Keep Singing

The joy of the Lord can flow through a song that is offered to God, and we can be inspired by surrounding ourselves with songs that can help us to increase our awareness of God and our worship of him. Psalm 28 says:
6 Blessed be the Lord, Because He has heard the voice of my supplications!
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.
8 The Lord is their strength, And He is the saving refuge of His anointed.

God has given us His Word so that we might have direction and hope for our lives, and He has made it possible to come into His presence, to find our hearts encouraged as we sing to Him and declare his praises - there is an inward effect on our spirits and we draw closer to Him. We can make worship a priority so that we have a sense of His heart and the knowledge of Him - that can have a profound effect on the way that we walk through this world.

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The Lord invites us to enter into His presence with songs of praise and worship, being reminded that he is with us and does not forget the people whom He created and whom He loves. Isaiah 49 states:
13 Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people, And will have mercy on His afflicted.
14 But Zion said, "The Lord has forsaken me, And my Lord has forgotten me."
15 "Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.
16 See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.

Music is an incredible gift that God has given to us.  Through music, through lifting our voices in song, we can connect with God's presence and enter into worship of our Savior. 

And, legendary gospel music singer Gerald Wolfe has launched an effort to help patients with dementia to participate in that incredible practice.  

Baptist Press reports that "...Wolfe was visiting his father, who was suffering from Parkinson’s disease dementia at a care facility, when a guitarist playing 'In the Sweet By and By' struck a chord of memory among patients there." He said, "Within just minutes, most of the people in the room started to sing, and they knew the song..."

The article relates that...

That moment inspired Wolfe to lead the Gospel Music Hymn Sing Foundation in an ongoing outreach project that has dispersed a total of nearly 47,000 gospel music DVDs among more than 15,600 nursing homes. Under Operation Sing Again, each facility received three DVDs featuring well-known gospel artists leading congregations of as many as 2,000 people singing cherished hymns in sanctuaries such as First Baptist Church of Atlanta’s. Each DVD closes with an invitation to receive the Gospel.

Wolfe says that as patients watch the DVD's, "They feel like they're in church..."

And, during these times of isolation resulting from COVID, the products have become even more valuable. Gerald Wolfe says, “When we started Operation Sing Again, we had no idea that COVID was coming and that the residents in the nursing care facilities wouldn’t be allowed to have visitors for so long, but God knew...We’ve received stacks of cards and notes from activity directors letting us know how encouraging the DVDs have been for their residents, especially during the last year. They’ve become a kind of lifeline connecting the residents to the familiar scenes of a church sanctuary, and the songs they sang all their lives.”

Mary Anne Oglesby, director of Veranda Ministries in Gallatin, TN is quoted in the article; her facility was the first to introduce the DVD's to patients. She says, "It’s a known fact that they will sing when they can’t speak,” adding'. “Music is stored in a different section of the brain than our speech and words, … because music is not speaking and singing; it’s a melody, it’s a rhythm. That’s one of the last things to go, for any of us.”

The DVD's have been distributed to over 15,000 nursing homes and are in the process of being distributed to perhaps as many as 20,000 hospice and respite care facilities.  

It all stemmed from the day that Gerald Wolfe, visiting his father, who died of Parkinson's just over two years ago, saw the response of the people in the nursing home who heard a guitar playing a simple gospel song. 

I have to admit, being a musician myself, music is a powerful creation of God.  He has designed it as a means to connect with Himself, so that we might experience His presence and even remember His truth. And, music can continue to inspire us, even when our faculties diminish later in life, according to one of the people quoted in that Baptist Press story.  

In our times of desperation, isolation, and discouragement, we can be encouraged by entering in to worship.  God has provided us with access to His throne, and one of the ways that we approach Him is by humbling our hearts and lifting our voices.  We can be encouraged to continue to come before Him, to keep singing, especially when we need to be emboldened within our hearts. 

Follow

There are numerous influences that we encounter on a daily basis, and we have to become knowledgeable about the truth of God and holding fast to it. Jesus taught in John chapter 10:
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.
30 I and My Father are one."

Jesus and His Father are one, and we are one with Jesus because He has brought us into a salvation relationship with Him.  We can learn to follow His Word and to trust His principles.  We can choose to listen for and follow His voice, that we might be obedient to the direction in which He has called us to walk.  The world has a prescribed way in store, but it's not a way that leads to life - Jesus wants us to discover His abundant life and to trust in the way He wants us to walk.

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God calls us to possess a sensitivity to His direction, following the instruction that we find in His Word. Jesus said in John chapter 8:
47 He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God."
48 Then the Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?"
49 Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.
50 And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges.

James Wells is a police officer in Nashville.  On Christmas morning, he experienced a tragic situation in the city's downtown, and believes he may have been on the receiving end of some divine direction.

According to The Blaze:

Wells and fellow Metro Nashville police officer Amanda Topping were both at the end of their shifts on Christmas morning when fellow cop Tyler Luellen called in for back up to a report of "shots fired."

The officers discovered the RV that blared British singer Petula Clark's 1964 chart-topping song "Downtown." The recreational vehicle also played a chilling audio message that notified people that the camper was going to blow up in 15 minutes, "If you can hear this message, evacuate now."

As he recounted his actions at a press conference, Officer Wells described what he felt was another message, a supernatural one. He said, "This might not be politically correct, but this is my truth," adding, "I literally heard God tell me to turn around and go check on Topping, who was by herself down on Broadway."  As he walked away from the RV, it detonated, and the officers stayed on their feet until they united with each other.

The Blaze article said:

Wells, who describes himself as a "spiritual" person, said his faith is what safely returned him to his family on Christmas.

"I'm not gonna shy away from that because that's what saved my life," Wells said. "And 'good to see you' has a completely different meaning for me now."

It was certainly an unnerving morning in the Music City, as dozens of buildings in that city block were damaged.  The apparent driver of the RV lost his life in the blast, a man who was apparently was concerned with technological advances that he viewed to be a threat.

The message on that Nashville morning was eerie and seemingly out of nowhere, a mysterious RV playing music and evacuation messages.  But, police officer James Wells was apparently on a different frequency - he believes he heard direction from the Lord.  

This story can remind us to make sure that we are in tune to the voice of God.  The world can send messages of fear and desperation and can divert us from the messages that God wants us to hear. We have the authoritative Word of the Father and the guidance of the Holy Spirit who will lead us into the truth God intends for us to follow.

We have to be willing to reject the voices of this world so that we can hear and heed what God has to say to us. We may have our own human ideas that we are prone to follow, but we realize that we belong to our Heavenly Father, who wants to lead us in a way that will bring Him glory.

In Our Own Eyes

We are continuing to see the reversal of Biblical standards, and recognize there are those who reject the ways of God and embrace the ways of this world. Isaiah 5 states:
20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight! 

We can become very discouraged when we consider that the world as we know it has seemingly been turned upside down - evil is glorified and good is rejected.  The knowledge of God has been set aside, and human wisdom, frail as it is, has become dominant in our culture, it seems.  We need a renewal of our hearts and minds to the knowledge of God - He is full of wisdom and might and helps us to figure out how we are to respond in this unstable world of ours.

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Human understanding can lead to a departure from the ways of God, but the Lord is calling us to seek His face wholeheartedly. Proverbs 21 states:
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.
3 To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 A haughty look, a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked are sin.
5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.

ChristianHeadlines.com reports: "Recently the U.S. House of Representatives voted to remove gendered language from being used in Congress...Now it will go to the Senate for a vote."

A previous article at the website said that, "In one specific instance, the new rules delete 'himself or herself' in place of 'themself.' They remove phrases such as 'he or she' in place of phrases like 'Member' and 'Delegate.' They also redefine the meaning of 'relative' and 'family member.'" The website reports that Franklin Graham has spoken out against these new rules, "stating they shake their fist at God and try to deny His authority." The article says that...

..."In a Facebook post, he stated "God 'created them male and female' (Genesis 1:27). This is shaking a fist in the Creator’s face, trying to deny His authority."

Christian Headlines relates that: "This vote follows a video that went viral of a...Representative who ended his prayer with 'amen and awomen' after claiming Allah and God are the same in addition to including other gods for comparison. After praying the Numbers 6 blessing (Numbers 6:24-26) he then ended the prayer by stating 'we ask it in the name of the monotheistic god, brahma, and the God known by many names and by many different faiths. Amen. Awomen.'"

In his Facebook post, Graham said, "If those claiming the name progressive are allowed to have their way, we won’t even recognize this nation in a very short time."

Just a note regarding these new steps to be "inclusive;" unfortunately, in trying to be inclusive, you will end up excluding others. In this case, Bible-believing Christians who believe in Biblical norms concerning sexuality are being excluded and their deeply-held beliefs being trampled upon.  The so-called progressive philosophy is attempting to turn things upside down and to reject the time-honored teachings of the Scripture.  We don't have to buy in to what the world is trying to sell us; we can continue to confidently and compassionately stand strong for righteousness and hold to the teachings of Scripture. 

Misdirected Passions

We have to be aware that we are called to be servants of the Most High God, and our actions are to represent Him and His presence within us. The Bible tells us in Titus 2:
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ...

We have a reputation to uphold, and that is to serve our Savior and reflect Him - and we have to rely on the Holy Spirit to keep our passions in check.  No cause of this world is greater than the cause to exalt Christ and to reflect His love.  The events unfolding in Washington yesterday can challenge us to make sure that we are allowing our emotions to overcome us so that we engage in behavior that does not bring honor to our Savior. 

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The events that occurred in Washington, where protestors entered the U.S. Capitol in order to disrupt the proceedings in which the results of the 2020 Presidential election were being certified by Congress, have certainly caused great emotion and concern. I would dare say that many went to Washington this week simply in order to stand with the President, clearly frustrated that his contentions about voter irregularities have not received a fair hearing.  But, what occurred, in which demonstrators breached the Capitol, is certainly a terrible representation of the American spirit of democracy. Social media, while consisting of a number of Christian leaders rightly condemning lawlessness and violence, has the typical diet, unfortunately, of criticism for Christians who have supported President Trump.  Each of us has to make sure that our emotions do not get the best of us.  

Ephesians 4 speaks to our demeanor as servants of the Most High God:
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

Writing for WORLD Magazine, Emily Belz reported:

Following a rally with President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., to protest the election results, rioters breached the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday in an unprecedented domestic attack on the seat of the U.S. government. As rioters forced their way into the building, outnumbered Capitol Police evacuated lawmakers, staff, and media, including WORLD reporter Harvest Prude.

One person was shot inside the Capitol and died.  Lawmakers were evacuated from the House chamber and the proceedings of confirming the electoral votes was suspended into the evening.  Belz writes:

Just as rioters were amassing outside the Capitol, McConnell spoke against an effort from Republican Sens. Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, and others to challenge the certification of the Electoral College.

“We’re debating a step that has never been taken in American history, whether Congress should overrule the voters and overturn a presidential election,” McConnell said. “If this election were overturned by mere allegations from the losing side, our democracy would enter a death spiral.” Vice President Mike Pence, too, said he was unable to unilaterally halt the certification of the Electoral College, infuriating the president.

The National Guard was called up to assist Capitol Police and local law enforcement. Joe Biden, who is to be sworn in within the next two weeks, stated, "“At this hour our democracy is under an unprecedented assault,” adding, “This is not dissent, this is disorder. … It borders on sedition and it must end now.” WORLD stated: that the President told the protesters in a video: "...you have to go home now. We have to have peace, we have to have law and order,” he said. He added, “We love you.”

ReligionNews.com quoted Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Leadership Conference and Johnnie Moore, president, The Congress of Christian Leaders:

“Under these circumstances, there is no conceivable situation where what happened within the U.S. Capitol today is acceptable activity. Violent, anarchist behavior emanating from the far left or the far right is immoral and criminal. It should be summarily condemned — beginning with the President of the United States — and its perpetrators ought to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Those many thousands of peaceful protestors whose first amendment rights have been spoiled by this behavior should go home for their own safety. We are relieved that both the President-Elect and President Trump have now spoken directly to the issue telling protesters in D.C. to go home, calling for peace. We call on all Americans — Democrat and Republican — to unite in prayer for our nation that righteousness and justice, love and faithfulness will guide the heart of our nation (Ps. 89:14).”

Tony Perkins of Family Research Council said, “The violent, lawless actions at the U.S. Capitol building against Congress and Capitol Police are wrong and dangerous for our republic. Lawlessness is not the way, and such actions makes it difficult for law-abiding Americans to fight the good fight. Pray for our Republic!”

Robert Jeffress, senior pastor of First Baptist Dallas, tweeted out: “Disobeying and assaulting police is a sin whether it’s done by Antifa or angry Republicans."

If there is ever a time in which Americans can unite in prayer, it is now.  Unfortunately, the same type of shrill voices who have been critical of believers who would dare support the President are continuing to demean their fellow believers on social media.  The Church can do better, and we have to show that world how we can settle our differences Biblically.  

 

Strong in the Challenge

The Word of God can embolden us when we face disturbing and unsettling circumstances in our lives. Paul address the strength we can find in Christ in 2nd Timothy chapter 2:
1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 

2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 

3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

The coronavirus crisis has taken its tolls on churches, church leaders, and individual Christians alive.  Thankfully, the Lord is continuing to use His people to provide hope in the midst of challenge. But, it can be hard.  We have to continue to seek out the Lord's strength, to personalize His promises, and to press into Him when we are discouraged or fearful.  He will minister to our souls when we are struggling and will be our strength in our times of weakness.

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This world has certainly become more challenging and even confusing during the past year, hasn't it? Yet, in times of uncertainty, we can rely on the security of Christ. 2nd Corinthians 1 states:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

The span of time known as the year 2020, more specifically, dating back to this past March when the coronavirus swept across the world, sickening people and taking lives, has provided a challenge for the Church.  And, while the Church has continued in many instances to be faithful to its call to serve its communities, there are many who are hurting from physical affliction and mental anguish.

The Barna Group highlighted some of these dynamics in a recent survey about the Church's response to hurt within its midst.  Christian counselors David and Donna Lane were on the program recently and shared about the importance of recognizing some of the mental, emotional, and spiritual challenges that the body of Christ is facing.  The survey summary on Barna's website says:

Most pastors agree that trauma is an issue the Church should address, but many church leaders have had little to no training in the way of trauma care. Data from Barna’s recent report created in partnership with American Bible Society—Trauma in America—show that the majority of Protestant pastors (73%) indicates they feel “somewhat” equipped to help someone in their congregation who may be dealing with significant trauma. Only one in seven (15%) feels “very” well-equipped, while 12 percent do not feel equipped at all.

Unfortunately, I can see where this challenge can be stretched when you consider that a significant number of people do not look to the Church for assistance.  The summary notes:

Data from Restoring Relationships show that while pastors might feel somewhat equipped to help their congregants work through a challenging time, it’s not a guarantee that practicing Christians will turn to the Church in the midst of their struggle.

Though seven in 10 practicing Christians say they have grown closer to a church because of a personal crisis (69% vs. 31% who have not), this positive indication of effective support is tempered by the fact that one-third recalls having distanced themselves from a church during a personal crisis (33% vs. 67% who have not).

So, we have leaders who are feeling insufficient to address these matters, with roughly a 50-50 split between pastors who see their "mental and emotional well-being" in a positive light and those who do not. In fact, as Barna's summary states: "As of August 13-17, 2020, while half of U.S. pastors rated their mental and emotional well-being as excellent (12%) or good (38%), a significant amount noted this area of health as average (31%) or below (20%)."

COVID-19 can be a very painful, debilitating, and even deadly virus. Even those sidelined with relatively mild symptoms or those who have not contracted the disease can find themselves beset with anxiety.  That is why believers have to continue to trust God and prioritize faith over fear.

We also have to recognize the resources that the Lord has given to us.  He can equip those who are in spiritual leadership and comfort those who are suffering.  But, we can acknowledge when we need help to cope - by taking our burdens to Christ and by seeking out those who can encourage us.  That is what the body of Christ is about - function in order to help one another heal - physically and spiritually!

When we struggle and perhaps find ourselves in isolation, our stance should be to run to God and not away from Him.  And, He is there with open arms to take us in, to comfort us, to refresh and renew us by His Word.  Meditation on His promises can be so powerful in confronting our challenges.

Keep Dreaming

All across the nation, we can see that Christian organizations, as well as other charities, have been distributing food to their communities.  Meeting the physical needs of those around us is a powerful, indelible way in which the Church can actually radiate the light of Christ.  In Acts 4, we see the 
selflessness of the early Church:
33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,
35 and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

In the economy of these believers in Acts, there was a sense of commonality, as these Christians gave of the resources that God had entrusted to them.  They testified to the living Lord by being yielded vessels to be used of the Lord.  They demonstrated the power of God in them by allowing the love of Christ to be manifested through them. It's been said that when a person's physical needs are supplied, it provides an open door for spiritual needs to be addressed.

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One of the dynamic ways in which churches and ministries reflect Jesus is through their faithfulness to minister to physical needs. In James chapter 2, we find a mindset and prescription for effective ministry, and it involves doing physical ministry that can lead to spiritual transformation. We can read:
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

The California ministry tweeted out last Monday: "BEST WEEKEND EVER! Over 3,000 cars served, 12k presents given out, $10k in cash given to families in need from Secret Santa, and countless moments of pure JOY! In addition, 750 hams, 1,000 bags of food, & 3,000 socks were distributed..."

That's the word from the Los Angeles Dream Center, which is headed by Matthew Barnett, who has been a guest on The Meeting House in the past - in fact, the last time I spoke with him was this past spring, as Matthew shared about how God was using the ministry to provide food to people in the midst of the coronavirus situation.

Well, that praise report from the California Dreamland event the weekend before Christmas almost didn't occur. The Stream reports that weeks before Christmas, county officials had shut the facility down due to COVID restrictions.  The article points out, "The Center, located in an old hospital, houses 700 people who would otherwise be homeless. They also daily give away food to 3,500 poor people in their community. But one of the best times is had during their Christmas present and food giveaway."

Barnett told The Stream that he sent an e-mail to authorities: “I’m like, look, we will comply with whatever you say, but I’m just going to have to tell the people that … Christmas is canceled. But it’s not our choice. It was your decision to do it. And I’m not going to own it if I didn’t cancel it myself.”  He recorded a video which got over 300,000 views.

The article says:

But those who would be affected didn’t go away quietly. They contacted the county and told them the event was essential. “It just kind of struck a chord with people and they rose to defend the cause of the one thing left in the neighborhood that’s giving back to them.” Eight hours after he posted his video, the county changed its mind. “They came back … and said, ‘We want you to have your event, we want to work with you, partner and help you go forward.'”

Did it operate in a different manner?  Most certainly - but the event continued, people's needs were met, and Christ was exalted.  Christmas for needy families in the City of Angels was certainly not canceled. 

Sometimes it may look like something for which we have been praying will not take place.  Maybe there are plans that we have made, perhaps needs that we or others around us have. If we are earnestly seeking and praying for the will of God to be done, we can be confident that He is at work.  The answer may not look like we might think it would, but we can be convinced that He is concerned about our needs and will move according to His plan, not ours. 

The answer may not be manifesting itself when we think it should, but isn't that what faith is all about?  "Seeing" into the unseen realm, where God operates - He is a supernatural God and we know that He has not turned His face away from His people.  And, even when the answer is "no," that may not be the end of the story.  He always has His best, which is our best, in mind.  His goal, motivated by His love, is for the greatest glory for His name. 

So, when it looks like the answer isn't coming, that doesn't mean we are to stop praying!  Perhaps we can pray even more diligently and continue to exhibit that solid trust in our strong Savior.  We have experienced our share of cancellation and adaptation during the previous year, but we can know that God is still with us and out of His great love, He is working for our good!

Let Us Worship

Our worship of God is not limited by our location - we certainly can go to our church worship centers and participate with our fellow believers, or we can enter into the presence of the Father wherever we 
are - in the moment. Psalm 95 states:
1 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
3 For the Lord is the great God, And the great King above all gods.

The invitation has been extended - we are granted access to come before the Father, to worship Him and to express our adoration to Him.  We can draw strength as we enter into that Most Holy Place, the place where God dwells - but we also know that He dwells in our hearts, meaning that we can fellowship with Him, to commune with Him and to draw strength and comfort from being in His presence. We can enjoy the nearness of our Father.

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Jesus taught about the nature of true worship in the 4th chapter of John, when he said:
23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

You may be familiar with the worship leader Sean Feucht, who has traveled the country with his Let Us Worship events, which are relatively spontaneous worship gatherings that he has described as "worship protests."  He has gone into areas, such as Seattle and Portland, where protests during the summer had reached a peak.  He recently organized a gathering in the nation's capital as well as other cities.  The gathering, while extremely passionate, have been criticized for lack of COVID protection and some have reportedly been carried out without a permit.

Feucht is planning to go into the Skid Row section of Los Angeles tonight and tomorrow night for special events, according to ReligionNews.com, which says:

Feucht’s Dec. 30-31 events in Echo Park and Skid Row, a 54-block area of downtown, are part of his national “Let Us Worship” tour that protests COVID-19 restrictions. The two days of outreach will culminate with a New Year’s Eve celebration from 9 p.m. to midnight at the parking lot of Higher Vision Church in the city of Valencia, more than 30 miles away.

One of the ministers who serves the homeless community in Skid Row is none too pleased that Feucht is coming to their territory. Stephen “Cue” Jn-Marie, founder of The Row, or “The Church Without Walls,” which operates in Skid Row. Jn-Marie said, “Skid Row is one of the most vulnerable communities in the nation,” adding, “It’s also a community with housed folks as well as gatekeepers.” Recently, he announced plans for a "car rally" that would keep people without masks from entering the area.

Feucht has also been in the center of a controversy in New Orleans, which is reportedly one of the sites for this year's "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" event. It was reported that musical artist Lauren Daigle would be involved in the New Year's Eve event, which, according to Christian Headlines.com,  set off New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, "who criticized the inclusion of Daigle, which saying the singer had placed the city’s residents at risk of COVID-19 by performing at an outdoor worship protest with worship leader Sean Feucht. The worship service in the French Quarter was conducted without a permit, Cantrell said in a letter to Dick Clark Productions."  Cantrell is quoted as saying:

“She harmed our people, she risked the lives of our residents, and she strained our first responders in a way that is unconscionable – in the midst of a public health crisis,” the Dec. 9 letter said. “This is not who we are, and she cannot be allowed to represent New Orleans or the people she willfully endangered.”

The article says: 

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry defended Daigle, saying he was “shocked and dismayed” by Cantrell’s comments. Landry said Daigle had “encountered the protesters” while riding her bike and agreed to “sing one song with them.” Daigle is a Louisiana native.

“The Louisiana Legislature reinforced the rights of individuals to worship freely by adopting the Preservation of Religious Freedom Act,” Landry wrote in a letter to Daigle. “... State and federal law protect your right to assemble in a public square to worship and protest. United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch has recently explained that the ‘Government is not free to disregard the First Amendment in times of crisis.’ ... Additionally, you are entitled to protection from tortious interference with your private contractual relationships.”

So, the irony here is that Lauren Daigle, since she has received attention due to her blockbuster crossover hit, You Say, has distanced herself from the Christian music space, having told a radio host that she was unsure whether or not homosexuality is a sin, and stating that she does not wish to be known as a Christian music artist. CBN.com had reported:

In an interview with 104.3 FM, the host asked Daigle if she considered herself a Christian artist, even though her music is becoming more and more mainstream.

“I feel like those labels get put on you by other people,” Daigle said. “I was reading articles, I read them here in there, and one of them said Christian artist and the other ones said just artist. But I think part of me is just an artist because it encompasses everything. That’s kind of how I see myself.”

Now, she is involved in a fight for religious freedom.  But she apparently doesn't want to be.  Compare that previous quote with this portion of her statement regarding the Sean Feucht/Let Us Worship row, published at the WDSU Television website:

"...I was asked to sing. To me, that is the very moment when music serves its higher purpose. It’s what gives people encouragement, hope for a better future, and it’s what can usher joy into their hearts. My involvement was focused on lifting spirits, providing hope, and encouragement, during these polarizing times.

"I’m disappointed that my spontaneous participation has become part of the political discourse and I’m saddened by the divisive agendas of these times. I would have been, and still would be, honored to represent our city on New Year’s Eve and although I was aware of discussions regarding my involvement, an offer was never made. I have wept, pleading for this chaos to dissipate and for harmony to return. We need unity when people are desperate, suffering, starving or out of work.

I agree, there are divisive agendas, but I believe this was a one-way street; I guess Ms. Daigle did not want to be critical of the Mayor of New Orleans, even though I think she may have been more prone to placate the mayor than be associated with Feucht.  And, just so you'll know, she also said, "To be clear, I had no part in creating or planning the event that took place in the French Quarter last month. I was not scheduled to perform, and I was not a part of its promotion."

What the Attorney General saw as a religious freedom issue, Lauren saw as a source of division.

There are complicated issues here - following public health regulations, trying to be a source of healing and unity, and trying to do what is in the best interest of one's career and ministry.  While you and I may disagree regarding Feucht's worship protests in response to unrest in America's cities and perhaps do not agree on Daigle's response.  We can be reminded of how spontaneous worship can be a part of our Christian life and discipline.  We can certainly worship in the corporate setting, even though it has looked different over the past few months, but wherever we are, wherever God is, we can know we can come into His presence.  

Music can certainly be a tool in order to bring us into God's holy presence, and when we surround ourselves with good Christian music, such as what you'll hear in excess of 15 hours per day on Faith Radio, we can be drawn to verbally express our love for the Lord - He promises to inhabit our praises and that can provide strength as we experience His nearness to us.