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Christianity Today, September (Web-only), 2007 |

SoulWork

Listening for the Whisper

How to break the addiction to spectacle.

Mark Galli | posted 9/20/2007 09:18AM

We love the wind, the earthquake, and the fire. As the football season gets underway, we are reminded of our fascination with such signs and wonders, with spectacle. Watching a game in a massive stadium ...

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Doug Brown

Posted: September 30, 2007 3:21 PM


amen

William Mitchell

Posted: September 21, 2007 10:18 AM


Thank you. That was beautiful and something I needed to be reminded of. Thanks God bless

Eivind

Posted: September 21, 2007 6:48 AM

A great text in many ways. The one thing I want comment in particular is the fact that you are taking care of two thoughts at the same time. You are not "excluding" or looking down on the mega-christianity, but you are gently lifting up an important dimension. We need this to get richer in our spiritual life. This article will be a part of the service this sunday, in our church here in Norway. Thanks, and God bless.

Deborah Hunter

Posted: September 21, 2007 1:46 AM

My God this could not have come at a better time for me. This article truly spoke to my spirit. I have found myself frustrated recently and have felt like I have an information overload, if you will. I need to retire to that dark cave and allow the ear of my spirit to connect to the Spirit of God. May He bless you for your obedience in getting this right now Word into the atmosphere. I believe that we have become too "familiar" with the Spirit of God; therefore causing Him to remove Himself even further from us. Lord forgive us for our ignorance and for our thinking that we have reached a level of knowing all of who you are. We can never know the mind of God in its entirety. HE IS GOD! Let us stay behind Him and not run ahead of Him as Mary and Joseph did, not knowing that He was no longer with them or like Sampson when he thought the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, when it had departed from him. Father open the eyes of our understanding and the ears of our spirit!

Dan Rivers

Posted: September 20, 2007 11:47 PM

I like the way you used the word "unknowing". We are in age when we can access information from all sorts of sources even about God. But what makes the knowledge of God different from all other search for knowledge is that it is God who reveals Himself to us. I wondered how the apostles went out to preach the gospel without the technology we have today and yet the impact they have made still resonate today. It is because they knew it wasn't through their cleverness that they will accomplish God's work but that God Himself will reveal Himself to people. They were just the tools God would use to accomplish His plan. As they seek Him and His righteousness, God is able to work through them by the power of His Spirit. The verse "be still and know I am God" reminds me that apart from an intimate relationship with God, all other dreams and goals I have would be in vain.

Brenda

Posted: September 20, 2007 7:19 PM

Do not let anyone judge you...with regard to a religious festival. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition...rather than on Christ-Col 2:16&8. Tradition in worship is good as long as it doesn't become an idol, making one think that because they worship in such a way that they are closer to God than someone who worships in a different way. One thing I miss in worship is kneeling at the alter for communion, instead of sitting in the pew; but the position of my knee is less important than that of my heart. Quietness is good to teach kids and is a good way to come before God as well as in jubilant adoration, but if you want to hear God, coming to Him in deep humility is what matters most I think. Perseverance is also important. I recall only a few times when God clearly spoke to me. Just keep praying; in the car, on a walk, in bed, in Bible study, in worship service... There are many ways that God makes himself known

T	Posted: September 20, 2007 5:13 PM


This is the first Galli essay in a long time under the "Soulwork" heading that is genuinely about 'soulwork' and not just pop-culture issues. In the quiet and with God we devolop the strength and genuineness of our soul. In this essay Galli makes very valid points, all worth reading.

Erik Post

Posted: September 20, 2007 2:50 PM

For twenty+ years I have served as pastor to small congregations in a denomination that holds fast to being faithful to the way of the Cross, and not the way of Glory; and yet the good members of these congregations see the apparent "success" of churches from other faith traditions with full programs and parking lots, lots of "energy." Folks say "what are we doing wrong?" Some of our sister congregations have tried to adopt some of these apparently successful strategies, with various degrees of triumph. At a recent meeting when the inevitable "what are we doing wrong?" query came up, I said "maybe we're doing something right." The looks on the faces around the table: some were appalled, others were enthusiastically affirming (well, for Norwegians, that might be too strong of an adjective). Thanks for the article; "Elijah" approaches like you described include the recovery of the Catechumenate process, Mark Yaconelli's contemplative youth approach, holding firm to Word and Sacrament.

Susan Wike

Posted: September 20, 2007 2:20 PM

Excellent article. I can see where the Mega churches get their people in the door but I can also see the rotation of people through these doors. It has been pretty much a five year cycle where the people get draw in by the spectacle and then they start down the road of new believers only to find something still missing. Some of these people have shown up in other churches perhaps by way of Bible study classes first seeking that missing element. Basically being still before the Lord. Thank you again.

Anita Aylard

Posted: September 20, 2007 1:33 PM

Thank you for this balancing viewpoint so graciously and poetically stated. But if this truth is to take root, we must begin with our children. I taught in Christian high schools for over 25 years and have seen the evangelical community move more and more toward the model of activity, noise and enthusiasm as primary expressions of our faith. I found most high school students unable to endure even a few moments of quiet in the classroom. "It's too quiet, I can't think!" they complained. The louder the music or speaker, the more the kids thought they were having worship. I used literature, Blblical and secular, to help them confront quieter modes of truth. But I felt I was going counter the evangelical culture. Like you, I am inspired by large groups of people expressing praise to our Lord. But I have learned the most about living out the Gospel through quietly listening to His still small Voice. Where do we model this for young people?

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