| Author | Message | ||
| jtree |
What then is acceptable worship? When and where do we worship? Our worship today is the way we live our lives every moment of the day. We please God by our obedience to His Spirit, as the He leads us deeper into the truth of Jesus as found in the Bible. ëBelieve me, the time is coming when you wonít worship the Father either on this mountain or in Jerusalem.í John 4:21 ëLater, Jesus and His disciples were having dinner at Matthewís house. Many tax collectors and other sinners were also there. Some Pharisees asked Jesusí disciples, ìWhy does your teacher eat with tax collectors and other sinners?î Jesus heard them and answered, ìHealthy people donít need a doctor, but sick people do. Go and learn what the Scriptures mean when they say, ëInstead of offering sacrifices to me, I want you to be merciful to others.í I didnít come to invite good people to be my followers. I came to invite sinners.îí Matthew 9:10-13 Today, God wants us to live a life of love and mercy to those around us, and a life of love, respect and obedience towards Him. We honour God and show that we love Him by following the example that Jesus set. We need to take our worship to the streets by loving, socialising with, caring for and meeting the needs of those around us. | ||
| Max |
This is sooo good, Joshua! Blessings upon your head! -Max | ||
| Cindy |
Jtree/Joshua? Hi... Yes, your post above was good! I liked the part of even placing worship in the realms of loving and socializing with the people around us. Have you thought about 'reverence' and how we worship in church? Check out Testimonies volume 5, page 491-500 where Ellen White gives us the 'proper' guidelines... In the April 2000 'Adventist Review' Calvin Rock says this passage "should be read and understood by every pastor and congregation. He reports Mrs. White's counsel, in capsule form, as: "1. When entering worship: do so quietly, and meditate silently (if waiting is necessary). 2. While worshiping: refrain from whispering and laughing (socializing), listen attentively, avoid sleeping. 3. After the benediction: leave as if fearful of losing the blessing and do not stop in the aisles to visit. 4. When back home: emphasize the good work and ideas presented (especially before children), and apply the message personally." He goes on to say that: "her point was that we should do our secular and social conversing in places other than the holy sanctuary..." Two comments... First, of course, we will want to honor God with our participation in worship; and should respect the participants and audience members who want to listen to what's going on during the worship service. Of course, there are times to be quiet... But to not stop in the aisles to visit after the benediction? Pleeeze...!! Socializing can be a blessing to many lonely people. And not everyone feels comfortable discussing only spiritual, theological issues. Sometimes talking about their work and home concerns is what's really needed at that time! Secondly, and this refers back to why I feel we can 'socialize' in the church's 'holy sanctuary', I just don't see a big distinction between 'secular' and sacred'. This seems so Old Covenental to me. The 'sanctuary' being like the Holy and Most Holy Places of Old Testament times... I feel all of Life is sacred as lived under Christ now. This goes along with all Time being sacred also now--living in our True Sabbath Rest--Jesus! Always under grace... Cindy | ||
| Cindy |
(Jude)/Max, Where are you? On vacation? Miss you! Grace always, Cindy | ||
| Breezy |
MMMMMMMMaaaaaaaaaaaaaxxxxxxxxxxxxx!!!!!!!!!!! | ||
| Lydell |
Cindy, isn't that a sad and false view of worship?! We find in our church that many folks who come live in home situations where they never receive a hug or a kind word. They need that contact. There are those who come that have been burdened all week long with tremendous problems. Sometimes they don't want to open up and share about their struggles until they have visited for a bit. What they are really desiring is for someone to pray with them. But people have to know that they can be exactly who they are in church, just as they can outside the doors, before they can feel safe enough to trust to do this. That happens when they find that the church is truly a loving and open home. I once heard someone make the observation that while God is our Father, he uses the church body to do the mothering. A loving mother doesn't expect her hurting children to tiptoe around whispering. And she certainly doesn't want them to rush out the door the instant the service is over. And goodness, a loving mother wouldn't expect her child who has witnessed the Lord doing something awesome in their lives that week to sit with a "sober" expression on their face and not let them celebrate! I think EGW must have never read the Psalms. Certainly the worship of David wasn't a quiet "somber" afair. He was shouting and dancing (oh my!) and banging away with cymbals! | ||
| Cindy |
Yes Lydell, thanks for your thoughts! I enjoy the feeling of having many 'kindred spirits' here at this site. I have been made to feel unspiritual when I've tried to protest the views expressed in the "testimonies'... To me, there should be a Joy in Christianity! As C.S. Lewis wrote, "JOY is the Serious business of Heaven!" Always in Grace alone, Cindy | ||
| Colleentinker |
Great points about worship! I believe that our relationship with Christ permeates every single moment and activity of our lives. There's no such thing as "sacred" and "secular" in a Christ-follower's life because Christ through the Holy Spirit is always with him/her. If our worship and praise and mutual support can't rub shoulders with our mundane daily experiences, we don't have a true relationship with Jesus. If we have "secular" areas of our life, i.e. activities or subjects of conversation which we feel are unspiritual and don't have a place in a worship service, then we have sections of our life which we haven't invited Jesus to be part of. Grateful for my new experiences in corporate worship, Colleen | ||
| Denisegilmore |
Hmmm, seems like all these older threads/topics are the very ones I'm encountering now. Personally for me right now, I feel that I can worship at home anytime and anyway that I'm moved. Sometimes I sing, sometimes I dance, other times I am on my knees or prostate on my livingroom floor. Then there are many many times that I pray throughout the day, sitting at my computer, doing dishes, looking outside at the beatuful sunset or even walking to the store. Then there are those time when I am lying in bed and deep thoughts are filling my mind, questions, conversations about the Lord that I've had with others and their beliefs or our debates. Seems too, that it is those times that I can pour my heart out to the Lord, knowing He is listening, knowing and believing He will answer my questions. God is my friend. He is Majestic and Most Powerful, He knows before I ask, He knows before I think of what to pray. Still, it is comforting to talk outloud to Him, just like He's right there in the room as a person would be. While fixing my meal, I look at the food and remember so many times of going to bed hungry and now, my freezer is full. I thank Him. I laugh when my cat does something silly and then find myself thanking God outloud for the prescious gift He gave to me that purrs and acts silly. I remember times of much turmoil, worldy troubles and suicidal ideation and look at my life now and I thank Him for Peace and restoration that He has given me. There are so many ways to communicate to our Lord, so many times over so many things that to post them all would take the rest of my life. He saved my life, both literally and spiritually. I Praise the Lord. Bless the Lord, oh my soul. Praise Him always giving thanks to the one that died for us 2000 years ago. This is how I worship, praise and thank Him, This is how I petition our Lord. Some lately have downcast me as one going to perdition for not attending a brick building. For not entering that brick building with the stick people on the seventh day. I know the Lord accepts how He has inspired me to please Him. This I will keep doing until He sees otherwise. God bless, Denise | ||
| Maryann |
Hey Denise;-) Do you suppose that God grins when he engineers people's path's to cross and uses one to inspire the other? Maryann | ||
| Denisegilmore |
Maryann, I'll bet He grins and chuckles too. Isn't God awesome! He's for sure in control eh? God Bless you, Denise P.S. I just sent you an email...check yer mail lady..:) |
