Posts by Taigen Joos
Excellence in Music – the Role of the Church
Periodic self-evaluation is not a bad thing. Sometimes in our lives, we notice a spiritual digression we need to adjust. Perhaps our devotional life needs a reset; perhaps our fledgling prayer life needs restoration; perhaps our marriage needs to renew its spark. I contend that it is time for churches who claim to be “conservative”…
Read MoreExcellence in Conservative Christian Music Begins in the Home
In Part 1 of this series, I sought to highlight a situation in the general world I’m calling “Conservative Christian Music.” My intention was not, nor is not, to discuss specific musicians, or even really to address the controversial style question that is a key component of the “worship wars.” While there is a place…
Read MoreThe Pursuit of Excellence in Conservative Christian Music
Part 1 – Personal Observations I grew up in a home with two very musical Christian parents who gave me an awareness and appreciation of all kinds of music. After I my conversion at 15, I mostly listened to the popular Christian music of the day. Throughout elementary, middle, and high school I took music…
Read MoreThe Indispensable Affection of Love
In 1 Corinthians 12 the apostle Paul begins his important discussion of spiritual gifts within the context of the local church. In that discussion, Paul highlights the need for the church to understand four things. First, there is a unity of the church as one body. Second, there is diversity in the church as many…
Read MoreTop Down Worship
Recently, I had a conversation with someone about a particular church practice for our corporate worship. It was an honest question, not intended to challenge my pastoral authority or create some kind of dispute or division. The person was asking a question with a genuine desire to understand. I appreciate those kinds of questions. Questions…
Read MoreThe Importance of a Loving Father
The concept of family stems from the Garden of Eden when God established the first marriage, and thus the first family unit. To be a family is to live in a kind of intimacy with one another. I have a family of four, with my wife, son, and daughter. Together we eat, we laugh, we…
Read MoreParents Need to Address Issues of Human Sexuality
I recently finished a series of lessons in our adult Bible study class about human sexuality. Honestly, the series could have continued for at least twice that long, but I had to limit myself for several reasons. We discussed issues regarding maleness and femaleness, as well as singleness and marriage, and various aspects of the…
Read MoreScripture Over Systems
Every Christian is a theologian. Because of this, Christians are called upon to grow in our understanding of theology, for it is our theological beliefs that will lead us to behave in certain ways. What should form and shape our theology is the Scripture. It is Scripture alone that is authoritative, inspired, and inerrant. God…
Read MoreUsing Screens without Hymnals
From time to time, I get the opportunity to attend public worship with other church assemblies around the country. I am glad to observe how other churches “do worship” but also to participate in other services without the pressure of being the leader of it. One observation is the predominant use of projecting the words…
Read MoreWhen Good Men Part Ways
Throughout the history of the church there have been godly men who have differed with one another, sometimes even to the point of parting ways with one another in ministry. Often, the question that arises is, “Should this happen?” When this kind of rift occurs, we immediately want to label one person as being “right”…
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