When charismatic worship moved into mainline churches, in many cases it left behind the theology out of which in came, creating dissonance. And for those unwilling to ask questions, this dissonance was magnified. When encountering the unfamiliar, the chaotic or vague, ridicule emerges as a primary coping tactic.
The first verse of “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” is an invitation to join the angels who announced Christ’s birth. In fact, Wesley wants all nations to rise and “join the triumph of the skies” in the tumultuous news, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!” Notice the exclamation point. Wesley was inclined that way. It’s hard to end all your sentences with periods when your soul is on the rise.
Sigmund Freud observed that the two great themes of adult life are love and work. Although reluctant to elevate Freud’s work as a spiritual compass, I think his observations on this point were on target–
Advent Week 3- Reading 2 Psalms 126 (NIV) When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of
