Purswell starts of by saying doctrine must precede practice. We must have a firm grasp of Biblical doctrine in order to worship correctly. Theology has an enduring effect on how you worship. If you have convictions of what you are doing, faith will come.
He names a couple reasons as to why we gather for corporate worship.
1. To encounter God - Hebrews 12:22-24
The purpose and nature of the church is to gather in God's presence. We are able to gather in God's presence no matter what type of facility it is as long as we approach the Father through the Son. When we worship on Sundays or any other day, we are worshipping with the angels in heaven and entering the presence of our Heavenly Father. We cannot take this lightly for something of eternal consequence is occurring every Sunday.
2. To respond to God
We cannot by our own means draw near to God. Rather, Christ's redemption allows us to draw near. All true worship is a response to God, to how He has showed himself to us. When we are worshipping, we are not adding anything, giving anything, or offering anything to God. When I heard this, I was shocked. When I worship, I always think that I'm the one giving God the glory. But as sinful beings, our worship cannot be meaningful without God. Therefore, our worship is given on behalf of the Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is then the mediator between us and God. The Gospel yet again!!!!
Something else that I never realized was that worship doesn't stop with the singing. Listening to the pastor give his sermon is also part of worship. Purswell put it this way, "In singing we are addressing God, in preaching God is addressing us." In fact, there's nothing more central to worship than preaching God's Word. This is why the pastor can technically be called the primary worship leaders since they are speaking the words of God to us. True worship is learning how to please God to the best of our ability as well as giving God all the glory by praising Him.
3. To strengthen each other for the glory of God
Gathering together in a corporate setting is for the purpose of building each other up in spirit and truth. We cannot run the race alone. As Christians we must pick each other up when one falls and rejoice when one triumphs. This past year, I have really been blessed with close brothers and sisters who are willing to fight this fight with me. It is even more refreshing to see God's kindness and care through them. As God's army, we our goal is to display God through revealed truth and to set forth His excellencies by deepening each other's knowledge of God.
Further God's Kingdom!
man...that's what ive been reading from Worship Matters by Bob Kauflin!
ReplyDeleteChrist is the mediator between man and God. When the OT saints drew to worship, they drew to the tabernacle because that was the meeting place that God had ordained.
Now, as said in the book of John, Christ became flesh and dwelt among us. Christ came and tabernacled among us. Now we no longer have a physical tabernacle, but a spiritual one in Christ by the power of the holy spirit! That's why we say "In Jesus name, amen" because it is only by Jesus Christ that we even have any access to the Father. The privilege of corporate worship, fellowship, missions, preaching, love, and all of the Christian life is bought for us by the blood of Jesus Christ! And those blessings still shadow in comparison to us being forgiven, show love and grace, and being reconciled to the father as explained in Romans chapter 3!
So when I see corporate worship today, with all of its entertainment minded, feelings-based, scenery emphasized style, I wonder, where has Jesus Christ gone, where has singing about Christ on the cross gone?
Obviously we should have worship in response to God. But man, its way overemphasized today. hahaha just listen to Christian radio for 20 min lollll
Good post bro