Faith Comes Through...

I was somewhat disturbed by one of the things that I read in Don Williams' essay on Charismatic worship. He was talking again about this notion that congregational worship ought to be witness. To illustrate this he used a quote from Charismatic worship leader Tim Hughes, telling the story of a group of young people that "gave their lives to Christ". Hughes writes, "When asked what it was that provoked them they responded that it was the worship. 'We never thought Christians could worship like that.' As they joined with others in worship they were moved, but more importantly the eyes of their hearts were opened to Jesus as their Savior."

This sounds really strange to me. It seems that throughout the New Testament the emphasis is placed on the hearing and receiving the preaching of gospel truth as the means by which a person is saved. "For faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ" (Rom 10:17). Now it is possible that songs could contain text which declares the truth of the gospel. If that is true, then I suppose it's also possible that someone could be saved by hearing the declaration of that truth in the song. But Hughes doesn't say that. He indicates that it was the act of worship itself which gave them a saving knowledge of Christ. It seems like a bit a stretch to say that their faith came not from hearing the Word of Christ, but from observing the worship of God. I'm not saying that that won't ever be the means by which the Holy Spirit draws someone closer to saving faith in Christ, but I don't see biblically how it could ever be the means by which someone comes to saving faith in Christ.