemblies choose to fraternise with these gatherings, then credence is given by them, to these unsound bodies of false-teaching.  By such compromise the distinctive testimony of the Assemblies is under-mined and marred.
This compromise of "peace at any price," and the consequent lack of true affection for the struggling Assemblies, will certainly hasten the final demise of the Assemblies in our much favoured Isle.
I would urge my fellow brethren in Christ to become burdened for the Assemblies in decline. Within the "bounds" of my itinerant ministry many Gatherings are in need of spiritual help and fervent prayer. Little Meetings such as Dursley in Gloucestershire, Burnham in Somerset, Canton in Cardiff and Pencoed in South Wales and quite a few more known to me continue the (humanly-speaking) unequal struggle. Brethren please do not expend your spiritual energies at increasing distances from home. It may well be that there is suited and suitable scope for service, such that the Lord Jesus would love you to engage in, right there on your doorstep.
I continue my itinerant ministry with as little absence from my home Assembly as possible. We are very few in number, with just four brethren, and so, as throughout most of my adult life, my fellowship experience has been in small Assemblies. I am therefore I believe, speaking from a sound position, i.e. first-hand.
Finally I am coming to the "title" I have given to this "Post," "The Macedonian Call."
I am hesitant as to what to say, there has been so much "I" in this Post already; but I want to speak of a Macedonian Call that I received. A dear older brother in Christ had published a history of the local Assembly where he gathered to "the Name" with others of a like mind. He closed his brief history by issuing the call, "Come over and help us." The Meeting in question is about 48 miles from Bristol where I reside, within the "boundaries of my "burden." I wrote to him and received a most gracious reply and an invitation to come and preach the Gospel of the grace and glory of God. Over the course of the next three and a half years I continued to preach the Gospel, and minister the Word of God on 24 occasions there, indeed right up to and just after the home-call of that dear saint. The numbers there have since grown, and the character of the Meeting has changed, thus my service is no longer sort for or needed. Perhaps it was the Lord that "shut the door" there after all, for I had the joy of being of help to a brother in the Lord for the remainder of his time here "in the body."
There is nothing for me to boast about in the for-going narrative, but I earnestly pray that others might see the simplicity, yet the urgency of a Macedoniam Call, and readilly respond for the glory of our soon-coming great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.