SUNDAY THOUGHT-21

SUNDAY THOUGHT -21 WORSHIPPING GOD IN IGNORANCE An yearning to worship is inbuilt in Human beings. Human history testifies that people are interested in worship. People worship either God, according to their own fanciful thinking or natural powers or great personalities (hero worship) or even Satan. A sad thing we see around us is that a majority of people are worshipping God not according to the truth of God- worshipping God in ignorance- being ignorant about the person or nature or works of God. Paul, when was in the city of Athens, could see that the Athenians were worshipping all known gods including the 'unknown God' (Acts 17:23). They were worshipping in ignorance. So Paul had to say, "…. Now what you worship in ignorance this I set forth to you…" (v. 23 b.). 'Many gods exist according to what people say; and we do not want to miss any; for we can't say which is true' seems their logic. This is the same logic that governs the pluralistic society of our nation as well. In this post modern era, where a denial of the absolute truth is the trend, it is not surprising to see this confusion prevails. People worship god/gods in ignorance. Not only the pagans, the people who claim that they know God do also worship God in ignorance. The Samaritan woman represents this group. She zealously brought up the subject of worship in her conversation with Jesus. She thought that she is, in fact the whole sect of the Samaritans are worshipping God. But Jesus contended saying, "You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we (the Jews) worship what we do know…" (John 4:22). What was the mistake of the Samaritans? They in their pride and rebellion did not want to follow what God commanded regarding worship. They in opposition to the Jews redefined faith for themselves! That led them to worship God in ignorance. The Christian community is worshipping community. But a massive group among them commits the same mistake! They say they worship God. But unfortunately in some Christian churches the worship is patterned after the Old Testament. There is a continuation of the Old Judaistic system of worship there. They have the priests as official mediators for worship; they have the Holy place where the priest alone will go; they have incense to offer at worship… They worship in ignorance -either willful or sincere! Because they are still following the patterns of the old dispensation. Just as the Jewish people continued their worship in the temple even after the death and resurrection of Jesus, probably after 're-stitching' the veil that was torn at Jesus' death, these Christians continue their worship in the temple pattern. They do not approach God having the knowledge of the new and living way God has opened for those who come to Him. They do not recognize that those who worship the Father have to worship Him by the assistance of the Holy Spirit and in accordance to the truth God had revealed in this new dispensation of grace. Though it has the name 'Christian,' the worship is not Christian, for they worship not according to the truths of God's word. And obviously God does not take pleasure in that. We who claim evangelical or protestant Christians do worship in ignorance sometimes..! How? When we approach god having unresolved tensions with fellow believers, we worship God in ignorance! When we come to worship with hidden sins that are un confessed and un forgiven, we worship God in ignorance! When we don't let someone in the church to join in worship we do the same! We do worship in ignorance, when we come to God having reluctance to obey or having made no effort to obey the great commission of the Lord. When we keep wrong understandings about God and worship we do it in ignorance. God does not want us to worship him in ignorance. He has revealed his truths in His word so that we may know him and worship Him in the light of those truths. His word is given to us not just for the sake of knowledge but to do them (Psalm 119:3). As we prepare to Worship God this week, let us see to it that we know him better lest we shall worship Him in ignorance and be rejected. Let us approach Him having the confidence in our high priest, the Lord Jesus Christ who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. Yours in The gloriuos ministry of God Joji George Abraham

SUNDAY THOUGHT-20

SUNDAY THOUGHT-20 Individual Participation in worship Christians generally gather on Sunday for church meeting in which a significant amount of time is given for worship. But a majority will leave the meeting having a satisfaction of 'seeing' the worship. This is due to the fact that there is no scope for individual participation in most worship meetings. This is true not only in nominal Christian churches but in protestant evangelical churches as well. I had opportunity to witness different kinds of worship meetings. One kind is where only the 'leader' alone leads the entire service. The people are mostly silent spectators of what the leader does. They might say 'amen' at the end of what this leader say. Another kind is just opposite to this, where everyone collectively raises their voices and praise and worship God together. And most often few among the group give the 'motivating push' for the mass of people. The result is that each one is engaged with his own way of worshipping God and leave with the satisfaction that 'I did worship, but I do not know about him or her". No one is gaining any edification from each other in this kind of worship meetings. There is a third kind of worship style where only a group of 'assigned people' do all activities of the service and others just watch and hear what these assigned ones might do or say. And a fourth one is where there is no particular person as the 'leader of the service' and almost every one is involved in worship by exercising various gifts they have resulting in praising, thanksgiving, singing and exhorting each other for worship one by one. The absence of a leader does not lead to confusion or commotion rather orderliness and decency are visibly maintained. From the New Testament we cannot draw a specific pattern for worship, but this fourth kind I described seems a better and meaningful pattern for worship meetings. When the church gathers together, everyone is important and has significance as members of the church. The priesthood of believers is a correct teaching of the N.T. Therefore, every saint redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ has the right and privilege to worship God and offer thanksgiving. Our worship meetings /services should be planned in such a way that every believer can express his/her worship to God in a meaningful manner. Paul had plenty of things to correct in the Church at Corinth as to their practices. But one thing he did not correct rather accepted was their participation in church meetings. Their problem was an improper and disorderly exercising of gifts by the believers. But they were very active in participating in the church meetings. He says: "How is it then brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, and has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification (1Cor. 14:26). Paul here thinks about any gathering of the saints at any time: Notice the 'whenever'. Any gathering of the saints at any time is a time to worship God as well. Not only on the first day of the week when the church gathers specifically for worship. I would say that it is the responsibility of the leadership of each local church to make sure that all the saints does actively participate in worship. (By Participation I do not mean mere attendance in meetings or that we join with others to sing songs. Rather taking turn individually to praise god or to give thanks). To those who need motivation for this it should be given. Those who need encouragement it should be given. To those need guidance or training it should be given. Our individual participation in praise and thanksgiving would help other brothers and sisters to be strengthened in faith or bring edification or even correction for them. Letting people continue in silence will not do any good to the individual nor the church and therefore to be discouraged. Different denominations do have their self developed patterns or systems of worship. But any pattern that does not allow participation for every believer is not a proper pattern. Worship meetings of the nominal Christian churches where the 'priests' does everything for people(as in Judaism of the O.T.) is against the New testament teaching about worship and therefore we reject as not acceptable to God. But if the churches which claim allegiance to the N.T. do not give openness for all believers to participate in worship, then it is wrong. Some of the contemporary churches who are "seeker sensitive" try to adopt "attractive features" into the worship services to keep the crowd 'happy' and 'feel good.' Sometimes these turn to be entertainment programs than worship services. This, I would say, is contrary to the spirit of true and acceptable worship. A worship service is not to make us 'feel good' rather to honor God the father. When every believer has an opportunity to participate in worship based upon each one's spiritual enablement, the result will be genuine edification of the body. There is another potential issue and seemingly controversial as well, which I cannot bypass when individual participation is discussed. That is about sister's participation in the worship session of the church. Can they praise God the father openly and publicly as the male believers do? Recognizing the controversy over this issue and its sensitive nature, I would deal with this in detail in a later article in Sunday Thought (probably in the next one). But as we prepare to worship God this week, let's not be silent spectators rather participate individually in praising God and giving Him honor and thanks . Yours in The gloriuos ministry of God Joji George Abraham

SUNDAY THOUGHT-19

Sunday Thought – 19 WORSHIP THAT INVITED DEATH Text: Genesis 4 God has to be worshipped. That concept was inculcated into human beings from the beginning. Though we have no record of Adam worshipping God, we have evidence of his sons worshipping God (Gen. 4). Like any other truth, the truth about worship also should be revealed to man so that man may worship God acceptably. Since both Cain and Abel brought offerings to worship God, we can conclude that they had prior information about how to approach God in worship. This helps us to understand what is happening in Gen. 4. Worship done in self righteous attitude: There is nothing wrong in taking up the profession of tilling the ground and producing fruits. There is nothing wrong to offer the first fruits to God as thanksgiving in honor of His help. But that was not the the problem with Cain. The offering they were bringing was for their sins. Not a thanksgiving offering. A sin offering must see bloodshed. It is not that they were not informed about this. For, God accepts Abel's offering. The mistake of Cain was he approached God in unbelief and with self righteous attitude. (Hebrews 11:4). He did not bother to violate the manner of approach which God intended from them. "This way is also okay" was his attitude (Jude 11). More than what he brought, the person and his attitude are what concerns God. The reason why God cannot accept many peoples worship is due to the same reason. Ignoring the way God demands, people try to come to Him in their own way. Worship done in Godly attitude: In contrast to Cain, Abel brought an offering from the best of his firstlings, killed it and offered it to God. The willingness to abide by the divinely revealed manner, earned him respect of God. More than his sacrifice the attitude of Abel pleased God. He worships God based on what God had informed. He approached God in Faith. Therefore he is declared as righteous (Heb. 11:4). It is God's Law that without shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins(Heb. 9:22). Though this was made much more clear later, the truth was known to man from the beginning. And Abel approached God in obedience of what he revealed. Today, no person who approaches God except through Jesus Christ will be accepted by God and his worship will be rejected. The pain of rejected Worship: When Cain saw that God rejected his worship, he was very angry and his 'countenance fell'( his face grew grim)! (On the Day of Judgment, when the Lord will declare that a majority of people and their works are rejected imagine the frustration and anger they would be feeling! the pain of rejection is too much. Especially when it comes from God! Therefore it is wise to make sure that we do things in the way God asks us to do.). More than towards Abel, Cain was actually angry towards God. In spite of God's gracious warning (v. 6,7) that 'you have still time to do as I said and receive my favor' Cain went ahead brooding over his anger towards God which forced him to vent it on his brother. One thing we should notice here. God do not take pleasure in seeing our pain when we face rejection. Rather, though he would let us feel it for our mistakes of not doing as he said, he is gracious enough to consider us again to give another chance! Worship that invited death: Cain was blind with his anger and he decided to vent it on his brother Abel. Having made plans in mind he rose against his brother and killed him. That was a pure premeditated act. The brother who is the keeper of his brother destroyed him (v. 9,10). This is a point the worshipping community ought to remember always: We are each other's keepers. So we are not to pause problem rather to give a helping hand to each other. Notice that the first murder in human history was over the subject of worship. Cain grew jealous against his brother because he got accepted by God and killed him (1John 3:12). When I see the world's attitude against Christians and its attempt to destroy them, I am reminded of Cain. For both have the same motivation: 'Here are a group of people who are found favor with God, let's destroy them.' This is the same attitude the world showed and is showing to the nation Israel. The true worshippers irk the world. Therefore they may become soft targets of reproach and attack. God could prevent the killing of Abel if he chose to. But he did not. When the worshipping community is attacked or persecuted, it is not because God is inactive or unaware of rather he let it happen for his own reasons. The sovereignty of God is unaffected by what he might let us experience. As we prepare to worship God this week, let us do it in the way God asked us to do: in truth and in Spirit. Never in self righteous attitude and in whichever way we wanted to do it. Let us be ready to face the world's anger if our obedience to the Lord in worship brings that result! Yours in The gloriuos ministry of God Joji George Abraham

SUNDAY THOUGHT -18

SUNDAY THOUGHT -18 WORSHIP IN HOLINESS "Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness" exhorts the psalmist. (Ps.29:2; 96:9). "Holiness adorns your house O LORD, forever" hails the Psalmist (93:5). "Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool, for He is Holy" declares the Psalmist (99:5, 9). In the vision of Isaiah, he saw the Seraphim worshipping God declaring a single point truth: "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts…" (6:3). The four living creatures in the vision of John has the same thing to declare: "Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God almighty, who was and is and is to come" (Rev. 4:8b.). John saw them saying the same without rest day or night! Holiness defines the LORD. God is holy. This holiness marks His right to be worshipped. Holiness speaks about two particular aspects of God: His distinction and moral purity. God is distinct from everything else that exists. He is unique. There is nothing that can be compared with Him (cf. 1 Samuel 2:2;Ex. 15:11). He is without equals. In this way He does not depend on anyone or anything to bring Him to existence or to sustain him in being. As Holy, God He is great in power and grandeur. This majestic holiness is a theme in the Book of Psalms calling people to worship Him (see Ps. 105:3; 106:47; 108:7; 47:8; 11:9; etc.). Bing Holy, God is distinct and unique. Therefore he is to be worshipped. Holiness speaks about God's moral purity also. God is separate and set apart from everything in His moral purity. He does not have any relation with sin. He is free from the pollution of sin. Being Holy, God is righteous (Ps.145:17) and faithful (Ps. 105:42; 89:35). The worshipping community has to give attention to these both aspects of God's holiness. God always wanted His people to be separate from other peoples and to worship Him in purity alone. The redemption and deliverance God brought about for Israel of O.T. was with this purpose: That they should worship Him. They could not do that in Egypt among unholiness. They needed to be separated. God gave them a new standard for life; new set of practices to follow. This was based upon His holiness. He wanted His people comply with His holiness. He desired them to be Holy (Lev. 19:2; 20:3, 26). The redemption God worked out through his son Jesus is with the same intention- to make a people who worship Him in Holiness. Believers are sanctified people. They are saints before God. This positional holiness is the first step towards worshipping God in holiness. By this God has separated us from this world and made us distinct. Our standards for life are different. Our practices are different including that of worship. This distinction is to be kept for worshipping a distinct being, our God. Moral purity is a high virtue God demands from the worshipping community. No unholiness was permitted at the Holy sanctuary of God in Israel. The descriptions concerning physical cleanliness cautions us about the high standard of purity God demanded from people who drew near to worship him. The church today is to be holy in her moral conduct. The standard for that purity is God himself. "Be ye Holy, as I am Holy" (1Pet. 1:15-16). Our physical cleanliness in not what is highlighted, though that is not unimportant. Rather, moral purity; Purity of our hands, hearts and mind. Purity in our attitude and actions. That is to be seen in the worshipping community. This will not happen without a voluntary and purposeful maintenance of purity at the present. The worship in heaven is perfect because we shall reach the expected perfection then. But as long as we are on earth, with unholiness and ungodliness, an effort is required to maintain god's standard of purity. Holiness marks out God. Holiness should mark out the people who worship Him as well. As we prepare to worship God this week, let us pay attention to God's Holiness that makes Him distinct and perfect. Let us remember that God desires to see the same in us, his redeemed and sanctified people. Let us worship in Holiness. Yours in The gloriuos ministry of God Joji George Abraham

SUNDAY THOUGHT -17

WORSHIPPING GOD IN THE MIDST OF PERSECUTION
Text: 2Thessalonians 1:3-12

Persecutions should not be a surprising thing for the church. It started when the church started. And it will continue as long as the church continues in the world. Sometimes it is mild. At other times it becomes severe giving the church botheration. But it is a reality. Waiting for persecution to stop permanently to do our Christian service is therefore stupidity. The worship of the church and other ministries has to continue amidst persecutions.

Recently, in some parts of our country, the people of God are threatened to the extent that some had to refrain from gathering on Sunday for worship. This is indeed alarming. For the children of God, any day and every day is a day of worship. But since the church gathers together for collective worship on Sunday, being the day of resurrection, it has significance. And it is at this occasion of the church's worship, most Christians commemorate the Lord's Table.

But what if our freedom of worship is affected by an anti-Christian act? How will we continue worshipping God? Is it a violation if on a Sunday the church did not (or could not) gather for worshipping God?

Christians coming together to worship on Sundays is a practice than an instruction in the New Testament. The N.T. does not command believers to meet together on Sunday being the day of resurrection. From the beginning of the church, the N.T. believers –mostly Jews- shifted the day of gathering for worship and fellowship from the seventh day (Sabbath) to the first day of the week(the resurrection day). This became the notable feature that distinguished Judaism from Christianity. And this practice is what the Christian church follows for the last twenty centuries. Whichever part of the world Christianity reached with significant influence, Sunday was separated for the worship and related ministries of the church. And no genuine reason can any one cite (or need to) for a change of the day for collective worship. So wherever possible and as long as we can the church must continue to gather on Sunday.

But due to any reason if our freedom for this is affected, we do not need to be panicking as if we will then go against the Scripture. It should be regarded more an emotional issue than a violation of any biblical instruction, since no instruction regarding the day of worship is given in the New Testament. Those who worship the father will worship Him in truth and in Spirit. Not in this place or that place or this day or that day! In this regard, we, the people of the church are unlike the people of Israel of the O.T. They had stipulated days and dates for religious activities and they needed to follow them without fail. Any failure would be considered as violation of divine instructions. But we do not have this problem today. If we are not able to gather together on a Sunday due to a genuine reason we do not go against the Scripture.

But does this mean then that any local church can decide to come together for worship any day? It should not be so. Though the practice of church gathering on the first day of the week is not the result of any divine instruction, it is a harmless, safe and an acceptable practice. As long as possible we may continue that practice instead of giving way to anarchy in the name of freedom or liberalism. But if a genuine threat from the anti-Christian elements force us to shift the day of worship of the church from Sunday to any other day it may be taken without guilt. If we are not willing for this even in the wake of threats and persecutions, it then means that we choose to suffer for it, which would not be spoken against.

The believers in Jesus Christ ought to worship God even in the midst of persecutions. The apostles, when threatened with consequences for preaching in the name of Jesus including other religious functions, they defied it and chose sufferings. Christians, in places where Christianity is regarded as against the Law, face persecutions for their faith in Christ and for attempting to worship God, willingly choosing suffering. Worship, personal and collective should be done even amidst persecutions.

As we prepare to worship God this week, let us who enjoy freedom (both physical and spiritual), thank God for it. May we remember our brothers and sisters who are not able to gather together for worship due to persecutions. Let us worship God who will grant us ultimate triumph against all threats and persecutions (2Thess. 1:6-7).


Yours in The gloriuos ministry of God
Joji George Abraham

Fwd: SUNDAY THOUGHT -15

SUNDAY THOUGHT -15
LORD'S TABLE IN WORSHIP

An integral element in the worship of the church is the celebration of
the Lord's Table. Worship as such is possible for a child of God at
any time. But when the church gather together, celebrating the Lord's
Table is necessary in order for the worship to be meaningful and
fulfilled. I believe, on the Lord's Day when the people of God gather
together for worship, exhortation, prayer and fellowship that is the
most beautiful occasion for celebrating the Lord's Table.

Luke in Acts testify that the early believers 'broke the bread' daily
in their houses (2:46). Later, as the church grew, the public
gathering of the church was settled on the first day of the week- the
resurrection day (cf. 20:7). It was at this gathering and on this day
they also 'broke bread' (a reference for the celebration of the Lord's
Table).

Regarding the question of practicing the Lord's Table in worship
meetings, there are two extremes to be avoided. One, as some would
argue, that it is not mandatory to observe the table of the Lord on
every Lord's Day, rather we have freedom to observe it once in a month
or even once in a year and on special days. Taking the inference from
Acts 20:6,7, which I consider as the model for the new testament
believers regarding the time for observing the Lord's Table, I would
say that a weekly observance of the Lord's table is the most
appropriate practice for a full fledged church.

The second extreme is the view that observing the Lord's Table itself
is worship or worship means celebrating the table of the Lord.
Observing the table of the Lord is not the whole worship. Rather, it
is an important element that helps our worship. It is as part of our
worship that we need to celebrate the table. When the church gather
together, our worship of God is based upon reasons which God himself
has given us. The foremost among those reasons is the death,
resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ. So, remembering
the Lord's death, resurrection and ascension with a look forward to
his return by means of the Lord's Table is unavoidable at the time of
worship. Thus, the role of the Lord's Table is to motivate and
strengthen our worship.

The table of the Lord communicates numerous truths to us at the time
of our worship. Among them are the following important ones:
1. It tells us to have a look backward. To see who we were
without the grace and mercy of God. To see what difference the Love of
God brought to our life. To see the savior's death in our place in
order to make our relation possible with God.
2. It tells us to have a look inward. To see what result the
death of the Lord Jesus made within us. To see how the inward change
is wonderfully transforming us to live for and please God. To see how
do we maintain our fellowship with the Lord.
3. It tells us to have a look forward. To reassure our hope in
the Lord and His return for our complete redemption. That hope
purifies our life in the present. This look forward helps us to count
the present struggles of life as nothing.
4. It helps us to renew our commitment. To serve God in this
world. To count his interest important and to seek its accomplishment
in and through our life.
5. It burdens us to be His witnesses in this world. The Lord's
Table brings to our mind all the blessings of our salvation which will
be true in any one's life who accepts Jesus. We who enjoy them already
are to bear witness for them.
6. It tells us about our victory over the ultimate enemy, death.
The resurrection of our Lord, which we celebrate through the table,
gives us confidence over the reality of death. Death for us is not to
be a fearsome thought rather a fact that always tests our boldness.
7. It tells us about a day when our faith shall be sight. Till
he comes we ought to celebrate this Table. Each observance of the
table of the Lord is a reminder that he did not come yet, but will
come for sure. And on that day our faith shall become perfect.

Lord's Table is the Table that belongs to the Lord. It does belong to
no church. The Lord's people observing that on the Lord's Day, is
indeed beautiful. It plays an important role in our worship of God.
Due to the same, no worshipper of the Lord is to be prevented
forcefully from taking part of the table, even as disciplinary act, if
he or she has the confidence for it.

As we prepare to worship the Lord this week, let us keep the practice
of celebrating the Lord's Table. And remembering the truths it
communicates to us, may we offer our praises and worship to God.

Sunday thought is an attempt to encourage you to worship God in truth
and in Spirit. I plan to post this write up on every Friday evening.
Thank you for reading this. You may share this with others as the Lord
leads you. I would invite your response as well.

Yours in The gloriuos ministry of God
Joji George Abraham

SUNDAY THOUGHT-14

SUNDAY THOUGHT -14 SONGS AND MUSIC IN WORSHIP Text: Psalms 81:1-4 Imagine a world without songs and music; without singers and musicians…! What a dry place it would have been…! Agreed. But songs and music in the worship of the church…?! Singing with the accompaniment of music…?! "May it never be" is the thinking of some believers in Christ!? Should we have songs sung with music in the church worship? Is it sinful and displeasing to God? I would like to discuss this question in this article. Let me make my perspective on this - which I've developed from the scripture- clear at the very outset: We can use music and sing songs with the accompaniment of music in our worship meetings. And whenever possible, we should use them in our worship and even encourage people to use them. Music and songs were existing from the very beginning of human history. The first reference of music instruments (and for that matter, songs) we see in the very beginning chapters of Genesis (4:21) "Jabal's brother Jubal was the father of all those who play harp and lute". I can imagine the return journey of Abraham with Isaac from the mount of Moriah after 'sacrificing' Isaac and worshipping God. They must have been singing all the way back home! After they crossed over the Red sea, the Israelites started praising Jehovah by singing with music (Exodus 15:20, 21).David appointed in Israel singers and musicians to sing praises to God in their assemblies when gathered for worshipping God (1Chron. 15:26; 16:4, 5, 6). The psalms (which are songs themselves) abound in calls to worship and praise with songs and music. To state succinctly: God expect and appreciate his people singing songs of praises and that too with the accompaniment of music. Then why don't some among us, the believers, do not use good songs or music in worship services? The reasons range from the lack of good songs to lack of music instruments to ignorance to use music instruments. But a more strong reason is because some of us consider all music as Satanic or 'worldly' and therefore displeasing to God. And due to the same, songs sung with the accompaniment of music or playing songs by means of music during the worship time (or other times) are to be avoided completely. If we hold such a position, then, I would say it is an unbiblical, unwarranted and imbalanced position. Because, 1. God being the creator and sustainer of all good things made it possible for people to come up with musical instruments and He gave people skills to play them. 2. God made good singers among people with the ability to sing pleasantly. 3. God (in the past history of His people, without doubt) appreciated his people singing praises to him with music. Even in the future His people will sing to him praises with music (Rev. 15:2, 3). 4. Music and songs are given great significance in the Bible throughout. Songs were used in the N.T. churches (Eph. 5:19; Colo.3:16; James 5:13; cf. Mark 14:26 also) though the use of music is not stated specifically. 5. Songs and music do have the power to motivate our thoughts toward God, soothe our feelings, and refresh our minds. 6. Songs reflect our hearts feelings. When it is sung unto God, it expresses our attitude, reverence, gratitude or enthusiasm for God. 7. The fact that songs and music are always used by Satan and his followers for their perverted purposes is not a reason for God's people not using them or for taking a position against using them. Considering music as 'worldly' and denying any place for it in the church worships is not a well thought about position. Church meetings were only reading of the Scriptures, exhortations and prayers are there and no singing will not be appreciated by any of us I am sure. Knowing this, People of God encouraged writing, teaching and singing songs in the church. Indeed it would be more pleasant and sweet to let those songs be sung with the accompaniment of music. I am aware of the modern (or post modern?!) trends in music and know how awkward some of those music's are. But when spiritually minded and spiritually sensible people use music in a spiritual attitude it will definitely bring edification, encouragement and comfort for God's people. Some would argue that we need to use contemporary songs and music to attract or to keep people in the church especially youngsters. Using music and appealing songs should not be for that purpose. The purpose of songs and music is to honor and praise God. If people are attracted to the church meetings due to our songs and music, that's fine. The generation gaps we have in the church can create a tension sometime over the question of the kind of songs and music that we should use in our church/worship meetings. The Older crowd in our churches would prefer old songs that might be different in style and tunes. Our younger generation need not become offended at this. When there is spiritual maturity with an individual then any meaningful songs, weather old styled or post modern, will find easy acceptance in our worship/ church meetings without causing any tension in the use of any of them. And it should be so, I think. As we prepare to worship God this week, let us use spiritual songs and sing them with music and praise God thus. Yours in The gloriuos ministry of God Joji George Abraham