a spiritual oasis

Two fictional characters introduced this topic in a previous post. To be specific, we are talking about the vast topic of worship, as we continue our discussion of the Habits of Highly Effective Churches. But, we are looking at something much broader than an analysis of what most believers do during a few hours out of the 168 hours in each week. What we are really focused on would probably best be articulated as experienceing the presence of God.

This is an important, but sensitive topic. The comments of Childers, Foster and Reese in The Crux of the Matter highlight this:

For all Christians in all times, the church’s worship has been one of the most crucial matters of faith. Worship is the one thing the church does most together.” (p. 102)  

This topic is also weighted with many subjective ideas, which oftentimes rise from opinions and traditions. Thus, our thoughts should be marinated in love and seasoned with grace. Let’s look at Colossians 3:1-17…

• What seems to be the focus of these verses?
• How has this passage historically been understood in relationship to the worship assembly?
• If you were trying to help others understand this passage, how might you paraphrase it?
• How would you describe the worship assemblies mentioned in these verses?

Worship—bigger than a bread box (or church building)

Quotable: “Try to peruse the New Testament as if your eyes had never seen a ‘church building’ or Sunday marked on a calendar and as if your ears never had heard a sermon about church attendance. Thinking this way you begin to see a whole new church unfold. In this church outward appearances are de-emphasized and the assembly is not a requirement but a blessing too good to miss. For the New Testament Christians, the assembly was a time when Christians got together and not because they had to perform, conform or dodge guilt. In gathering for worship the dominant concern was walking ‘with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace’ (Ephesians 4:2-3).” —Mike Root, Spilt Grape Juice: Rethinking the Worship Tradition, p. 18.

Quotable: “We will have Sunday-only Christians as long as we have Sunday-only worship. We have been fighting a losing battle because we have been proclaiming that Christianity is something ‘you are,’ but worship is something ‘you do.” Nothing could be farther from the truth. If you are a Christian you are worship to God.  The matter is not one of doing but rather of being.” —ibid, p. 20

Notable: In the New Testament there are two words which are most frequently translated “worship” in English.

1. Proskuneo, to make obeisance, do reverence to” (from pros, “towards,” and kuneo, “to kiss”), is the most frequent word rendered “to worship.” Example: John 4:21-24.
2. Latreuo, to serve, to render religious service or homage, is translated “to worship” in Philippians 3:3; Hebrews 10:2, present participle, literally translated: “(the ones) worshiping.”

A few passages which speak of Worship as a way of life through which we experience the presence of God:

• Romans 12:1-2
• Hebrews 12:28-29
• Hebrews 13:15-16
• 1 Corinthians 10:31
• Colossians 3:17

Some worshipful practices which enable us to experience the presence of God:

1. Through reading God’s Word— Colossians 4:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:27; 1 Timothy 4:13; Revelation 1:3
2. Through studying God’s Word—Acts 6:2; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:15
3. Through teaching God’s Word—Acts 2:42; 6:7; 12:24; 18:28; 19:20; 1 Timothy 4:6; 2 Timothy 1:13; 2:2
4. Through preaching God’s Word—2 Timothy 4:2
5. Through the keeping of the ordinances—1 Corinthians 11:2
6. Through the singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs—Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; James 5:13
7. Through the lifting up of prayers, intercessions, supplications, and thanksgiving—Acts 2:42, 46; 3:1; 4:31; Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:1–2
8. Through the receiving of his Son—John 1:11–12
9. Through the sacrifice of our bodies—Romans 12:1
10. Through the sacrifice of our praise—Hebrews 13:15
11. Through the sacrifice of our good works—Hebrews 13:16
12. Through the sacrifice of our substance—Philippians. 4:1

—H. L. Willmington,
Willmington’s Book of Bible Lists

You really do get out of it what you put into it!

Usually, however, the “putting into it” refers to a nebulous set of factors. These words are most often spoken in response those who lodge complaints about “the services” in an attempt to gently tell them the speaker thinks they need to work on their attitude. In some cases this might be true. But, only as part of a greater whole, starting with an understanding of worship itself. It’s a 24/7 sort of thing! If you get that, you get a lot out of worship anywhere and everywhere!

Bonus round…

Here are a few perspectives on Romans 12:1-2. Perhaps these will help you think about how a worshipful way of life enables us to experience the presence of God.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. –Romans 12:1-2, NIV

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So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. –Romans 12:1-2, MSG

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I’m pleading with you, brothers and sisters, to completely surrender your lives to God. This is your logical act of worship, that which is made reasonable in view of the fact you are benefactors of the manifold mercies of God, is this: spiritual homage expressed through sacrificial service first to God and then to others.

This is why God set you apart! This is who you are—every single one of you who offers his or her body as a living sacrifice. You are God-pleasing, life-giving sacrifices. Living like you know this really makes God happy! This is what it means to live the good life. Your very being is in harmony with the Creator of the Cosmos. Living this way will not only put a smile on God’s face, it will keep you from being pressed into the world’s way of living. So, go ahead live it up! No! Live it out! If you do this, every day your life will have great meaning.

Every song of praise you sing will flow freely from a heart so fully in love with God that you can’t do anything but praise Him.

Every prayer you pray will be like speaking to your best friend, because it is!

Every time you read the Scriptures it will be like reading a love-letter from God, because it is.

Every time you give your life in service to those in need, it’ll be just like giving something to the Lord, because it is.

That’s what you do, because that’s who you are. So, let your love for God freely flow. You’ll never know how far it will go, but you do know God will see that it does a lot of good, because that’s who you are. He made you that way!

Praise the Lord! –Remixed, Bill Williams

© Bill Williams
2008.02.21