Dear Editor,
Yes, we do need our doctrine ‘firmly grounded in the Bible’ (Letters, en, January 2018); but also our lives in every detail need to be governed by God’s Word, as Psalm 119 teaches.
Services with hymns rich in biblical truths, Bible reading and the faithful preaching of the gospel of the unsearchable riches of Christ and the expounding of God’s wonderful Word in the power of the Holy Spirit are not ‘a little thin’, but very soul-satisfying. Where is the need for a liturgy, or the contemplation of paintings? The very important question such a suggestion raises is ‘Where would this lead?’ Perhaps part of an orchestral symphony or a reading from Shakespeare may add to the spiritual experience!
More importantly, where do we find the New Testament suggesting we need liturgies and paintings or other man-made means to enrich our spiritual practices or to deepen our worship? We don’t! David Cunliffe quotes Psalm 1 and Colossians 3 to support his case. However, Psalm 1 is about our individual walk with God, meditating day and night on God’s law. And the context of the passage quoted from Colossians 3 is about our relations with one another in the body of Christ. Neither of them is about public worship. 1 Corinthians 14 provides us with the sole example of the worship of the New Testament church; but it does not indicate the need for a liturgy.
Were revivals brought about because of liturgies and paintings? No! It was hearts yearning for God and his moving mightily in his church in spiritual power! This is what we should cry to God for in these days.
Yours sincerely,
