The story is told of a man and his lawyer who faced a difficult courtroom battle against his opponent who had two lawyers. "I want you to hire another attorney to help with my case," he told his sole counselor. "The other fellow has two." "That's not necessary," replied his attorney. "I can defend you by myself." "I still want a second person," the defendant insisted. "When one of the plaintiff's lawyers is talking, the other one is thinking. When you talk, nobody's thinking."
Americans have long been fascinated by the courtroom. So often, matters of life and death unfold before our very eyes. From Perry Mason to Matlock, to Law and Order, to Denny Crane and Boston Legal, not to mention the real life legal sagas of O.J. Simpson, Martha Stewart, Bernie Madoff, and now Lindsey Lohan, the courtroom is an endless source of intrigue and fascination.
In order for the courtroom to be a place of justice, what must exist? No case could ever be solved without a witness. In order to bring a strong case to the courtroom, either as the prosecution or the defense, a faithful witness is needed – someone to tell the truth. But, there is a problem trusting people to tell the truth…and that is that people tend to lie. So, what is the answer to this dilemma? We place people under oath. “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, SO HELP YOU GOD.” This last phrase is what reveals this statement to be an oath. You see, we don’t ask people to promise to tell the truth. A promise is based on MY NAME AND WORD. We ask them to "swear" to tell the truth. When we add the phrase “So help me God,” we invoke the NAME AND WORD OF GOD. Now the witness is bound by sacred oath to tell the truth. If they do speak honestly they remain faithful to the oath. If they lie they are responsible before God and incur His curses and wrath. This sounds downright Scriptural.
Hebrews 6:13-20 is instructive. "When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, 'I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.' And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." This beautiful passage highlights the strong name of the Lord. When we take an oath, we invoke the faithful name of the Lord – because he alone is trustworthy. It is God alone who can be trusted to keep His promises.
From what do we derive this legal ritual of placing the witness “under oath?” Most people have no idea that this is covenant language. In the Hebrew 6 passage, God’s covenant with Abraham was referenced. Verse 13 said, “When God made His promise with Abraham…He swore by Himself.” In Biblical covenants two parties were brought together. Because a sacred and reliable relationship was sought, the expectations of the covenant would be stated, and then an oath would be taken to put the covenant into effect. Normally this oath or sign of the covenant included a sacrifice or a meal. Remaining committed to the covenant incurred the blessings of the covenant relationship. Breaking the covenant brought about the judgment or curses of the covenant. At appointed times the parties would come back together and restate the covenant expectations. The sign of the covenant would be repeated insuring that both parties were still “under oath.” It was vital that the covenant participants remained “under oath.” Showing the obvious application to the courtroom, Proverbs 14:5 states, “A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.” Placing people under oath is the best way to insure that we have faithful witnesses.
In legal matters, there are two terms no one wants to hear: “you are under arrest”, and “you are guilty.” While these concepts are untenable anytime, conviction and condemnation can be especially unpleasant in terms of spiritual matters. But, there is a great difference in the two terms. In spiritual terms, conviction is intended to lead us to repentance and forgiveness. Until we breathe our last, being under conviction has the potential to redirect us to the one who offers us a “not guilty” verdict and ultimate freedom for eternity.
After physical death, all of our appeals are exhausted. Hebrews 9:27 teaches us, “It is appointed unto man once to die…and then the judgment.” Condemnation comes to those who are under the curse, who remain in their sins – those who have rejected Jesus’ offer of forgiveness purchased for them through Christ’s atoning death on the cross. We will either be found guilty under the curse of Adam and our own sin, or we will be found innocent as we are in Christ. His righteousness becomes ours as we stand before the holy Judge who will not countenance unrighteousness in His Courts.
What is it that God desires from us while we have life on this mortal coil? The Lord's instruction to the disciples at His ascension provides one very important answer to this question. Jesus said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." The Lord desires for us to be his witnesses. He wants us to be like Jesus, who John describes in Revelation 1:5 as, the one, “who is the faithful witness...” Jesus instituted the New Covenant by offering His disciples a cup. He said to them, “This cup is the New Covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” Remembering the covenant vow brings us back “under oath.” We are invited to His Table so that we might renew our covenant with the Lord…that we might be convicted of our wrongdoing, confess our sins, receive his gracious forgiveness, and realign our lives under the Lordship of Christ. In doing this, we come under oath afresh, and we are renewed as His faithful witnesses.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Monday, May 31, 2010
Indifference or Excellence?
As Americans, a principle that we value, perhaps more than any other, is our freedom. Our liberties and freedoms should never be taken for granted. Many have died to preserve them. Yet the greatest threat to our freedom may not be an external threat like terrorism, or despotic dictators who seek to overthrow this country and all that we stand for. The greatest threat to our freedom may be our own indifference. We must be on our guard where liberty and freedom are concerned.
When you ask people about what freedom means to them, you may get a variety of answers. This article will consider two possiblities. First, we will explore the "freedom of indifference," and second, the "freedom for excellence."
For some, freedom means being unencumbered by rules and regulations. “I am free to do what I want…Nobody can tell me what to do.” This understanding of freedom is quite common and is part and parcel of our current culture’s focus on personal rights and autonomy. In this scenario, the prevailing motto and mantra is, “live and let live.” For proponents of this philosophy, freedom is defined as the absence of anything that would control them. It is life with no restraints, rules or regulations. The law is seen in a very negative light…because it constrains and stifles one's sense of expression. This way of thinking is reflected in the song, “I did it my way!” and is called the “freedom of indifference.”
Allow me to give you an example of the “freedom of indifference” in action. Imagine that you place a child in front of a piano. You try to teach him where middle C is and how to play a C major scale. He looks at you incredulously and says, “No, stop bothering me. I just want to play what I want to play. Leave me alone.” You can imagine the “beautiful” sounds that he will create on the piano. Heaven forbid that this child ever gets hold of a violin. This is the freedom of indifference…and sadly, it is the way a large portion of our population approaches life – even some Christians.
For others, freedom is not from something…but to something. Freedom helps one to achieve excellence – but through a disciplined and dedicated life. Consider James 1:25. In this passage, James reveals that true freedom comes, not by dispensing with discipline and the law, but living the law that actually gives freedom. Read this carefully. "…the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does." Now look at James 2:12. "Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom…"
How can the law give freedom? Doesn’t the law squelch freedom? Isn’t the law like placing a burden around our necks? Concerning this, Jesus instructs us in Matthew 11:29 and 30,"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." But wait a minute…a yoke is used to control. How can a yoke be easy? How can a burden be light? This is oxymoronic!
Allow me to give you an example of how living by the law and discipline actually sets us free. Remember the child on the piano from a few minutes ago. Imagine that he is open to the instructions of the teacher. He begins to work on his scales and he embraces the discipline of daily practice. In accepting this disciplined regimen of preparation, the child develops skills that were, at first, pedantic and painful, but over time become easy and natural. After years of dedication, determination and discipline needed to achieve excellence, this child, now plays with complete freedom and abandon. His personal expression is set free to soar where it never would have gone otherwise. What a stark comparison. The undisciplined child can only bang incoherently on the piano – is he really free? The child who submitted to the rules of preparation is free to play whatever he wishes. The freedom to excellence is an amazing concept for all of us as we consider our spirituality and the living of our faith. We must speak and act as those who are to be judged by the law the gives freedom.
As Christians, how can we live out our freedom to excellence? We must take Jesus’ yoke upon us. We must serve as Jesus served and live lives of self-sacrifice. This is not about personal expression, but about submitting to Jesus who taught us that life comes from death – that leadership comes from service – that joy comes from suffering and sorrow – that greatness comes through humility. How was Jesus able to maintain perfection and demonstrate such absolute excellence? What disciplines did He follow?
Jesus modeled some important foundational disciplines for us to imitate. First, He knew the Scriptures. He fought off Satan with the Scriptures. He taught the Disciples by quoting the Scriptures. Jesus had disciplined Himself to study the Scriptures. He knew them well enough to quote them at the drop of a hat. How about us? Do we have that freedom? It will take more than a cursory glance at the Word of God. We must dedicate ourselves to making the Word central to our lives!
Second, Jesus prayed to His Father often. So many times we find Jesus retreating from the crowds to spend intimate time with God. Think of His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but Thy will be done.” This stands in stark contrast to the freedom of indifference which says, “Not your will, but my will be done.” How about us? Are we so in tune with God through the daily discipline of prayer that we no longer seek our own agendas and desires…but rather…seek God’s will. With the Apostle Paul, are we more interested in meeting the needs of others, than our own (Phillipians 2:3-4)? That is a level of excellence that only disciplined Bible study and prayer can bring to us.
Over and over, Jesus demonstrates for us the freedom to excellence. We have also looked at the freedom of indifference. Which do you prefer? Or, better stated, which way of life does God prefer for His children? If you choose the freedom to excellence, realize that it will require discipline, dedication, and determination, but in the end, the outcome is clear.
Some may say that the child banging mindlessly on the piano represents freedom. But, the child who has mastered the piano through diligence and discipline is free to play any song from the vast repertoire - to explore the musical universe – with abandon – with freedom – with excellence. We have the freedom to choose? Which will it be - indifference or excellence?
This article was inspired by an article written by Christopher Kaczor entitled, “The Truth Will Make You Free.”
When you ask people about what freedom means to them, you may get a variety of answers. This article will consider two possiblities. First, we will explore the "freedom of indifference," and second, the "freedom for excellence."
For some, freedom means being unencumbered by rules and regulations. “I am free to do what I want…Nobody can tell me what to do.” This understanding of freedom is quite common and is part and parcel of our current culture’s focus on personal rights and autonomy. In this scenario, the prevailing motto and mantra is, “live and let live.” For proponents of this philosophy, freedom is defined as the absence of anything that would control them. It is life with no restraints, rules or regulations. The law is seen in a very negative light…because it constrains and stifles one's sense of expression. This way of thinking is reflected in the song, “I did it my way!” and is called the “freedom of indifference.”
Allow me to give you an example of the “freedom of indifference” in action. Imagine that you place a child in front of a piano. You try to teach him where middle C is and how to play a C major scale. He looks at you incredulously and says, “No, stop bothering me. I just want to play what I want to play. Leave me alone.” You can imagine the “beautiful” sounds that he will create on the piano. Heaven forbid that this child ever gets hold of a violin. This is the freedom of indifference…and sadly, it is the way a large portion of our population approaches life – even some Christians.
For others, freedom is not from something…but to something. Freedom helps one to achieve excellence – but through a disciplined and dedicated life. Consider James 1:25. In this passage, James reveals that true freedom comes, not by dispensing with discipline and the law, but living the law that actually gives freedom. Read this carefully. "…the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does." Now look at James 2:12. "Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom…"
How can the law give freedom? Doesn’t the law squelch freedom? Isn’t the law like placing a burden around our necks? Concerning this, Jesus instructs us in Matthew 11:29 and 30,"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." But wait a minute…a yoke is used to control. How can a yoke be easy? How can a burden be light? This is oxymoronic!
Allow me to give you an example of how living by the law and discipline actually sets us free. Remember the child on the piano from a few minutes ago. Imagine that he is open to the instructions of the teacher. He begins to work on his scales and he embraces the discipline of daily practice. In accepting this disciplined regimen of preparation, the child develops skills that were, at first, pedantic and painful, but over time become easy and natural. After years of dedication, determination and discipline needed to achieve excellence, this child, now plays with complete freedom and abandon. His personal expression is set free to soar where it never would have gone otherwise. What a stark comparison. The undisciplined child can only bang incoherently on the piano – is he really free? The child who submitted to the rules of preparation is free to play whatever he wishes. The freedom to excellence is an amazing concept for all of us as we consider our spirituality and the living of our faith. We must speak and act as those who are to be judged by the law the gives freedom.
As Christians, how can we live out our freedom to excellence? We must take Jesus’ yoke upon us. We must serve as Jesus served and live lives of self-sacrifice. This is not about personal expression, but about submitting to Jesus who taught us that life comes from death – that leadership comes from service – that joy comes from suffering and sorrow – that greatness comes through humility. How was Jesus able to maintain perfection and demonstrate such absolute excellence? What disciplines did He follow?
Jesus modeled some important foundational disciplines for us to imitate. First, He knew the Scriptures. He fought off Satan with the Scriptures. He taught the Disciples by quoting the Scriptures. Jesus had disciplined Himself to study the Scriptures. He knew them well enough to quote them at the drop of a hat. How about us? Do we have that freedom? It will take more than a cursory glance at the Word of God. We must dedicate ourselves to making the Word central to our lives!
Second, Jesus prayed to His Father often. So many times we find Jesus retreating from the crowds to spend intimate time with God. Think of His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but Thy will be done.” This stands in stark contrast to the freedom of indifference which says, “Not your will, but my will be done.” How about us? Are we so in tune with God through the daily discipline of prayer that we no longer seek our own agendas and desires…but rather…seek God’s will. With the Apostle Paul, are we more interested in meeting the needs of others, than our own (Phillipians 2:3-4)? That is a level of excellence that only disciplined Bible study and prayer can bring to us.
Over and over, Jesus demonstrates for us the freedom to excellence. We have also looked at the freedom of indifference. Which do you prefer? Or, better stated, which way of life does God prefer for His children? If you choose the freedom to excellence, realize that it will require discipline, dedication, and determination, but in the end, the outcome is clear.
Some may say that the child banging mindlessly on the piano represents freedom. But, the child who has mastered the piano through diligence and discipline is free to play any song from the vast repertoire - to explore the musical universe – with abandon – with freedom – with excellence. We have the freedom to choose? Which will it be - indifference or excellence?
This article was inspired by an article written by Christopher Kaczor entitled, “The Truth Will Make You Free.”
Friday, April 30, 2010
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Several weeks ago an interesting piece of mail was delivered to my house. In our mailbox was a letter from the census bureau telling me that we would soon receive a letter from the census bureau? There is no telling how much money was spent sending this letter telling us that another letter was forthcoming. Soon after that initial correspondence, we did receive another letter…this time it contained the census form. One political pundit wondered, “if they know how many letters to send to everyone across the United States, why do they need to spend millions of dollars to take a census?” It seems rather senseless. Have they lost their senses on these expenses?
In this article we will take a census of your beliefs about a very important concept that relates to our worship. The concept is “reverence.” When you hear the word “reverence,” what comes to your mind? When you hear the word “reverence,” do you think of it as a positive or a negative? Let's take a look at what the Scriptures have to say about this inner disposition of the heart.
Over the past 30 years, many churches have narrowly defined worship as a celebration. As Christians we do have much to celebrate, and worship can be a celebration, at times. “For everything there is a season…” But, if our only disposition in worship is to celebrate, then how do we deal with sorrow and mourning? How do we confront sin and a call to repentance? Can our worship be penitential in Advent and Lent if the only acceptable disposition is celebrative?
In the Old Testament there are examples of solemn assemblies where the sin of the people was brought to light, and a return to God was the focus of the event. Crying out to God for mercy would not aptly be described as a celebration. Joel 1:14 and 2:12-13 help us to understand the solemnity of these events. “Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD. (2:13-14) "Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”
In worship that is always a party, we lose the capacity to deal with the solemn issues we have mentioned, and we may lose our sense of reverence in the Presence of our Holy God. Do you know why the Scriptures record the song of heaven as being, “Holy, Holy, Holy?” In Hebrew there are no words for good, better and best. In order to declare that something is to the “inth” degree, they use repetition. Holy, Holy, Holy means absolutely, perfectly, infinitely Holy. When Moses confronted Yahweh in the burning bush, what was Moses instructed to do? “Take off your sandals for you are standing on holy ground.” We need to see God as pure holiness, and when we do, we will respond like Isaiah – “Woe is me…I am unclean.” In this realization we do not need a party, but a sacred assembly. Our gatherings for worship desperately need a revival of this kind of thinking. Rather than talking through the organ introit, we might just experience a holy hush as we enter the sacred space and as we focus on the Presence of our Holy God.
Just how important is reverence to our worship? Hebrews 12:28 describes our worship as a convergence of heaven and earth. We gather in the New Jerusalem, a euphemism for heaven, with the Lord, the angels and saints of all the ages where Jesus mediates the New Covenant in His blood. He goes on to say, (verse 28) "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe…" Did you catch it? We are to worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. A right disposition toward God is critical to worship that is acceptable to God.
When you come to worship, do you realize where you are? According to the passage we just read, we are around God’s throne of grace. Do you realize who is there – God, and the Lord Jesus, the company of angels, and the Church of the firstborn. Beloved – that is, in the best sense of the word, AWESOME!! And do you realize why we are there? We are there to worship God with reverence and awe.
I find it interesting to hear some of the discussions while walking through the church on Sunday mornings. Many engage in conversations about ballgames, current events, television shows, and a plethora of topics that are quite unrelated to the eternal purpose of our gathering. Oh that we might come before His Presence with “reverence and awe…” from the very moment we enter the sacred space set apart for worship.
In conclusion, let's look at Revelation 8:1. John is relating a vision of heaven in which the seventh seal of the scroll is opened by the Lamb. It says, “When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” Can you imagine all of heaven falling silent? This is the ultimate holy hush. The vision continues, "Next I saw seven trumpets being given to the seven angels who stand in the presence of God. Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. A large quantity of incense was given to him to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar that stood in front of the throne; and so from the angel’s hand the smoke of the incense went up in the presence of God and with it the prayers of the saints.”
We have discussed many times that the Temple in Jerusalem was intended to be a foreshadowing, a copy of or a model of the heavenly temple. The worship in the Temple was an imitation of heavenly worship. When the high priest would take the incense from the brass altar into the Holy Place, the people were instructed that “the time of the incense had come.” This is the activity Zechariah was involved in when the angel spoke to him about the birth of John. When the people heard this, they fell down spreading their hands in silent prayer. The temple fell silent for 30 minutes.
Can you imagine 30 minutes of silence in heaven? Can you imagine 30 minutes of silence in the Temple? Can you imagine 30 minutes of silence at your church on Sunday? How about three minutes? It would be really difficult to imagine it because our culture demands activity and diversion. Do you know what we really need? We need to “Be still and know that He is God.” Reverence is evident in heaven, in the Old Covenant Temple, and I pray that we will exhibit this most appropriate and Scripturally mandated attitude in our worship. Reverence must begin in each of our hearts. And it begins with understanding that, "The Lord is in His holy temple…let all the earth keep silence."
In this article we will take a census of your beliefs about a very important concept that relates to our worship. The concept is “reverence.” When you hear the word “reverence,” what comes to your mind? When you hear the word “reverence,” do you think of it as a positive or a negative? Let's take a look at what the Scriptures have to say about this inner disposition of the heart.
Over the past 30 years, many churches have narrowly defined worship as a celebration. As Christians we do have much to celebrate, and worship can be a celebration, at times. “For everything there is a season…” But, if our only disposition in worship is to celebrate, then how do we deal with sorrow and mourning? How do we confront sin and a call to repentance? Can our worship be penitential in Advent and Lent if the only acceptable disposition is celebrative?
In the Old Testament there are examples of solemn assemblies where the sin of the people was brought to light, and a return to God was the focus of the event. Crying out to God for mercy would not aptly be described as a celebration. Joel 1:14 and 2:12-13 help us to understand the solemnity of these events. “Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD. (2:13-14) "Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”
In worship that is always a party, we lose the capacity to deal with the solemn issues we have mentioned, and we may lose our sense of reverence in the Presence of our Holy God. Do you know why the Scriptures record the song of heaven as being, “Holy, Holy, Holy?” In Hebrew there are no words for good, better and best. In order to declare that something is to the “inth” degree, they use repetition. Holy, Holy, Holy means absolutely, perfectly, infinitely Holy. When Moses confronted Yahweh in the burning bush, what was Moses instructed to do? “Take off your sandals for you are standing on holy ground.” We need to see God as pure holiness, and when we do, we will respond like Isaiah – “Woe is me…I am unclean.” In this realization we do not need a party, but a sacred assembly. Our gatherings for worship desperately need a revival of this kind of thinking. Rather than talking through the organ introit, we might just experience a holy hush as we enter the sacred space and as we focus on the Presence of our Holy God.
Just how important is reverence to our worship? Hebrews 12:28 describes our worship as a convergence of heaven and earth. We gather in the New Jerusalem, a euphemism for heaven, with the Lord, the angels and saints of all the ages where Jesus mediates the New Covenant in His blood. He goes on to say, (verse 28) "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe…" Did you catch it? We are to worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. A right disposition toward God is critical to worship that is acceptable to God.
When you come to worship, do you realize where you are? According to the passage we just read, we are around God’s throne of grace. Do you realize who is there – God, and the Lord Jesus, the company of angels, and the Church of the firstborn. Beloved – that is, in the best sense of the word, AWESOME!! And do you realize why we are there? We are there to worship God with reverence and awe.
I find it interesting to hear some of the discussions while walking through the church on Sunday mornings. Many engage in conversations about ballgames, current events, television shows, and a plethora of topics that are quite unrelated to the eternal purpose of our gathering. Oh that we might come before His Presence with “reverence and awe…” from the very moment we enter the sacred space set apart for worship.
In conclusion, let's look at Revelation 8:1. John is relating a vision of heaven in which the seventh seal of the scroll is opened by the Lamb. It says, “When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.” Can you imagine all of heaven falling silent? This is the ultimate holy hush. The vision continues, "Next I saw seven trumpets being given to the seven angels who stand in the presence of God. Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. A large quantity of incense was given to him to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar that stood in front of the throne; and so from the angel’s hand the smoke of the incense went up in the presence of God and with it the prayers of the saints.”
We have discussed many times that the Temple in Jerusalem was intended to be a foreshadowing, a copy of or a model of the heavenly temple. The worship in the Temple was an imitation of heavenly worship. When the high priest would take the incense from the brass altar into the Holy Place, the people were instructed that “the time of the incense had come.” This is the activity Zechariah was involved in when the angel spoke to him about the birth of John. When the people heard this, they fell down spreading their hands in silent prayer. The temple fell silent for 30 minutes.
Can you imagine 30 minutes of silence in heaven? Can you imagine 30 minutes of silence in the Temple? Can you imagine 30 minutes of silence at your church on Sunday? How about three minutes? It would be really difficult to imagine it because our culture demands activity and diversion. Do you know what we really need? We need to “Be still and know that He is God.” Reverence is evident in heaven, in the Old Covenant Temple, and I pray that we will exhibit this most appropriate and Scripturally mandated attitude in our worship. Reverence must begin in each of our hearts. And it begins with understanding that, "The Lord is in His holy temple…let all the earth keep silence."
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Worship Gone Awry
Asking Christians to define corporate worship is a fascinating exercise in diversity. Some respond that worship is focusing one's attention on God. Others claim that worship is coming into contact with God through music. For some, worship is hearing the Word of God; being inspired by a message - whether spoken or sung. For many, worship must be accompanied by appropriate emotional stimulation. How they "feel" is paramount to these folks. There are more ways that people define worship - too numerous to recount here. Suffice it to say that most of the answers reveal an "individualistic" and subjective approach.
While almost all of these answers contain some element of truth, few people have a Scriptural definition of corporate worship in mind when answering this question. As we suggested in a previous article, the Scriptural defintion of corporate worship is based on the establishment and renewal of a covenant relationship with God. Through the salvific work of His Son, God has offered us a covenant relationship with Him as His family. Covenants have two components - Word and Sign. As we have outlined, worship is a revisiting of the Word (or stipulations) and Sign (sacrifice or meal) which ratifies or renews the covenant. Acts 2:42 reveals that the early Church followed this pattern in their gatherings. "They devoted themselves to the Apostles' teaching, to fellowship, the breaking of bread and the prayers." For centuries, Christian worship has been defined and shaped in terms of covenant. Twin peaks are evident: Hearing God's Word, and participating in the body and blood of Christ through bread and cup (1 Corinthians 10:16). This is Scriptural worship - the sacred assembly of God's family engaging in covenant renewal.
If worship is defined correctly as "covenant renewal," how many churches really engage in Scriptural worship? While most churches include some form of preaching, few of them share the Table of the Lord every Sunday. I believe this is worship gone awry.
Allow me to illustrate. Suppose a couple is preparing for their wedding. They have decorated the church with beautiful flowers and candles, arranged for the music and musicians, and invited all of their friends and family. The big day arrives and everything proceeds "without a hitch". Everyone arrives at the gathering. The music begins right on time. With candles burning, mothers and grandmothers in place, the bride processes down the aisle and the bride and groom stand together before the minister. When the music finally ends, the minister proceeds to share some Scripture passages and his homily on the meaning of marriage. Then, there is a recessional and everyone goes home.
Consider this scenario for a moment. Was this really a wedding? What seems to be missing? The vows are missing. There is the Word, but there is no sign to ratify the covenant. Typically, weddings include sacred vows and several signs (including spoken vows, rings, the kiss and the consumation later on).
Many churches approach worship like the unfinished wedding above. Their worship is incomplete. Sure, they have a gathering with copious amounts of music, and a dominant message. But they do not include the second peak - the Table of the Lord. At the Table, we renew our covenant vow with the Lord. In Hebrew this term means to "seven yourself." The number seven stands for completion or perfection. In Greek, taking an oath is related to "binding Satan." In Latin, the word for oath is "sacramentum" and speaks of loyalty. Worship without this component is unfinished and is akin to the non-wedding, and synagogue assemblies which have the Word of God, but no sacrifice/sign.
Jesus held out the cup to His disciples and said, "This is the New Covenant in my blood...do this..." The New Testament Church did. So should we!
While almost all of these answers contain some element of truth, few people have a Scriptural definition of corporate worship in mind when answering this question. As we suggested in a previous article, the Scriptural defintion of corporate worship is based on the establishment and renewal of a covenant relationship with God. Through the salvific work of His Son, God has offered us a covenant relationship with Him as His family. Covenants have two components - Word and Sign. As we have outlined, worship is a revisiting of the Word (or stipulations) and Sign (sacrifice or meal) which ratifies or renews the covenant. Acts 2:42 reveals that the early Church followed this pattern in their gatherings. "They devoted themselves to the Apostles' teaching, to fellowship, the breaking of bread and the prayers." For centuries, Christian worship has been defined and shaped in terms of covenant. Twin peaks are evident: Hearing God's Word, and participating in the body and blood of Christ through bread and cup (1 Corinthians 10:16). This is Scriptural worship - the sacred assembly of God's family engaging in covenant renewal.
If worship is defined correctly as "covenant renewal," how many churches really engage in Scriptural worship? While most churches include some form of preaching, few of them share the Table of the Lord every Sunday. I believe this is worship gone awry.
Allow me to illustrate. Suppose a couple is preparing for their wedding. They have decorated the church with beautiful flowers and candles, arranged for the music and musicians, and invited all of their friends and family. The big day arrives and everything proceeds "without a hitch". Everyone arrives at the gathering. The music begins right on time. With candles burning, mothers and grandmothers in place, the bride processes down the aisle and the bride and groom stand together before the minister. When the music finally ends, the minister proceeds to share some Scripture passages and his homily on the meaning of marriage. Then, there is a recessional and everyone goes home.
Consider this scenario for a moment. Was this really a wedding? What seems to be missing? The vows are missing. There is the Word, but there is no sign to ratify the covenant. Typically, weddings include sacred vows and several signs (including spoken vows, rings, the kiss and the consumation later on).
Many churches approach worship like the unfinished wedding above. Their worship is incomplete. Sure, they have a gathering with copious amounts of music, and a dominant message. But they do not include the second peak - the Table of the Lord. At the Table, we renew our covenant vow with the Lord. In Hebrew this term means to "seven yourself." The number seven stands for completion or perfection. In Greek, taking an oath is related to "binding Satan." In Latin, the word for oath is "sacramentum" and speaks of loyalty. Worship without this component is unfinished and is akin to the non-wedding, and synagogue assemblies which have the Word of God, but no sacrifice/sign.
Jesus held out the cup to His disciples and said, "This is the New Covenant in my blood...do this..." The New Testament Church did. So should we!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
It Will Make All the Difference
Have you ever set out on a trip without knowing just exactly how to get there? Ladies, this has probably never happened to you. But men find these situations strangely invigorating. I think most men can relate to this scenario. You see, the challenge is to find your way without letting your wife know that you are completely lost. Of course, asking for directions is completely out of the question. And when you finally arrive, albeit three hours later than you should have, the reasoning you offer is, “I just wanted to take the scenic route.”
Consider for a moment the path of our lives. All of us are on a journey. All of us must make decisions that will determine the direction we take. Ultimately, the path we choose will determine our eternal destination. It behooves us, therefore, to choose wisely. This article will briefly examine the two paths that lie before us…the fork in the road that requires us to make a choice before proceeding. As we will discover, the direction we take will make all the difference.
Robert Frost has captured the concept of “two paths” in his poem, “The Road Not Taken.” See if you agree with his assessment:
The Road Not Taken
TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
This very beautiful poem underscores man’s innate understanding that we face choices in life. It suggests that choosing the less popular way can make a real difference. But, sadly, this text also reveals how many people approach spirituality. Frost tells us that the two paths are equally fair and that he desires to save the other path to walk another day. That sounds pretty good if this only pertains to earthly choices. But it seems that many people see God in this way. They believe that all paths lead to Him, or that there will be plenty of time to take the right path later. The truth is - there is one path that leads to life, and the other path leads to destruction. Believe me, they are not equally fair.
One of the earliest Christian documents is the Didache’ or “The Teachings of the Twelve Apostles.” It was not included in the Canon of Scripture, but it was very widely circulated among the churches of the late first and second centuries. This book was kind of like the doctrinal manual for the Early Church. The Didache’ says in its opening statement, “There are two ways, one of life and one of death, but a great difference between the two ways.” This really is basic Christian teaching.
Matthew 7:13-14 says it this way, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
God has made a way for us through the death and resurrection of His Son. Many arrogantly deny this way, seeking to forge their own path. Our task is to point them in the right direction while there is still time.
As we begin this new year standing at the cross roads, let us consider well which path we will take. May the truth of the Scriptures, the faithful witness of the Church through the centuries, and God’s Holy Spirit prompt us to take the narrow path, the road rarely taken and the only one that leads to life. It WILL make ALL the difference!
Consider for a moment the path of our lives. All of us are on a journey. All of us must make decisions that will determine the direction we take. Ultimately, the path we choose will determine our eternal destination. It behooves us, therefore, to choose wisely. This article will briefly examine the two paths that lie before us…the fork in the road that requires us to make a choice before proceeding. As we will discover, the direction we take will make all the difference.
Robert Frost has captured the concept of “two paths” in his poem, “The Road Not Taken.” See if you agree with his assessment:
The Road Not Taken
TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
This very beautiful poem underscores man’s innate understanding that we face choices in life. It suggests that choosing the less popular way can make a real difference. But, sadly, this text also reveals how many people approach spirituality. Frost tells us that the two paths are equally fair and that he desires to save the other path to walk another day. That sounds pretty good if this only pertains to earthly choices. But it seems that many people see God in this way. They believe that all paths lead to Him, or that there will be plenty of time to take the right path later. The truth is - there is one path that leads to life, and the other path leads to destruction. Believe me, they are not equally fair.
One of the earliest Christian documents is the Didache’ or “The Teachings of the Twelve Apostles.” It was not included in the Canon of Scripture, but it was very widely circulated among the churches of the late first and second centuries. This book was kind of like the doctrinal manual for the Early Church. The Didache’ says in its opening statement, “There are two ways, one of life and one of death, but a great difference between the two ways.” This really is basic Christian teaching.
Matthew 7:13-14 says it this way, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
God has made a way for us through the death and resurrection of His Son. Many arrogantly deny this way, seeking to forge their own path. Our task is to point them in the right direction while there is still time.
As we begin this new year standing at the cross roads, let us consider well which path we will take. May the truth of the Scriptures, the faithful witness of the Church through the centuries, and God’s Holy Spirit prompt us to take the narrow path, the road rarely taken and the only one that leads to life. It WILL make ALL the difference!
Monday, November 9, 2009
The First Family
When I say the phrase, “First Family,” what immediately comes to your mind? Some might say the first family is that of the President. If you are thinking about your church, your answer might be the pastor and his family. Others might think, “That’s obvious, the first family was Adam and Eve.” All of these answers are correct in their context. But, if we are looking for the very first family, none of these answers is correct. Does that surprise you? Adam and Eve were surely the first family recorded in Scripture, right?
Actually, there was a family in existence long before Adam and Eve were created. This article is an attempt to unpack truths about the original family, the eternal family, the family from which all other families take their form and in Whose image they are made. I am indebted to the writings of Scott Hahn for stirring my interest in this topic.
In his book, The Christian Trinity in History, Bertrand de Margerie says, “Truth is the Trinity.” This is a powerful statement. But, if you examine it, he is exactly right. The Trinity is who God was, is and forevermore shall be – as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Everything else flows from this central truth. God is the Trinity. One famous theologian said, “God in His deepest mystery is not a solitude, but a family, since He has in Himself fatherhood, sonship, and the essence of the family, which is love.”
It stands to reason that when God created Adam and Eve, He did so reflecting the eternally existing familial identity of the Trinity. Genesis 1:27 states, “And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Adam and Eve entered into a marriage covenant in which the two became one. As the first human family, they are an earthly image of the Divine family – and look so much like the Trinity, that when the two become one – in about nine months – a new triune family, is formed – Father, mother and child. Our families, though flawed shadows of the Trinity, are patterned after God’s Trinitarian family – for we are created in God’s image and the Trinity is who God is.
Genesis 1:27 revealed to us that Adam was created in God’s image. Adam may be seen as a “son of God.” This is strongly suggested in Genesis 5:3 where it says, “When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years; he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth.” Adam fathered a son “in his own image.” The idea of being made “in the image” denotes family relationship. Adam was made in the image of God – and was, therefore, God’s created son. Luke 3:38 clearly tells us that Adam is "the son of God." Sadly, this relationship was severed in the fall of man. The family ties were broken because of sin. Creation was corrupted.
But this hopeless state of affairs would be reversed when Jesus, the only begotten, not created, Son of God, whom Paul called the second Adam, fulfilled His earthly mission. In dying on the cross, Jesus’ self sacrifice reflects the perfect love of the Trinity. This is the standard to which we are called - to give ourselves away in complete love. In so doing, Peter claims, “we share in God’s divine nature and escape the corruption that is in the world…” As we die to ourselves and Christ lives in and through us, we actually participate in the life and love of the Triune God. Thomas Aquinas said that in Christ, we become “sons in the Son.” Now that is a close family!
Last year I led a choir retreat for a good friend. I was also asked to preach during the morning service that weekend. As I spoke to some of the choir members about my sermon topic, one of them said, “We don’t need any of that Father, Son and Holy Spirit stuff…we much prefer Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer. Let’s avoid the masculine pronouns.” Why do people so readily dismiss the words of Holy Scripture? It may be that their fathers were a disappointment to them.
Two first graders were overheard as they left Sunday school class, "Do you really believe all that stuff about the devil?" "No, I think it's like Santa Claus. It's really my dad." Though we may have been disappointed by our earthly fathers, our heavenly Father is completely trustworthy and provides a picture of perfection in self-giving love.
So, who is the first family? In the beginning GOD! More accurately before time and space, from eternity, God existed as tri-unity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is from this eternal Family that our families are formed…in the image of God. And one day, because we have been baptized into God's family, we will enjoy an eternal family reunion. As we are taken up into the everlasting life of the "first family", we will surely know the ultimate meaning of the phrase, “Welcome home.”
Actually, there was a family in existence long before Adam and Eve were created. This article is an attempt to unpack truths about the original family, the eternal family, the family from which all other families take their form and in Whose image they are made. I am indebted to the writings of Scott Hahn for stirring my interest in this topic.
In his book, The Christian Trinity in History, Bertrand de Margerie says, “Truth is the Trinity.” This is a powerful statement. But, if you examine it, he is exactly right. The Trinity is who God was, is and forevermore shall be – as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Everything else flows from this central truth. God is the Trinity. One famous theologian said, “God in His deepest mystery is not a solitude, but a family, since He has in Himself fatherhood, sonship, and the essence of the family, which is love.”
It stands to reason that when God created Adam and Eve, He did so reflecting the eternally existing familial identity of the Trinity. Genesis 1:27 states, “And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Adam and Eve entered into a marriage covenant in which the two became one. As the first human family, they are an earthly image of the Divine family – and look so much like the Trinity, that when the two become one – in about nine months – a new triune family, is formed – Father, mother and child. Our families, though flawed shadows of the Trinity, are patterned after God’s Trinitarian family – for we are created in God’s image and the Trinity is who God is.
Genesis 1:27 revealed to us that Adam was created in God’s image. Adam may be seen as a “son of God.” This is strongly suggested in Genesis 5:3 where it says, “When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years; he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth.” Adam fathered a son “in his own image.” The idea of being made “in the image” denotes family relationship. Adam was made in the image of God – and was, therefore, God’s created son. Luke 3:38 clearly tells us that Adam is "the son of God." Sadly, this relationship was severed in the fall of man. The family ties were broken because of sin. Creation was corrupted.
But this hopeless state of affairs would be reversed when Jesus, the only begotten, not created, Son of God, whom Paul called the second Adam, fulfilled His earthly mission. In dying on the cross, Jesus’ self sacrifice reflects the perfect love of the Trinity. This is the standard to which we are called - to give ourselves away in complete love. In so doing, Peter claims, “we share in God’s divine nature and escape the corruption that is in the world…” As we die to ourselves and Christ lives in and through us, we actually participate in the life and love of the Triune God. Thomas Aquinas said that in Christ, we become “sons in the Son.” Now that is a close family!
Last year I led a choir retreat for a good friend. I was also asked to preach during the morning service that weekend. As I spoke to some of the choir members about my sermon topic, one of them said, “We don’t need any of that Father, Son and Holy Spirit stuff…we much prefer Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer. Let’s avoid the masculine pronouns.” Why do people so readily dismiss the words of Holy Scripture? It may be that their fathers were a disappointment to them.
Two first graders were overheard as they left Sunday school class, "Do you really believe all that stuff about the devil?" "No, I think it's like Santa Claus. It's really my dad." Though we may have been disappointed by our earthly fathers, our heavenly Father is completely trustworthy and provides a picture of perfection in self-giving love.
So, who is the first family? In the beginning GOD! More accurately before time and space, from eternity, God existed as tri-unity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is from this eternal Family that our families are formed…in the image of God. And one day, because we have been baptized into God's family, we will enjoy an eternal family reunion. As we are taken up into the everlasting life of the "first family", we will surely know the ultimate meaning of the phrase, “Welcome home.”
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
From Facebook and Fracture to the Ancient Answer
Facebook, Myspace and other online communication tools reveal a cultural phenomenon that has interesting ramifications for the Church. Originally, in the late 60s and 70s, the Internet was intended to be an information conduit – a way to move massive amounts of information from point A to point B. In this capacity it was an important tool for the military and had application for business and education as well. In the early 80s a globally connected system was envisioned and quickly developed. Today, the internet has indeed served as a place to find information across a broad spectrum of topics. But, it has also evolved into a phenomenon that reveals a great deal about humanity as we move deeper into the 21st century. This revelation of sociological trends is evident in the way the internet is utilized. The world-wide web has developed into a platform for people to connect with one another – to renew old relationships – to explore new relationships – to find community – all at a safe distance and within tightly controlled parameters. Those who are welcomed into a user’s particular cyber community are carefully filtered to meet the specific needs and requirements of that individual. This process results in closed communities of likeminded members who are bound by narrowly defined self-interest. We live in a world filled with people longing for community…but only on their terms…and for their personal benefit.
What if the expectations of Christians for what the Church should be mirror their online practice? What happens if the “Facebook, Myspace” phenomenon becomes the way churches are constructed and operate? Is this reinterpretation of ecclesial practice in agreement with or antithetical to the Scriptural definition and purpose of the Church?
Statistics may indicate to us that this is exactly what is happening. As reported by the Barna Group, which has been studying church patterns since 1984, “Numerous shifts are occurring among church-goers in the U.S. as they choose from many new forms and formats of the local church.” What are some of these new forms and formats and what do they reveal? Barna claims there are, “Various new forms of faith community and experience, such as house churches, marketplace ministries and cyber-churches…” One of the growing trends is for Christians to attend services or meetings at more than one church – to meet a variety of perceived needs. People want an “authentic spiritual experience,” within a faith community, but they do not trust the conventional Church or Church leaders. Surveys reveal that fifty percent of American adults claim that “a growing number of people (they) know are tired of the usual type of church experience,” and “seventy-one percent say they are ‘more likely to develop my religious beliefs on my own, rather than to accept an entire set of beliefs that a particular church teaches.’” A quick survey of the Saturday paper’s Churches page reveals worship designed in a plethora of styles to meet even the most esoteric need. From traditional to contemporary, from Ancient-Future to Cutting Edge, from liturgical to free, from Big Band to Southern Gospel, etc., churches have adapted their worship practice to appeal to an array of narrowly defined interest groups. What are we to make of this?
Reflecting a broader sociological development, expectations of the Church/Worship seem to mirror expectations of on-line social interaction. Consider the similarities between current internet usage and participation in the Church. From the statistics above it seems clear that people desire connectedness to a community – they want to fit in – but on their terms and for their personal benefit. Sounds familiar, eh? We must ask, “Is this what the Lord intended for His Church?” Did God mean for the Church to be remade into what people want it to be so that their desires and needs can be met?
It is time for us to reexamine the Scriptural prescription for the Church. Three passages come to mind immediately. Ephesians 4:3-6 teaches us to “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope when you were called — one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” 1 Corinthians 1:10 states unambiguously, “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.” Is this possible today? If so, we must commit to the principles that are established in the Scriptures concerning the Church. Philippians 2:3-4 may be the key. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” What a difference this approach would make in every aspect of our lives – and most assuredly in our approach to worship and the Church.
Embracing these principles of mutual respect, sacrifice and promotion of others over self, fosters hope for the unity of the Church. It is possible to envision a Church that is not defined by style, but rather by the One who draws the worshipers together as One body. In this Scriptural scenario, heritage is respected, the innovative welcomed, and the future approached with solidarity instead of fractious self-interest. Now that’s something to Twitter about!
What if the expectations of Christians for what the Church should be mirror their online practice? What happens if the “Facebook, Myspace” phenomenon becomes the way churches are constructed and operate? Is this reinterpretation of ecclesial practice in agreement with or antithetical to the Scriptural definition and purpose of the Church?
Statistics may indicate to us that this is exactly what is happening. As reported by the Barna Group, which has been studying church patterns since 1984, “Numerous shifts are occurring among church-goers in the U.S. as they choose from many new forms and formats of the local church.” What are some of these new forms and formats and what do they reveal? Barna claims there are, “Various new forms of faith community and experience, such as house churches, marketplace ministries and cyber-churches…” One of the growing trends is for Christians to attend services or meetings at more than one church – to meet a variety of perceived needs. People want an “authentic spiritual experience,” within a faith community, but they do not trust the conventional Church or Church leaders. Surveys reveal that fifty percent of American adults claim that “a growing number of people (they) know are tired of the usual type of church experience,” and “seventy-one percent say they are ‘more likely to develop my religious beliefs on my own, rather than to accept an entire set of beliefs that a particular church teaches.’” A quick survey of the Saturday paper’s Churches page reveals worship designed in a plethora of styles to meet even the most esoteric need. From traditional to contemporary, from Ancient-Future to Cutting Edge, from liturgical to free, from Big Band to Southern Gospel, etc., churches have adapted their worship practice to appeal to an array of narrowly defined interest groups. What are we to make of this?
Reflecting a broader sociological development, expectations of the Church/Worship seem to mirror expectations of on-line social interaction. Consider the similarities between current internet usage and participation in the Church. From the statistics above it seems clear that people desire connectedness to a community – they want to fit in – but on their terms and for their personal benefit. Sounds familiar, eh? We must ask, “Is this what the Lord intended for His Church?” Did God mean for the Church to be remade into what people want it to be so that their desires and needs can be met?
It is time for us to reexamine the Scriptural prescription for the Church. Three passages come to mind immediately. Ephesians 4:3-6 teaches us to “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope when you were called — one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” 1 Corinthians 1:10 states unambiguously, “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.” Is this possible today? If so, we must commit to the principles that are established in the Scriptures concerning the Church. Philippians 2:3-4 may be the key. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” What a difference this approach would make in every aspect of our lives – and most assuredly in our approach to worship and the Church.
Embracing these principles of mutual respect, sacrifice and promotion of others over self, fosters hope for the unity of the Church. It is possible to envision a Church that is not defined by style, but rather by the One who draws the worshipers together as One body. In this Scriptural scenario, heritage is respected, the innovative welcomed, and the future approached with solidarity instead of fractious self-interest. Now that’s something to Twitter about!
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