In this article I will discuss corporate worship. The context is in when the church assembles for the sake of being edified and worshipping God. The principles will apply most assuredly to the individual who is alone. The aspect of worshipping God will be the aspect of hynm singing.
Worship - To adore; to pay divine honors to;
1. To adore; to pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration.
In the modern Christian context, worship doesn't really mean that. Worship usually means
1.singing a song that extols my actions as if I'm worthy of God's love
2. seeking some emotional experience
3.hoping to feel like everybody else seems to feel around me
4.a time to enjoy cool music
The doctrine I propose is that worship is this:
1. Singing of the attributes of God in reverence with supreme respect and veneration, this means the songs contain Truths about God, not things about us that may or may not be true at the time.
2. Singing these songs nakedly because it's commanded, and out of a spirit of thanksgiving for the good God has done us, not necessarily because we feel good.
3. With the hope that God loves us regardless of our emotional state, knowing that worship involves emotion but is not founded upon it.
4. A time when we use music for the sake of glorifying God knowing that it is not necessary and that regardless of the surroundings we came to sing praises to God and sing we will.
Here's my backing in numerical order for these ideas.
1.Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today-and forever!
2.Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossian 3:15
3.Job 1:20-22 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."
In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
4.Col 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Saturday, July 09, 2005
Monday, July 04, 2005
Doctrine
Doctrine:1. In a general sense, whatever is taught. Hence, a principle or position in any science; whatever is laid down as true by an instructor or master. The doctrines of the gospel are the principles or truths taught by Christ and his apostles. The doctrines of Plato are the principles which he taught. Hence a doctrine may be true or false; it may be a mere tenet or opinion.
Here we have Webster's definition of the word doctrine. I bring this up because many Christians seems to undermine it's importance. They act as though it doesn't matter at all. I beg to differ. Doctrine is the premise from which we bring forth action. Christian doctrine is the teaching that divides households and that saves those who beleive. Without doctrine we're just a bunch of people attempting the impossible task of being nice enough for God, which is impossible, it's a treading underfoot of the Son of God. Every revealed truth of divinity in the New and Old Testaments is meant to supply the mind with a spark for action. The point of doctrine is really beleiving that it's true. For instance if we really beleive that Jesus Christ is Lord, which is a doctrine, we will trust Him, beleive in Him, on Him to meet all of our needs, we will also beleive everything He says about how we are to act and seek to follow His commands. So there are two heresies that I speak against:
1:Liberals that avoid "doctrine" by preaching the doctrine "avoid all doctrine to avoid divisions."
2:Wanna be theologians who "understand" everything about everything but are really just like atheist philosophers using Christian language. They teach doctrines pertaining to godliness without teaching godliness.
Both these extremes are problematic one yeilds emotionalism that has fruits of wrong action, the other yields fruits of complaceny and fakeness.
The remedy is an older form of preaching. Preaching that comes from one who is preaching actual Truth, and preaching how that Truth is to be lived.
An example of doctrine and action in the writings of Paul that refutes antinomianism.
Eph 2:1 You used to be dead because of your offenses and sins,
Eph 2:2 in which you once lived according to the ways of this present world and according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now active in those who are disobedient.
Eph 2:3 Indeed, all of us once behaved like them in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of our flesh and senses. By nature we deserved wrath, just like everyone else.
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love for us
Eph 2:5 even when we were dead because of our offenses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
Eph 2:6 raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavenly realm in Christ Jesus,
Eph 2:7 so that in the coming ages he might display the limitless riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8 For by such grace you have been saved through faith. This does not come from you; it is the gift of God
Eph 2:9 and not the result of works, lest anyone boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared long ago to be our way of life.
Here we have the doctrines of salvation by Grace through Faith in Christ. The doctrine that nobody can earn it, it's unattainable unless God gives it, why is that, because we were dead in our sins, utterly unlovable, yet loved by God. But then what does Paul say...........we were prepared for good works, this was done so that we could be good. Other examples of doctrine preceding action are every time Christ's coming in power is mentioned, the doctrine of Christ's return is always preached with an exhortation to holiness because we dont' know when He comes back, so don't get caught with your pants down.
Note: I am not of the opinion that people need to have 100% right doctrine to be saved, that is ridiculous. Christ can save the sinner that heard the faint screams of a martyr preaching repentance before the Son of God, Paul came among some knowing nothing but Christ crucified.
Here we have Webster's definition of the word doctrine. I bring this up because many Christians seems to undermine it's importance. They act as though it doesn't matter at all. I beg to differ. Doctrine is the premise from which we bring forth action. Christian doctrine is the teaching that divides households and that saves those who beleive. Without doctrine we're just a bunch of people attempting the impossible task of being nice enough for God, which is impossible, it's a treading underfoot of the Son of God. Every revealed truth of divinity in the New and Old Testaments is meant to supply the mind with a spark for action. The point of doctrine is really beleiving that it's true. For instance if we really beleive that Jesus Christ is Lord, which is a doctrine, we will trust Him, beleive in Him, on Him to meet all of our needs, we will also beleive everything He says about how we are to act and seek to follow His commands. So there are two heresies that I speak against:
1:Liberals that avoid "doctrine" by preaching the doctrine "avoid all doctrine to avoid divisions."
2:Wanna be theologians who "understand" everything about everything but are really just like atheist philosophers using Christian language. They teach doctrines pertaining to godliness without teaching godliness.
Both these extremes are problematic one yeilds emotionalism that has fruits of wrong action, the other yields fruits of complaceny and fakeness.
The remedy is an older form of preaching. Preaching that comes from one who is preaching actual Truth, and preaching how that Truth is to be lived.
An example of doctrine and action in the writings of Paul that refutes antinomianism.
Eph 2:1 You used to be dead because of your offenses and sins,
Eph 2:2 in which you once lived according to the ways of this present world and according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now active in those who are disobedient.
Eph 2:3 Indeed, all of us once behaved like them in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of our flesh and senses. By nature we deserved wrath, just like everyone else.
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love for us
Eph 2:5 even when we were dead because of our offenses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
Eph 2:6 raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavenly realm in Christ Jesus,
Eph 2:7 so that in the coming ages he might display the limitless riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8 For by such grace you have been saved through faith. This does not come from you; it is the gift of God
Eph 2:9 and not the result of works, lest anyone boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared long ago to be our way of life.
Here we have the doctrines of salvation by Grace through Faith in Christ. The doctrine that nobody can earn it, it's unattainable unless God gives it, why is that, because we were dead in our sins, utterly unlovable, yet loved by God. But then what does Paul say...........we were prepared for good works, this was done so that we could be good. Other examples of doctrine preceding action are every time Christ's coming in power is mentioned, the doctrine of Christ's return is always preached with an exhortation to holiness because we dont' know when He comes back, so don't get caught with your pants down.
Note: I am not of the opinion that people need to have 100% right doctrine to be saved, that is ridiculous. Christ can save the sinner that heard the faint screams of a martyr preaching repentance before the Son of God, Paul came among some knowing nothing but Christ crucified.
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