Thursday, March 27, 2008

Arson or Spontaneous Combustion

Worship. The source of conflict in the modern church disproportional to the amount inspired by the Holy Spirit about it in the NT. Among the more charismatic of us, it can take on a mystical, superstitious, or even shamanistic flavor (i.e. it's seen as the means of conjuring up the presence of God). Among the less charismatic, it is just part of the package of techniques employed to appeal to this generation of potential pew sitters. In way too many churches it is nothing more than a crowd-warming preliminary to the supposedly more important art of the preacher. In other churches (the more liturgical among us) it has no separate identity at all, everything that happens is part of the worship service.

What do we actually know from scripture about the practice of worship in the church? We know Jesus and the disciples sang a hymn after the Lord's supper. We know that songs in tongues and in understood languages were part of the corporate worship at Corinth (and presumably elsewhere). We know worship was participative, consisting of individual and corporate expression simultaneously. And [insert drum roll] we know that there was no recognized anointing or gift of worship leading [cymbal crash]. We do have that wonderful instance where the curtain to the heavenlies is pulled back to reveal that loud, boisterous worship is part of the milieu of the throne room. Beyond that, we really know very little. Truth be told, our practices of contemporary worship are more informed by the OT and the surrounding culture than they are by the NT.


Just for the sake of clarity of argument, however, let me propose a definition:
Worship is those acts, both inward and outward, that focus attention specifically on God and thereby distill within the soul an awareness of his presence and arouse reverence toward and elicit surrender to him.
If we combine that definition with the NT understanding of what it means to be born again (and thereby become the temple of the Holy Spirit), it seems to me that worship teams (bands, leaders, choirs, combos, or whatever) should never be considered the sources, starters or sparkers of worship. We already bear the presence of God within us, so why would we need to be "inspired" to experience it? If one requires such inspiration, it would raise questions regarding whether or not he or she was truly born again! If we are depending on the skill of a worship leader to get us into the presence, worship is not what's happening-- manipulation is.

What happens in worship gatherings today often resembles rock concerts and stage shows more than the throne room of God. It's a cheerled spectacle of star power, a clamor of flesh and self-indulgence. Please, don't infer from those words any critique on the type or style of music used, that really doesn't matter one way or the other. At best, worship leaders are, in fact, nothing more than accompanists, a utilitarian backdrop to what's happening among the folk, between the folk and God. And therein lies the problem with much of today's worship-- is something happening between the folk and God?

We can't make people know God, love him, or express true worship to him. It has to come from them because of what God has done in them. Unless the Lord builds the house, the labor is in vain. Worship is about opportunities not compulsions. It seems to me, worship ought to be more like spontaneous combustion than arson. Sadly, there's getting to be fewer and fewer who understand the difference.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Isa That Exciting Or What!

The very thought of witnessing to Muslims can be intimidating, especially during this War on Terror. Even if we can get past our trepidations over their assumed implacable hatred for us, can we truly say we want them saved? Our jaundiced perspective may bring Jonah into clearer focus for us, but I have to wonder... are there enough whales left in the ocean to change the attitudes of enough of us?

My merely human western mindset, informed by Islam's violent expansion at the expense of Christianity starting some 1300 years ago, as well as its terrorism since the birth of Israel, finds it difficult to think of Muslims as more than theoretical evangelism targets. It would be nice to have some tangible encouragement for the spirit, informed by the Great Commission, which anticipated harvesting those souls from every tongue, tribe and language who happened to be Muslims. Perhaps there is some to be had: check out this series of blog posts for some interesting possibilities in witnessing to Muslims. Peace Child-like, are the seeds of the gospel already planted in their culture?

When the message of God reached the Assyrians through the reluctant prophet, Nineveh repented. Jonah, however, did not! In this respect, I suppose one could hope to be more like a heathen than a prophet of God. Do we even begin to understand how much God loves Muslims? A recent article by Chuck Colson cracks open the slats of the blinds in the cloistered bedroom of Christianity, cranked tight for ages against the ebony dark of Islam. Could it be the never ending night is finally losing the wrestling match with the dawn?

Jesus said his gospel would be preached to all nations and then the end would come. Is this the age of that fulfillment? Soon, I would say, all those who will be gathered in, will be gathered in, and things will wind down to their conclusion. To which, all I can say is, "Maranatha." Isa that exciting or what?!!!

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

My Commentary: The Top 10 Church Fallacies

I put out the list without comment on my last post. Indulge me, please, as I take a moment to comment on each of the ten.

1. Churches decide things by voting
Democracy, although a blessing in human government, is not so much as hinted at in the NT for that of the church. It is an invention of western society and capitalism rather than the scriptures. It has seeped into the church by osmosis, rather than arising from the inspired instruction of God for his church.


2. God has commanded the church to tithe
This is a relatively recent invention, developed out of a misappropriation of the OT law. Christians not only don't have to, they should not do so, if doing so is an attempt to gain status before or blessing from God (legalism). If one tithes, he or she should not think that it merits a blessing from God.


3. Modern pastors get paid too much
The Bible says that
elders, especially those that labor in the word, are worthy of double honor. The context is remuneration. If you work full time, take whatever you make, multiply it by two, and that is easily what your pastor is worth. A good pastor is worth his weight in gold! Now, I'm not saying that is what pastors should get paid, but certainly, 99.9% of all churches have no reason at all to complain about what their pastors do get paid.

4. Church growth should be the number one concern of church leaders
Church growth is not in the purview of church leaders, nor church members for that matter. They sow the word, and water it, but
God alone is responsible for the increase. A focus on church growth can only result in the dethroning of God and the subsequent substitution of human methodology in place of the work of the Spirit. If we control it, as we must if it is ours to determine, than it also follows that it must be generated from our creativity and determination. One can expand the clientele of a supermarket through good marketing, it doesn't follow that we can or should do the same for our church.

5. Evangelism requires Christians to act as unbelievers do
I have to admit, this one can bug me. Jesus didn't collect taxes, get drunk, or use the services of prostitutes. He didn't dress like them nor act like them. He did hang out with them, minister to them, and win them. He changed them, they didn't change him. How is cussing, drinking, watching questionable entertainment, or gutting the gospel following Christ's example? I don't think Paul's statements about cross-cultural evangelism can be taken to mean we should either.

6. Pastors chief role as leaders is vision casting
Where to begin with this? The Bible would be the wrong answer. This is out of the business world pure and simple-- Peter Drucker rather than Simon Peter. The word pastor literally means "a feeder of sheep', a bishop is literally "one who watches over", and an elder is an aged one. The only thing the Bible suggests that this leader cast is feed.

7. Christians in every generation need to apply their creativity to reinvent the church
The church is the temple of the Holy Spirit. We never get to scrap it and start anew, for no other foundation can be laid than what has already been laid. We must, instead, be careful how we build upon that which was built before. The church is his and the faith has been delivered once for all time. We had better do what we do out of the grace of God given us, rather than out of the manipulative fads of the moment.

8. The church is meant to transform society and cure its ills
Though we are salt and light, I see no promise that we will change the world. Just the opposite in fact: the poor will always be with us, evil will wax worse and worse, and evil men will proceed to their doom. The ship is going down, all we can do is to get as many as we can into eternity's lifeboats before it goes down.

9. It is acceptable for believers to treat other believers in error or sin with disdain
All I have to say is Galatians 6:1-2 and 2 Timothy 2:23-26.

10. The Republican Party is the only acceptable political party for American Christians
A reminder of things said before.

Top Ten Church Fallacies

A little thought exercise might be fun. I offer you my top ten list of fallacies adopted by the modern church. They are in no particular order, and done a month from now, the list would most likely be different. Regardless, please take a moment and comment on any or all of them, but if you find fault with any of them, please tell me why, scripturally. Looking forward to hearing from you!

SLW's Top Ten Contemporary Church Fallacies

  1. Churches should decide questions by voting
  2. God has commanded the church to tithe
  3. Modern Pastors get paid too much
  4. Church growth should be the number one concern of church leaders
  5. Evangelism requires Christians to act as unbelievers do
  6. Pastors chief role as leaders is vision casting
  7. Christians in every generation need to apply their creativity to reinvent the church
  8. The church is meant to transform society and cure its ills
  9. It is acceptable for believers to treat other believers in error or sin with disdain
  10. The Republican Party is the only acceptable political party for American Christians