Christopher Hitchens' NY Times best selling book- God Is Not Great- presents some appallingly illogical arguments in an attempt, not merely to cast doubt on the existence of God, but, to be unabashedly anti-theist. I have addressed some of his arguments on another website (read). While Christopher Hitchens' arguments are obvious for both their motive and intent, not so obvious is the presentation of God by some people whose intention is quite different to that Hitchens.Perhaps some Christians need to meditate on Psalm 96 and consider how compliance with this theologically profound Psalm could begin to reform the way their churches worship and (re)present God to the world. Rather than structuring our church services to be so seeker-sensitive that God and His claims are almost an embarrassment to Christians, Psalm 96 is the perfect response to people like Christopher Hitchens. But it is also the perfect correction to churches perplexed as to why their clever seeker and emerging services are proving to be ineffective.
Consider Psalm 96. It commands. It describes in exclusive terms. It makes absolute assertions. And it culminates with a verse that seems like a threat if not at least a sober warning. It seems that the elements of this Psalm are the very things that many church leaders are actually decreeing should be avoided by their ministers.
Consider Psalm 96.
Andrew Corbett
Ministry Site
Hi Andrew,
ReplyDeleteGreat post! But..
Are you making assumptions when you use the term 'emerging'? Have you considered writers such as Scot McKnight and Alan Hirch, or considered movements such as Urban Neighbours of Hope before lumping 'emerging' in with seeker-sensitive, gospel-distant and non-christ-centric?
Defensive? Me?