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Why We
Worship The Way We Do
Why do you blow the
ram’s horn?
Why do
you sing many different kinds of songs?
Why do
you use all those musical instruments?
Why do you clap your
hands?
Why do you lift your
hands?
Why do some “move to
the music?”
Why
do some people “sing in a different language”?
Other
Questions
What kind of church are
you?
Are you a part of
any denomination?
How are you governed?
What do you mean when you say, “Kingdom of God”? Isn’t that
heaven?
What is the Fellowship of Vineyard Harvester Churches?
In the Old Testament, the ram’s horn was blown to call an
assembly to war, to call an assembly to worship, and to announce
a victory. We know that Jesus has won the war and we come
together to worship and to proclaim the victory we have in
Christ. However, for us, the blowing of the ram’s horn came from
a series of sermons our Bishop taught on the Joshua Generation
taken from Joshua Chapter 6. At the long blast of the ram’s
horn, they shouted and the walls fell down flat and they took
the city for God. We believe every wall of division must fall
and we must take our city for God.
We don’t consider our music to be different. “Different” is
based on background and familiarity We do, however, seek to make
our music lively and relevant. Others may see it as different.
We believe music conveys a message. Our message is filled with
hope and is lively and relevant; therefore, our music reflects
the same.
The purpose of songs is to create an environment and to impart a
message. People are motivated by various styles of music. Our
goal is to reach everyone with something to which they can
relate. Ephesians 5:19 says: “Speaking to yourselves in psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your
heart to the Lord;”. Variety is a biblical mandate.
We use different musical instruments because we believe that all
things should be used in which they were created. According to
Psalms 150, musical instruments were created to “Praise the
Lord”. The music of the church should exceed the music of the
world. Music was created for the pleasure of God.
The clapping of our hands is a commandment of God. Psalms 47:1
says: “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the
voice of triumph.” It is difficult to clap when you lose, but
because of Jesus, we have won; therefore, we clap over our
victory. It is a tool of praise and worship. Clapping is a way
to agree with what is being spoken or sung. It is a way to
celebrate victories and successes.
Lifting of our hands is a commandment of praise. I Timothy 2:8
says: “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up
holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” The lifting of our
hands is also an act of surrender to the Lord. The scripture
describes the lifting of our hands as the equivalent of the
evening sacrifice. Psalms 141:2 says: “Let . . .the lifting up
of my hands [be] as the evening sacrifice.” God receives it as a
sacrifice of praise.
Music, secular and sacred, was created to convey a message and
to cause one to feel an emotion. A part of feeling the music or
the message is to “move to the music.” It is a human response to
the presence of God and the joy of our music. Movement can, in
and of itself, be a form of praise. Movement to music is called
dance. Dance is a form of praise and worship. Psalms 150:4 says:
“Praise him with the timbrel and dance.” We believe in dance as
a form of worship. Spontaneous dance is the overflow of joy in
the presence of God and is usually one’s way of celebrating. We
also believe in using the art form of choreographed dance to
communicate messages and to worship in the beauty of holiness.
They are not necessarily singing in a different language, they
may be “singing in the Spirit,” also referred to as “singing in
tongues.” This is a legitimate experience that comes from one
having received the Holy Ghost into their life. Speaking in
“tongues” is an initial sign of a believer having received the
Holy Ghost. Acts 2:4, Acts 10:44 – 46, and Acts 19:1 – 6 show us
that it is a normal response for Spirit-filled Christians to
praise and worship as exhorted in the scripture. I Corinthians
14:15 says: “. . . I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing
with the understanding also.” It is an act of the will of a
Spirit-filled believer to praise God. We are a multi-cultural
church with members from other nations, so it is possible to
hear another language, but most likely, it is the expressive
language of the Holy Spirit.
A compassionate, loving church, dedicated to restoring lives and
demonstrating the Kingdom of God. We are an interdenominational,
spirit-filled church. Our philosophy includes the words of Jesus
when He said “Let whosoever will, come.” We are a church that
believes no matter what the questions, Jesus is the answer. We
are a church that believes reaching the outcast and unwanted
should be the norm, and not the exception. We are called to be A
City of Refuge, A Place of Hope.
Historically, there are three streams in the body of Christ.
They are liturgical/sacramental, fundamental/evangelical and
pentecostal/charismatic. They should not be viewed as enemies of
one another. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God
and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you
all (Ephesians 4:5 – 6). Each stream has a vital purpose to the
Lord. We should glean the good from each. The following are
positive truths from each stream.
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Liturgical/Sacramental – creeds, the written word, form and
beauty in worship, structure, communion
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Evangelical/Fundamental – preached word, evangelism, missions,
emphasis on grace, educational facilities
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Charismatic/Pentecostal – freedom of worship, gifts of the
spirit, revelation, ministry gifts, intercession
Interdenominational is different from non-denominational because
it includes openness to all denominations; however, we are
members of The Fellowship of Vineyard Harvester Churches (FVHC)
and the International Communion of Charismatic Churches (ICCC).
Our Senior Pastor, David Huskins, serves as the presiding Bishop
of the FVHC. We are networked and partnered with churches
nationally and internationally. We are submitted and committed
to a board of elders, our own Bishop, and the governing
presbytery of the FVHC. Our Bishop is personally submitted to a
presbytery and is a member of the ICCC We are
not a denomination, but we are divinely connected in biblical
order.
The purpose of “Networking” is to maintain biblical
accountability and responsibility. The term “Networking”, for
the FVHC, came from Matthew 13:47. Jesus spoke of the Kingdom in
terms of a “net”, that when cast into the sea brought in a
bountiful harvest. The Kingdom is not a “fishing pole”
mentality, meaning, one at a time, me and mine attitude. It is a
concept of a “net”, meaning, multitudes and nations reaped by
partners. You fish with a pole for pleasure, but with a net for
business.
We jointly sponsor missions, missionaries, and conferences. We
are called to the nations of the world. Many smaller
congregations are unable to support missions on their own, but
by networking with us, their support becomes more effective.
Many congregations are unable to afford the expense of a quality
conference, but by networking with us, we provide them two
conferences a year.
We are governed by the biblical pattern of Bishop, Elders, and
Deacons. The set one has final authority and is accountable to
his or her Bishop or spiritual father. He or she also looks to
elders locally for wisdom and guidance. The set one provides the
vision and doctrine of the ministry and provides the oversight
and care of the congregation. Elders, or presbytery members,
serve the vision of the set one and function as delegated
authority or department heads. They provide for the spiritual
needs and care of the congregation. Deacons serve the vision
under the authority of the elders and serve as helps to take
care of the natural needs of the house of God and the people of
God.
We believe the government of God is a Theocracy, not a
Democracy, and thereby pastors are appointed by the Holy Ghost
and are not elected by people. Because of the role of the
pastor, he or she should have a Bishop or a pastor of their own
in an extra-local way. Each extra-local fellowship or
denomination should be connected to the Body of Christ
Universal, and not become exclusive but always remain inclusive.
We believe each ministry gift needs other ministry gifts to
relate to and of which to be accountable. No one is beyond
needing a “covering”.
We recognize the five fold ministry as found in Ephesians 4:11
and believe that they should function in the church through and
under the structure of bishops, elders and deacons. The
five-fold ministry is called of God and recognized by man. The
structure is appointed by men and recognized by God. Both are
necessary. Why bishops, elders and deacons? “…that thou mayest
know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God
which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of
the truth.” I Timothy 3:15.
Heaven is where it is from; God is who runs it. The Kingdom of
God speaks of the domain of King Jesus. The Kingdom of God is
not a future hope, but a present reality. Wherever Jesus is
King, then the Kingdom of God is present. We believe Jesus is
King everywhere and the King of everything. The church is called
to model and demonstrate the Kingdom of God in every area of
life, to be a witness of His rule and reign. Heaven is an
eternal resting place for the deceased Saints, but Jesus prayed
“Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is in
Heaven.” The Kingdom of God is about brining heaven to earth,
not only to Saints, but to sinners also. When Jesus rules in
your heart, the Kingdom of God is come unto you. Luke 17:20 – 21
says: “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the
kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The
kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they
say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is
within you.”
The Fellowship of Vineyard Harvester Churches (FVHC) is not a
club or denomination that you join, but is rather a network that
you are divinely connected to that enables you to function in
biblical order and authority. Without being under authority, we
have no authority. It is a vehicle to connect us to the
universal church and not just our local congregations. It is not
exclusive, but inclusive and in no way prohibits fellowship with
other organizations, in fact, we encourage interaction with
other Christian fellowships and networks.
The FVHC is a legally registered, domestic, non-profit
corporation, recognized internationally as a legally protected
Christian organization. The FVHC has the legal authority to
license and ordain ministers world wide, establish churches, and
conduct Christian ministry. The FVHC is also registered with the
state department of the United States of America on behalf of
our missionaries and those who travel on our behalf
internationally. We are also a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt
organization.
Our first conference is always in January of each year,
beginning with the second Wednesday and concluding on that
Sunday. This conference is always in one of the various
“networking” churches and we cover the cost. The second
conference is always held here in Cedartown, the Wednesday after
the fourth of July and concludes on that Sunday.
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