I'm wearing my favorite pair of shoes - the shoes that I probably wear too much, but I like 'em. They're very comfortable. I can wear them with jeans or khakis. Actually, they're not really shoes - more like boots. Black - with thick soles. (Truth be told, one of the reasons I wear them is that they give me an extra inch or two of height I had always hoped for).
But my dad would never be caught dead in these shoes. He wears loafers - with a leather tassel. He has brown loafers, black loafers, tan loafers - I think he likes them because they bridge the gap between formal and informal for baby-boomers. I tease him that it's because it's harder for him to reach down and tie shoes at his age. But I've never even owned a single pair of loafers. I've never worn anything with a leather tassel.
What shoes are you wearing right now?
We can relate our shoes to the style of worship we feel more comfortable. My boots may be very comfortable for me, yet uncomfortable for you. Likewise, there may be a certain element in a worship service that you just can't connect with for whatever reason, yet it may be like a comfortable pair of loafers to the person sitting next to you.
Often discussions in churches today center around corporate worship style. Contemporary versus traditional. Hymns versus choruses. Sweet referred to these arguments as "worship wars." Churches have battled and even split over hymnals having been replaced by video screens and Powerpoint. Grenades have been launched over organs having been replaced by keyboards and guitars. For some, the music in church has become too loud. For others, it's never quite loud enough!
The Church is extremely diverse. There are some who grew up singing only the great hymns of our faith, while others may have never even heard an organ played in a worship service. What an incredible challenge it is when we all come to worship God - together!
I grew up in a very traditional church with piano, organ and a choir director. We even had hymn sings some Sunday evenings. I always requested my favorite, #317 - "Victory in Jesus" –because it was upbeat.
This upbringing birthed in me a real and genuine love for traditional music. When we stand and sing many people's favorite hymns "Amazing Grace" or "Great Is Thy Faithfulness," I can't help but sense the history of decades and even centuries of believers who have joined us in affirming the rich truth of these lyrics.
Yet I've also gained a great appreciation for some contemporary forms of expression that allow my soul to soar to new heights as I "sing to Him a new song" (Psalm 33:3). The freshness of some of today's music ushers my heart to new depths as I respond to who God is. But that's just me. We may see things differently, but the Object of our worship is still the same - our almighty, sovereign and holy Creator, who alone is worthy of our life of worship!
The Bible never intended worship to be about style anyway. Jesus taught that we are to worship Him "in spirit and truth" (John 4:24), and Paul taught that our spiritual act of worship is to "offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God" (Romans 12:1). There is no reference to a right or wrong style, or a right or wrong instrument. Only a right heart.
I may never wear brown loafers with a leather tassel, but I sure respect my father. I can appreciate that he has different tastes than I have. They're not wrong - just different. More a product of our generations than anything. And I doubt I'll ever be able to talk him into wearing a pair of thick-soled black boots. But that's ok. We're family, and that's what really matters.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
"I" of the storm
In seasons of trial and suffering, we often wonder if God has abandoned us. We long to hear His voice, but our cries seemingly fall short of heaven. We seek the comfort of His presence, but the cold, bitter winds of doubt and loneliness chill us to the core of our heart. In these times, it is difficult to sense the abiding comfort of the Comforter.
During these unpleasant times, it is important to confirm in our spirit that God is aware of our need. Remember that He endured the absence of His Son from heaven while Jesus willingly took on human flesh to accomplish our redemption. Jesus, fully man and fully God, humbled Himself, trusted the Father, and "cast all [His] anxiety on [God]."
The verse 1st Peter 5:7 affirms the great promise that "... he cares for you." God has called us, saved us, sanctified us, and leads us daily. God accepts our worship and praise, our love and service. We sing these affirmations in church and at retreats and conferences. These are the truths we love to lift upward in worship.
Equally important is what the verse does not promise - "... because he cares for you and he will remove the situation about which you are anxious." The fact is that God will (and does) use our suffering in the way which best brings Him glory. While we may cast our anxiety upon Him, He may see fit to allow us to stand alone in the tempest Why? To allow our faith to be proven and strengthened ("And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast" - v. 10). While we also sing about these aspects of faith, it may be that we do so with less enthusiasm and conviction ... and celebration.
When the storms of trial and suffering beat down on us, when God seems distant and our suffering seems unbearable, entrusting our cares and burdens to Him unlocks His abundant grace and draws us nearer to His heart. He is faithful, and He will do exactly what is needed to make us more like Christ
During these unpleasant times, it is important to confirm in our spirit that God is aware of our need. Remember that He endured the absence of His Son from heaven while Jesus willingly took on human flesh to accomplish our redemption. Jesus, fully man and fully God, humbled Himself, trusted the Father, and "cast all [His] anxiety on [God]."
The verse 1st Peter 5:7 affirms the great promise that "... he cares for you." God has called us, saved us, sanctified us, and leads us daily. God accepts our worship and praise, our love and service. We sing these affirmations in church and at retreats and conferences. These are the truths we love to lift upward in worship.
Equally important is what the verse does not promise - "... because he cares for you and he will remove the situation about which you are anxious." The fact is that God will (and does) use our suffering in the way which best brings Him glory. While we may cast our anxiety upon Him, He may see fit to allow us to stand alone in the tempest Why? To allow our faith to be proven and strengthened ("And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast" - v. 10). While we also sing about these aspects of faith, it may be that we do so with less enthusiasm and conviction ... and celebration.
When the storms of trial and suffering beat down on us, when God seems distant and our suffering seems unbearable, entrusting our cares and burdens to Him unlocks His abundant grace and draws us nearer to His heart. He is faithful, and He will do exactly what is needed to make us more like Christ
Facedown to faceup to the Splendor of the King
When we face up to the glory of God, we soon find ourselves facedown in worship. To worship facedown is the ultimate outward sign of inner reverence.Every posture in worship says something of both the worshipper and the One being gloried in. The raising of hands tells of a soul stretched out high in praise and the worth of the One being exalted. Joyful dancing interprets a grateful heart and points in adoration to the source of that joy. When it comes to expressing our worship, what we do on the outside is a key reflection of what’s taking place on the inside. Out of the overflow of our heart we speak and sing, we dance, and we bow. God reveals, and we respond. God shines, and we reflect. In the very same way, facedown worship is the overflow of a heart humbled and amazed by the glory of God.Facedown worship always begins as a posture of the heart. It’s people so desperate for the increase of Christ that they find themselves decreasing to the ground in an act of reverent submission. When a soul is so captivated by the Almighty, to bend low in true and total surrender seems the only appropriate response.On several different occasions, the Bible allows us a glimpse into an open heaven. Each time is a window of revelation through which we discover more of what worship looks like before the heavenly throne. And there’s a whole lot of facedown worship going on. In Revelation, John encounters the risen and exalted Jesus, whose eyes blaze like fire and whose face is shining like the sun in all its brilliance. Ove rwhelmed to the core, John shrinks to the ground in reverence and fear(see Revelation 1). A few chapters later, the elders too are falling down in holy devotion. And as we journey further into this heavenly flow of praise, we find even more facedown worshippers: All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God (Revelation 7:11, emphasis added).The book of Ezekiel gives us another glimpse into an open heaven, and we find more of the same. The prophet beholds the “appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD” (1:28). There can be only one response:When I saw it, I fell facedown. (1:28, emphasis added).The reflex of his soul was reverence and submission. Facing up to the glory of God, Ezekiel soon found himself falling facedown in awe and astonishment
Daniel gives us another Old Testament glimpse of this heavenly scene. He sees a vision of the Lord Almighty, whose face shines like lightning and whose eyes blaze like flaming torches. Undone by this divine encounter, here’s another worshipper who cannot stay on his feet:I bowed with my face toward the ground and was SPEECHLESS (Daniel 10:15, emphasis added).So many clues as to what our congregational gatherings should look like are found in these encounters of the heavenly throne. When it comes to worship, the throne always sets the tone. Each time we gather together, we don’t just journey to a church building - we journey to the ve ry throne of God. To lose sight of this is to lose sight of the majestic in worship. Every kingdom has a king, and every king has a throne. And the kingdom of God is no exception. He is the King above all kings, and He has the throne above all thrones. There is no higher seat of authority, power and splendor in the whole of the universe. The elders bow low there, the angels encircle it, and the whole host of heaven arrange themselves around it (see 1 Kings 22:19). One day, a countless multitude, from every nation, tribe, people and tongue, will gather there (see Revelation 7:9). As Ron Owens tells us, “When we come to worship, we come to a throne ... [and] Journeying through the Bible, we find a whole host of facedown worshippers. Abram becomes one as the Lord God Almighty appears to him (see Genesis 17:3). Moses and Aaron fall facedown too, as they encounter His glory (see Numbers 20:6). King David also adopts the posture, in an act of humble repentance (see 1 Chronicles 21:16). And overwhelmed by the radiance of the transfigured Jesus, Peter, James and John are also found amongst the ranks of the facedown (see Matthew 17:6). Throughout Scripture, countless worshippers meet with God—and soon reposture themselves before His splendor. everything else arranges itself around that throne.”
Daniel gives us another Old Testament glimpse of this heavenly scene. He sees a vision of the Lord Almighty, whose face shines like lightning and whose eyes blaze like flaming torches. Undone by this divine encounter, here’s another worshipper who cannot stay on his feet:I bowed with my face toward the ground and was SPEECHLESS (Daniel 10:15, emphasis added).So many clues as to what our congregational gatherings should look like are found in these encounters of the heavenly throne. When it comes to worship, the throne always sets the tone. Each time we gather together, we don’t just journey to a church building - we journey to the ve ry throne of God. To lose sight of this is to lose sight of the majestic in worship. Every kingdom has a king, and every king has a throne. And the kingdom of God is no exception. He is the King above all kings, and He has the throne above all thrones. There is no higher seat of authority, power and splendor in the whole of the universe. The elders bow low there, the angels encircle it, and the whole host of heaven arrange themselves around it (see 1 Kings 22:19). One day, a countless multitude, from every nation, tribe, people and tongue, will gather there (see Revelation 7:9). As Ron Owens tells us, “When we come to worship, we come to a throne ... [and] Journeying through the Bible, we find a whole host of facedown worshippers. Abram becomes one as the Lord God Almighty appears to him (see Genesis 17:3). Moses and Aaron fall facedown too, as they encounter His glory (see Numbers 20:6). King David also adopts the posture, in an act of humble repentance (see 1 Chronicles 21:16). And overwhelmed by the radiance of the transfigured Jesus, Peter, James and John are also found amongst the ranks of the facedown (see Matthew 17:6). Throughout Scripture, countless worshippers meet with God—and soon reposture themselves before His splendor. everything else arranges itself around that throne.”
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