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When Christian Songs Become Mainstream Hits

Do you know which is the best selling Christian song of all time?

I’ve spent the last few weeks writing a series of  adult Sunday school lessons on the topic of “The Songs of the New Testament.” This has caused me to be thinking about how music and songs proclaim the gospel. I began to wonder how Christian themed music has been accepted into the wider culture. I’m not talking about songs that get played on K-LOVE or other Christian networks. I’m speaking of songs that have Christian themes and have been embraced by a much wider audience. Some of these are crossovers, that is, songs performed by Christian artist that crossed over into pop/rock audiences. Some of these are songs that have been performed by artist with no, or little, commitment to the Christian faith. (Click the links to listen to the songs. Sorry about the ads.)

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Is Lent “in the Bible”?

I started observing Lent in the 1990s. I was introduced to the observance of Lent by friends who pastored a Methodist Church and an Episcopal Church. I slowly introduced Lent to the Church of God congregation I was pastoring at the time – Moultrie Church of God. The first year, I called a forty-day fast, preached a series about the passion of Christ, and celebrated Holy Week – all without saying the word Lent. The following year, I led the church in the same observance, but this time I told the church that we would be observing Lent. I remember the testimony of a dear Church of God lady: “Pastor, observing Lent this year has made Easter so full and meaningful.”

In the past several years, many non-traditional churches have begun observing Lent – including many Pentecostal churches. With the observance of Lent growing, I’ve noticed many pastors objecting, suggesting that Lent is not in the Bible.

Continue reading “Is Lent “in the Bible”?”

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