In response to Don Williams' Charismatic view of worship, Sally Morgenthaler states, "But in a recent study of two hundred songs regularly used in charismatic worship services, only thirteen focused on the person or work of Christ. Certainly this does not address the content of the preaching, prayers, or other worship elements present. Yet charismatic worship services are largely made up of singing. Just what are people singing about? If, as Scripture says,the Spirit comes to bear witness to Christ, then this deletion is a serious problem. Ultimately our intimacy with God is not achieved by navigating through whose blood "we have confidence to entory the Most Holy Place" and by whose priestly act - his death - we are able to "draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water" (Hebrews 10:19-22).
I am surprised that this response came from the emerging church representative, but I think she is "dead on" with her criticism.
Sally points out a huge dilemma, and though this may not apply to William's church, who are most charismatics singing about if not about Christ? If this statement is true, then it is very depressing. Why would a church worship the Holy Spirit so much that they neglect the work of Christ? I could ask the same question the other way, but the work of the Holy Spirit is to point to Christ as Doc and Sally have said. So, how can we neglect Christ if the Holy Spirit points to Him, and if His work is the reason that we have received the Holy Spirit?
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