They seem to keep their
Core Values and Beliefs statements vague in order to attract more folks. It really looks innocuous, but this means its emotion-based:
One of the most important things we do at
NewLifeChurch is to come together every week and experience the power of God’s presence. People from different backgrounds and generations join as one to engage in worship as a family. It is there that we are refreshed and realigned. From the place of corporate worship, we go into our homes, schools, and workplaces as carriers of the joy, hope, and life found in presence of God.
…and this means we’re going to sell you something:
That’s what worship is all about. And that’s why the heartbeat of NewLifeWorship is to help people experience the presence of God and develop a life of worship. Every CD, every resource, every facet of our ministry is designed with that end in mind.
So, as you browse this site, keep your heart open. God is near and He wants to engage you in an all-consuming, life-long conversation called worship.
But I think I found clues in each article which I’d like to address:
**Article 1:
Encounters with God: The friendship and the fear **
Quote: To drain the awe of God’s holiness from our worship experience is to ultimately cheapen the intimacy of His love.
My response: Loosely translated means, "If you’re bored at your church, if you don’t understand it, if your faith seems stagnant, repressed, or rote, come here.
It’s for people who don’t have a full appreciation for the Eucharist. They do not understand its majesty, it’s glory, or hold any awe for it. (Poor catechesis?) It’s for those who don’t want something that’s time-tested, they want something new, fresh, and exciting. Perhaps those who are seduced into this open-ended religion are simply rebelling.
Remember, as a new member of these churches you get a lot of attention. You are doing the Lord’s work in one of many ministries they have set up. You’ve got new friends, a new lifestyle, and you’re all working for the Lord.
**Quote:**And almost every account shows God or the heavenly messenger reaching out to the human, calming his fear and calling him to relationship.
My response: personal relationship with Christ over everything you’ve been taught.
**Quote:**Sadly, they didn’t understand and rejected the invitation that God had extended.
My response: his means that the Jews are damned, and weren’t God’s chosen people. These current believers are God’s chosen people.
Article 2: Encounters: Defining worship moments
Quote: I believe in the value of the daily walk with the Lord. But I also believe in positioning ourselves to allow God to bring defining worship moments in our lives, and to facilitate those experiences for our church as worship leaders.
My response: Their worship isn’t structured. It’s centered around finding the sacred in mundane moments. If you follow what we’re telling you, you’re going to have happy moments.
Quote: Worship is not the reward for repentance; worship is the very instrument through which repentance comes. Cleansing is the by-product of worship because as we acknowledge who God is in worship, He responds by making us holy
My response: So they’re saying that it is worship, not reconciliation, not a profound understanding of concupiscence that brings us closer to God. The more we worship, the closer we get to Him.
**Article 3:
“The One Thing” **
**Quote:**When we look to the Scriptures to show us the one thing our life is about, we are clearly directed to Christ. The task for us is to give Christ this preeminence in our lives, to allow Him to be the central focus, the organizing force in our life.
[Continued below]
