Harping On!
Why do I harp on and on about participatory church?
–Because I experience the life-transforming music that comes forth when the Hand of God is allowed to play all the strings in a church meeting (not just one string).
–Since I first heard it as a freshman in college in 1970, this mighty melody, of God prompting everyday people to participate, has played in my soul, and I long for everyone to hear the magnificent music of mutual ministry moved by the living God.

Immediately after posting the above on Facebook, I came across this quote from Salvation Army founder, General William Booth:

“We leave to others the unscriptural, and uncomfortable, and inhuman modesty of expecting and aiming at small things. We will be extravagant, we will open our mouths wide, we will nail our colors to the mast, and break down our bridges, and burn our boats. We care nothing for a retreat. We need none.” —William Booth, October, 1879  (So at the General’s exhortation, I will continue to open my mouth wide and harp on.)

I also got a surprise confirmation of participatory church from a gift Bible!
–The Salvation Army sent me a copy of “The Voice” translation of the Bible as a Christmas present. Since then I have been reading in it every night.
–About an hour after posting about “why I harp on and on about participatory church” on Facebook, I picked up “The Voice” and began to read where I ended the night before in Mark 6. After reading the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000, the translators had inserted some comments and there I read these words:
–“He (Jesus) wants to make them (His disciples) part of His miracles. From recorders and observers, they will become participants.”