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ht4)://www.thechariottepost.com ®l)e Cljarlottc ^osft 4B RELIGION THURSDAY, AUGUSfl^.Mfe LifelB True to your heritage 2 Timothy 1:3 BACKGEOUND The second letter to Timo thy is among the most per sonal in the Bible and the most moving. Approaching death, Paul wrote his young protege with stirring words. As he wrote, Paul was a prisoner of Rome and due to be executed by beheading. What a horrible thing to be on death row awaiting your own ending. Even so, Paul urged Timothy not to be ashamed of him and his situation. Paul described the work of Christ on believers’ behalf. Not only did Jesus Christ save us, but He also gave us a calling. He abolished death and revealed immortality to those who call on His name in faith. Paul reminded Timothy that this was the reason for his apostleship. Paul was called to reveal to men the truth about God and His Messiah. It was for this exact reason that he was impris- oned-because powerful men did not want to hear his mes sage. Has much changed today? We are still called on by God to share the message of faith and hope and love and for giveness and salvation through Jesus Christ. We must fulfill our calling whether or not we have a cap tive audience. We must be true to our Christian heritage that was passed along to us by those who sowed good seed in our Hves. The torch does not stop being passed. It is up to today’s believers to keep Christ’s legacy alive. QUESTIONS Ql. What did Paul mean about serving God from his forefathers with a pure con science? (2 Timothy 1:3) The mere expression “I thank God” (vs. 3) led Paul to make a point about (jod. By saying that he served God as his forefathers did, Paul was admitting that he was contin uing in the faith that his godly ancestors-namely, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob- had served. ,We learn two important things from Paul by analyz ing this expression. First, he sees no conflict between his service to God as a preacher • of the gospel and the service to God given by ancestral Jews before Christ came. Later, in 2 Timothy 3:15, Paul made a similar reference to Timothy’s Jewish upbringing. Judaism is the root from which the tree of faith in Jesus sprang (cf. Rom. li:16- 17). There is no necessary conflict between past service to God under the Old Ifesta- ment and current service to God under the New 'Ifesta- ment. In both cases true ser vice to God is motivated by faith and love. Second, we learn the impor tance of faith that is passed on fiom one generation to the next. Traditionalists push for revival of old-school gospel Advocates: Spirituals have historical relevance in black ch PHOTO/CALVIN FERGUSON Pictured above is the Johnson C. Smith University Gospel Choir, which sings traditional gospel music in it’s con certs. Many churches incorporate rap and hip hop in their Sunday morning services. Some traditional ministers worry that a generation of churchgoers will grow up without knowing the words to songs like “Amazing Grace.” THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NASHVILLE, Thnn.-Walk into most African-American churches Sunday morning and you’re more likely to hear the choir sing from the gospel top 40 list than sing old-time , “Negro spirituals” or hymns from traditional hymnbooks. Ministers say there’s been a musi cal shift in black churches over the past two decades as contemporary gospel music with a beat {and drums, saxophones, electric guitars and keyboards) has edged out soul- fully sung spirituals such as “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” And while some church leaders welcome the newer music as a fresh expression of faith that engages young people, others say it’s unthinkable that a generation of Afhcan-American young people is growing up not knowing the words to songs like “Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine” or “Amazing Grace.” “The music of our ancestors has relevance, it has value, it was bom out of struggle,” said James Scan- drick, director of the Institute on Black Church Sacred Music and Worship at Nashville’s American Baptist College. The college late last month convened a national confer ence of church music staff and pas tors concerned about preserving his toric black church music. “I’m not saying we shouldn’t have new ejq)ressions of faith, but let’s not turn our backs on (traditional music). Let’s not be about entertain ment. Let’s pass on the legacy to our Please see TRADITIONAL/5B Faith part of students’ back to school fare By Chens F. Hodges chens.hodges@fhecharioffeposf.corn As students head back to school, churches across Charlotte are hoping to add spirituality to their education. With back to school cook-outs, block par ties and other events planned by church es, many in the faith-community say that these events serve a greater purpose than having fun. “Our vision,” writes Walls Memorial AME Zion Church pastor the Rev. Milton Williams, Jr., “is to ignite a spiritual revor lution in the greater Charlotte communi ty. ...We want to demonstrate to our chil dren in the area that they have a commu nity that cares. We want to instill in them that they can have a successful school year of learning and fun.” Walls is hosting a block party on August 26 a day after Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools open for the 2006-2007 academic year. Featuring food, preaching, music and entertainment, the church expects to draw sports stars, school board members and plenty of kids to the party. ‘We’re reaching out to touch (the com munity) spiritually. We want to commis- Please see CHURCHES/6B Antique Bible collector displays and sells rarities THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The HAGERSTOWN, Maryland antique Bible market is hot. But if you don’t have the money to buy a first edition King James Version you still can get your hands on one at the Christian Heritage Museum, whose owner invites visitors to touch and pur chase some of the 20,000 pieces in his col lection. Gene S. Albert Jr. isn’t selhng his prized King James first edition, first issue, print ed in 1611. The book, also known as a “he” Bible for a masculine pronoun in Ruth 3:15 that was changed to “she” in later versions, sits atop a bookcase in the loft of the climate-controlled bam near, Hager stown that houses his museum. But Albert, who’s been collecting for 25 years, said he wants regular people and not just scholars to have access to the col lection, hoping that viewing the artifacts will inspire them to accept Christ as their savior. Visiting the museum is free by appointment. We happen to believe that these were made and meant to be seen,” he said, “and that’s why we put them out for the gener al public.” On a recent tour, Albert picked up the 21:03 mixes R&B with gospel 21:03 21:03 PAJAM, producers VeritylGospoCentricI PAJAM Records It’s certainly getting harder to tell what’s gospel and what’s not. A number of artists and production com panies continue blurring the lines between R&B and gospel sacred music, some times with stellar results. 21:03 is one of the better combinations. The talented trio owes a great deal to Paul Allen and J. Moss - the pair that makes up the PAJAM production team - but there’s a lot of talent present as well. Sean Grant, Ervin Martin and Tbrrence Greene aren’t spectacular singers, but their harmony can be stunning. On - “I’m Sony” the group gets help from J. Moss on vocals, but clearly it’s their chem istry that makes this song work. It was a minor hit for a secular group called 3rd Storee a few years ago. Moss and Allen changed the lyrics a bit to make the song a con fessional. The music is essen tially the same - urban aimed at a younger audience. That’s essentially the goal of this CD. This trio is out to bring the message of Christ to kids which may be more club or street oriented. It’s an admirable goal, but I wonder if the message will survive the tantalizing beats. Most of this CD would'fit cornfortably on any urban radio station. The lyrics aren’t ambiguous, but are at times more all- around message oriented than religious. “Power Of Christ” may have the most rehgious lyrics, but even it could be mistaken for a love song. That’s not a bad thing. 21:03 is very good at this urban gospel thing. ‘Young Love,” “Sweet Spirit” and “How Long” are wrapped as tightly in the word as they are in their secular rhythms. I’m left a bit cold by their ver sion of “Again I Say Rejoice.” Israel Hougton’s original is a bit too dancey and this ver sion is too street. I just don’t Uke the song. One bad track hardly ever spoils an entire CD. It does not do so here, either. King James first edition and encouraged a guest to touch a slightly yellowed page, its ornate letters and decorations still clearly legible after 395 years. The paper felt stiff and a little rough, tke the cotton rags from which it was made. Most owners of rare books balk at let ting strangers handle them. Liana Lupas, curator of the Scripture collection at the American Bible Society in New York, shares Albert’s desire to grant visitors up-close experiences with historic volumes. But, “if you let everybody just rifle through it, it’s going to be damaged,” she said. Church News The deadline for announcements in the calendar is noon on Fridays. Fax to (704) 342-2160 or e-mail y(mr cherishodges@ihecharlottepost.com. Be sure to put "church news" in the subject line. August 19 Gethsemane Baptist Church, 565 Jetton Street, Davidson, will host a “06 Back 2 School Break-Out” festival, 10 a.m.-2 p.m, at the church. This year’s themes are: P.A.S.S. - Par ents And Students Succeeding and The Paths to Success are God, Education and Fellowship. There will be entertainment, games for kids. food and school supplies. Free to the public. Details: (704) 892-1635. • The Children’s Church Ministry of Steele Creek AME Zion Church, 1500 Shopton Road would like to invite all children and youth to the “Back to School Jam” from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Call the church office (704) 523-6552 for addi tional information and to provide the number of children attending from your chuixh or you may email steelecreek_publicrela- tions@yahoo.com. • The Gaston-Mecklenburg County Chapter mo of Women of Real Destiny will host its month ly women’s fellowship event. The guest speak er will be Minister Yvonne Davis of Communi- 1y Outreach Church. The event begins at 9 a.m. at the Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Cen ter, 2921 Tiackaseegee Road. For additional information, caU (704) 691-1472 or (704) 777- 1144. August 20 “The Revival of the Summer 2006” will be held at THnity Park Baptist Church through August 23. The guest speakers will be: Bishop George Brooks/Sunday 5p.m. Rev. Robert McGowans/Monday,7 p.m. Rev. George Cook/Tuesday 7 p.m. Rev. Cornelius Atkinson/Wednesday 7p.m. The thqme is “A Focus on the Family: Lord, Help Us Raise Our Children” • First Mount Calvary Baptist Church, locat ed at 209 West 28th St. will host its annual men’s program. The event begins at 3:30 p.m. and will feature the Rev. Kirk Reid and Jonesville AME Zion Church. Please see BARNES/5B
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