Do You Really Worship?

Many of us have had the experience of attending a service where the music and lyrics have been particularly moving. Our response might be that it was a very good worship experience. It may well have been, or it might have been a moving emotional experience. Music is a powerful gift from God. David was brought to play music to sooth Saul's spirit when the distressing spirit came upon Saul. The Scriptures hold an entire collection of Psalms to be sung at particular times when God's people gathered to celebrate the prescribed feasts and festivals. However, praise is not always worship. In fact there are times when the two have little to do with each other. It seems that many churches apply considerable effort to prepare the atmosphere for the greatest emotional impact possible from the music and praise service. Dimmed lights, proper sound, slide shows to compliment the music with beautiful or emotionally charged visuals, and power point presentations all designed to touch our hearts and spirits. None of this is bad, but is it worship?

When God tells us something it is wise, even our responsibility to listen and obey, If He reiterates it we should certainly take note. If He determines to tell us the same thing three times in three different ways it would seem reasonable to be sensitive to what the Lord has told us. God does this through David's pen, or quill, as David calls God's people to come to sing, praise, and also to worship the Lord. Psalm 95 is a Psalm of praise and thanksgiving. It is also a call to worship. Psalm 96:6, "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker." David tells us to worship, bow down, and to kneel before the LORD. What we may not see is the reiteration of the same call for submission.

Worship is the Hebrew word shachah, which means to bow down or prostrate oneself. David follows this with, kara, which also means to bow down, followed by, barak, meaning to kneel, bow or to bless. All three carry the idea of yielding, submitting, and coming in obedience to one who is superior. Psalm 95:8-11 challenges us to avoid having hard hearts like those who were disobedient back in the times of Moses. Back when God's people refused to go into the land. Obedience, was essential to enter God's rest and to know God's peace and favor. It is also essential for entering into true worship. All the praise and stirring of our emotions may help us feel good, however, without humble obedience it is just noise. It is from humble bowing to the person of God, recognizing His absolute authority that real worship come to be. It is from this state that praise springs forth. Emotions may be involved in that response, however, without an attitude of submissive obedience we have never entered into worship. David provides three reminders of this humble attitude in this one simple verse.

Paul gives us similar directions in 1 Corinthians 13. He speaks of agape, the sacrificial love that comes from an obedient and submissive relationship with God. This kind of love places God and others before our own wants and desires. Without this, God focused, passion, our words, even words of praise, are just noise. Samuel confronts Saul in 1 Samuel 15:22, reminding him that, " Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams." We are called to give God praise, even a sacrifice of praise, We are also called to obedience. Being deeply moved by the words and music of a God honoring composition is certainly a good thing. We just need to be certain that we also come in worship, meaning humble submission and obedience as well.   

Is Thanksgiving Enough?

Have you ever thought about how vital thanksgiving is to the Lord God? As believers we may well toss the word around pretty freely. That is not a bad thing. We should be most grateful and thankful to the God of all creation. Everything we have, even the next breath you take, is a gift from Him. He is indeed worthy of our thanks and appreciation. God even included offerings of thanksgiving in Torah (see Leviticus 7:12). David records offering a thank offering in Psalm 116:17, "I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD." Hezekiah does the same in 2Ch 29:31. Thanksgiving and thank offerings were a part of the worship practices for the people of Israel. As those who now know Messiah, we are called to be thankful for ... well ... everything, "in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). In writing to the Romans the Apostle Paul gives an indictment against those who reject God. In the midst of the record of man's rejection and ungodliness Paul says, "because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened" (Romans 1:21). Those who refuse to give thanks to God are designated as fools and futile thinkers. Not a group many of us would want to be included in.

Thankfulness is an essential part in our relationship with God, but is it enough? Gratitude and a thankful heart are pleasing to the LORD. However, bringing God a thank offering, or an offering of thanksgiving is not all that is required. Thankfulness also acknowledges who God is. It reflects on what He has done and His very nature. Thus Samuel reminds us, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams" (1 Samuel 15:22). An attitude of thanksgiving without an attitude of submissive obedience falls short of what God deserves. It falls short of what He requires.

Perhaps our culture gets in the way when we consider the things that we learn are required to be pleasing God. We tend to look at the list of what we think God requires and do a little personal evaluation. I am to be thankful, trustworthy, faithful, humble, obedient, generous, and joyful. Just a few of the things we could put on our "pleasing to God" list. There are certainly many more that could come to mind. We should probably tack on the rest of the nine aspects of the fruit of the Spirit as they are of the Spirit. Then there are those negative things, like do not covet, do not be angry, do not judge. This could get cumbersome, maybe even intimidating or discouraging. We could opt out with the excuse/reason that we all fall short and apply the Jesus salve. You know, that soothing spiritual ointment that says all my sins are forgiven so the list doesn't really matter anyway. If this is so then we have a lot of irrelevant Scripture and unnecessary stories recorded in the Bible. It appears that all the stuff we could put on the list matters. So how do we prioritize? It seems obedience is better than sacrifice but thankfulness should be pretty high on the list as well.

The issue is not what is on the list or how to prioritize the list. The issue is the list itself. American/Western culture loves lists. We love to compartmentalize everything in life. God reveals Himself through a culture that is integrated. When Jesus said, "If you continually love Me it is imperative that you actively keep My commandments" (John 14:15). He was giving less of a rule and more of a statement. The natural outgrowth of honestly loving Him is obedience. Obedience is not a list of rules, it is the reality of a life that is integrated into the Person of God. All of those "do's" and "don'ts" listed above, and any other things you might add, are not to be a list but the substance of our relationship with God. In being thankful we are also loving and joyful and compassionate. Our gratitude is shown in our forgiving and generosity. Even what we choose not to do, like holding a grudge, gossiping, or coveting, is controlled by the attitude of gratitude that pervades our existence. Bringing a thank offering while being at odds with another reflects the truth that you are not really thankful. One who fully understands why they are thankful to a holy God would desire reconciliation before the offering.

Matthew 5:24 makes this pretty clear, “leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." We are not being told to have a check list before we come to worship but to know that my relationship with my brother is related to, integrated with, my relationship with the Lord.

We might want to take a moment at this Thanksgiving Season and think about how all those things on our "how to be spiritual" list are connected. To consider the truth that the Lord has not called you to a list but invited you into a relationship where everything you do is integrated into Who He is. Go ahead and bask in the wonder that He really does care about every little aspect of your life. That the life He provided is to be lived abundantly, not chained to a list. Now go and have a Happy Thanksgiving.   

Attaining Perfection?

Have you ever been told that practice makes perfect? My mom used that phrase to encourage me to do everything from practicing music to making my bed. I did improve and can still make some pretty tight "hospital corners" when I put a sheet on a bed. But, perfection? Not really. It seems the simple phrase, if taken literally, can leave us a bit discouraged knowing it can never be achieved. Even if we get all the notes right when playing the concerto it will be less than perfect to someone else who plays the piece. I would have to say my mother's expectation for perfection was really just a hope that I would keep trying to get better. That is fine for mom, but what do we do with God's expectations?

No less than seven times does God command His followers to "be perfect". Beyond that God commands us to "be holy" at least forty times. Are these realistic expectations? Does God mean this or is He like my mom and just wants me to try to be better? Matthew 5:48, "Therefore, you are to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect" seems pretty straight forward. Be perfect in the same way that God is perfect. I am human, broken, a sinner, way less than perfect. It is true, I am clothed in Christ's righteousness and hold a position in glory because of Him. However, in the context of Matthew 5 the Lord is speaking about real life "now" sort of behavior, not in the sweet by and by. Is God making a demand we can never achieve?

It does not seem fair or like God to place us in a position where failure is the guaranteed result. So how do we achieve perfection or to become holy as He is holy?  Perhaps looking at the words in Hebrew and Greek can help.Both in Hebrew and in Greek the word holy means to be separated, or dedicated to the service of the Lord. everything from a building, to utensils, to animals, to first born sons, and God's people. Work can also be holy, any task dedicated to the Lord can be a holy endeavor. God calling us to be holy is simply to separate ourselves to Him, His work, and to obedience to His Word. Most of us can grasp that concept and can strive to be dedicated or separated unto the Lord. The command for us to be holy is not unattainable when we look at holiness from this perspective.

Perfection from the Hebrew tamiym means to be without blemish, complete,entire, truth and integrity. The Greek teleios likewise means complete, flawless, full compliance to a standard of, to come to completion. A bit more challenging to be flawless or without blemish. Being in full compliance of a standard at least gives us a way to measure, if we know what the standard is. Based on knowing the right standard it can also be said that perfect carries with it the idea of always making the right choices. God is perfect because He always makes the right choices. However, He may not always make the same choice. It is not that God is contradictory; it is that He always knows and make the right choice. Some choices reflect His mercy; others reflect His justice. Whatever decision God makes, it is always the right decision. He is perfect in all of His ways.

Perfection rests in our ability to make right choices based on the Word of God. Obedience is a matter of whether the choices we make are in agreement with God's standard. The standard we find in His word. We will never come to a point where we always make the right choice or always abide in His word flawlessly. However, there is hope. You and I have the ability to obey. You and I have the ability to know what God's standard is. The excuse of, "Hey, nobody is perfect," really is an excuse. If we spent more time learning what God's standards are, and striving to walk in them, maybe perfection would not seem so far removed from reality. The Apostle John's encouragement to us is this, "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3). 

God's commandments are not impossible to bear. They are not beyond our capability. They just seem hard to follow consistently. From the world's perspective we are imperfect and lack holiness. However, from God's perspective we really are separated for His service. We really are those dedicated by Him for His use. Our acts of obedience to God's standard is pleasing to Him and perfection is just a decision away. We can take comfort with those in Philippi, "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). The word comes from the same root as teleios, to bring to completion or perfection. Perfection is on the way. Even now it can be our experience. We just need to learn God's standard and put it into our daily lives. Paul tells us to not get discouraged, don't give up. Messiah began a good work in you and He will keep working on you until you get it right. We may never be flawless in this life yet making right choices is more reasonable than you may think. Being known as a person of integrity is an attainable goal. It just take practice. Hmmm. Maybe my mom was right after all.