The Iron Pen #57

GOD & COUNTRY

"A churchless community, a community where men have abandoned and scoffed at or ignored their religious needs, is a community on the rapid down grade." Theodore Roosevelt

IS THAT REALLY WORSHIP?!

Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.

 For several years now my spirit has become increasingly uneasy with what is being passed off as "worship." After careful observation, I fear much of modern "worship?" is contrived to arouse and stimulate the flesh. Entertainment is being substituted for preaching. Psychology is offered as the answer to life’s problems instead of obedience to the Word of God. Bright, sensuous music is used to stir the emotions of the people in many churches today to make them feel good and present an "atmosphere" for worship. My question…Is that really worship? According to the Bible it is no! True biblical worship is not an enthusiasm for the Lord which we promote by human generated means. Our Lord Jesus Christ said in John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth..

 Arthur W. Pink addressed the issue of worship in his three volume commentary on John published in 1945. As I read his words, I was amazed at how timely his commentary is for our day.

 "We must worship ‘in spirit,’ and not merely with the physical senses. We cannot worship by admiring grand architecture, by listening to the peals of a costly organ or the anthems of a highly trained choir. We cannot worship by gazing at pictures, smelling incense, counting of beads. We cannot worship with our eyes or ears, noses or hands for they are all ‘flesh,’ and not ‘spirit.’ Moreover, spiritual worship must be distinguished sharply from social worship, though there are few today who discriminate between them. Much, very much, of our modern so-called worship is soulical, that is, emotional. Music which makes one ‘feel good,’ touching anecdotes which draw tears, the magic oratory of a speaker which thrills his hearers, the cleaver showmanship of professional evangelists and singers who aim to ‘produce an atmosphere’ of worship(?) and which are designed to move the varied emotions of those in attendance, are so many examples of what is soulical and not spiritual at all. True worship, spiritual worship, is decorous, quiet, reverential, occupying the worshipper with God Himself; and the effect is to leave him not with a nervous headache (the inevitable reaction from the high tension produced by soulical activities) but with a peaceful heart and a rejoicing spirit."

Contrary to popular belief and practice, worship is neither a function of the flesh nor humanly generated emotions. It is of the spirit! Philippians 3:3 says, For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. In fact, Christ denounced those who presumed to worship by fleshly means. Christ says in Matthew 15:8-9 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

 God directs how we are to worship Him "…they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.." Therefore as believers we must carefully examine our worship. If we see that our "worship" is mindless, shallow, and/or of the flesh and not the spirit…repent! Consider this verse in closing, God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. Psalms 89: 7

Success In Life

The greatest victory obtainable in this life is that of fulfilling the possibilities of personality, and the greatest defeat is that of failure in this direction. Recognizing that every individual life is a creation of God, having its own peculiar forces and values, we assert that the fulfilling of life consists in realizing to the full the life bestowed.

Point To Ponder

If God is a reality, and the soul a reality, and you are an immortal being, what are you doing with your Bible shut?

 Some Don'ts For Church Attenders

• Don’t visit; worship.
• Don’t hurry away; speak and be spoken to.
• Don’t dodge the preacher; show yourself friendly.
• Don’t dodge the collection plate; contribute what you are able.
• Don’t sit in the end of the pew; move over.
• Don’t stare blankly while others sing; join in.
• Don’t wait for an introduction; introduce yourself.
• Don’t criticize; remember your own frailties.
• Don’t monopolize your hymn book; be neighborly.
• Don’t stay away from church because you have company; bring them with you.