Skye Alive?
In the West Highland Free Press there was recently an advert for "Skye Alive", "The Highland Christian Festival of Praise and Teaching". It did not bode well that the advert was found under the heading "Entertainment". In addition to a "Ceilidh" on the first night there was an "Evening Celebration" and a "Concert" each night, including Sunday. Taking part were Chrysalis, described as "Scotland's own Christian Celtic Praise and Worship band", and Joshua, described as "the new face of the much acclaimed band Triumph...highly energetic and thrustingly evangelistic". Also taking part were The Honey Thieves, whose music was described as "Celtic folk rock". Entry fee for the "Evening Celebration" which consisted of one of the bands followed by one of the main speakers was £4. Another £4 was to be paid by anyone wishing to remain for the "Concert" following.
Disturbing Involvement
The existence of such festivals is not new. What is new and disturbing is the official involvement of Free Church ministers, one of whom was on the main organising committee. Another Free Church minister was on the advisory panel and was also the main speaker. This seems to be at variance with their ordination vows which state: "I do own the purity of worship presently authorized and practised in the Free Church of Scotland...and to the utmost of my power shall...assert, maintain and defend the said...worship". Furthermore, while the Bible encourages worship and also permits some forms of entertainment, nowhere in the Bible do we find the mixture of both together. It certainly was not the practice of the Lord and His apostles. When will the Church abandon the failed methods of "Entertainment Evangelism" and return to the simplicity, solemnity and seriousness of New Testament evangelism? Someone once said: "What the Church needs is not better methods but better men".
Children's Work
The publicity material tells us that "Going Bananas" was the chosen theme for the two days of "Children's work". An interest in and love for children is certainly a mark of the followers of Jesus who said: "Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God" (Mark 10:14). We all long for children to come to the welcoming Saviour, and none of us would hinder those who do come. However, humorous trivialising of the gospel does not do justice to the seriousness of the Saviour and His message. Neither does it do justice to the never-dying souls of our precious children. They deserve better. So does God.
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