Prosperity?

Within the church universal, there is a rather predominant conflict between those who preach a prosperity gospel, and those who call that teaching absolute heresy. The thing is they both make compelling arguments. Still, I think they are both missing the mark with this issue. What we really need to look at is what scripture reveals about prosperity. If we don’t do that, our definition runs the risk of being worldly, instead of spiritual. Let’s face it, if one simply follows their longings and emotions, our perception of prosperity will likely revolve around things like comfort, ease, convenience, fame, or fortune. How does that compare to spiritual prosperity though? One could write a whole book on this subject, but let me highlight but a few key points.

Let's start with the concept of ease. Name a single person in the Bible who had an easy time of it? You can't do it, because not even Jesus himself had it easy. So why do believers assume that they are entitled to an easy life. For example, I once saw a video online of a dramatic car crash. It was posted by the driver, and the description said God must have been with him to have survived such a horror. Yet, a commenter posed the question, if God were really there, why didn't he just prevent the crash entirely. A common perception of those who look only at the surface. Yet, how would you have even known God had done anything that way? God isn't as visible during calm waters, yet the hand of God is often most visible as we overcome the storm that dwarfs us. (Exodus 7:1-6)

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. -Romans 8:28

An often quoted verse that seemingly points to a warm and fuzzy prosperity that people want. Yet if we consider the broader context, that idea falls apart. This one verse is referring to a future glory, yet the entire passage reveals that we will have to suffer through labor pains to obtain that good. I challenge you to look it up for yourself, so you can stop taking it out of context.

My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. -James 1:2-4

This builds upon the last verse, which reveals that God wants his children to grow and mature. Which happens in times of trial, not comfort.

Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.” He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.” He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God. -1 Kings 19:3-8

We see God comforting Elijah in this verse, but notice it comes in the midst of the trial, not as a replacement for the trial.

Two things I ask of you; do not deny them to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that I need, or I shall be full, and deny you, and say, “Who is the Lord?” or I shall be poor, and steal, and profane the name of my God. -Proverbs 30:7-9

People often have extremist notions about wealth. That it has to either be a defining characteristic of prosperity, or an absolute evil. This passage puts things into a balanced perspective. Money is indeed needed to survive in this world, so no need to take a vow of poverty. Yet, if we put all our hope in it, we can alienate ourselves from God.

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength. -Philippians 4:11-13

Verse 11 is often quoted by itself, and not in context. One thing we often forget is that Paul wrote this from prison. 

There is indeed a prosperity gospel, but I hope you realize now that spiritual prosperity is about strength, faith, endurance, and contentment. Not a life inside a glass bubble free from trials and storms, as the world defines it.

The Visual PARABLEist

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The blame game

People often compare life to a fight or a battle, in a spiritual sense that’s true. However, maybe the real reason they say that is that they want their targets well-defined, with no ambiguity at all. They want to know precisely who their enemy is. So our human nature is often on the lookout for something to blame, or someone to direct our anger and frustration at when our environment is not as we would want it to be. Since we like things very black and white in such instances. However, in every day life our conflicts are seldom that cut and dry. We are often at a loss on what our battle is really with, and we frequently feel as we are swinging at nothing but air in our efforts to deal with them.

Manipulative people know this and are all too eager to provide a new target for you to blame your failures on. All for the benefit of their agenda, not you. This has only gotten worse in the Information Age. Allowing people to apply these tactics on a far more epic scale, your proverbial wolves in sheep's clothing.

The question is, how should the believer respond to such situations.

James 1:20 says.
for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

Why should a disciple even look for something to blame and direct our anger at, if such volatile emotions inevitably only lead us astray? Your inability to control your anger often becomes your immediate problem.

Ephesians 4:26 says.
Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

The implication being, we should resolve our anger quickly, not indulge it so that it lingers, giving our negative emotions more opportunity to lead us astray.

Matthew 7:3-5 says.
Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

This reminds us to focus on ourselves first when it comes to righteousness, because we have the most control over self. Instead of base our peace upon the actions of others, of which we have minimal control. Despite the logic of this, our feelings still hate to blame self. Even when we are clearly in the wrong, we want to make it everyone else's fault.

Galatians 6:1-5 says.
Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one will bear his own load.

People will do you wrong on occasion, but we shouldn't let someone else's imperfection become our spiritual problem. There can be a very fine line between a proper rebuke, and just blaming, a line many cross; hence, Paul's warning. A proper rebuke seeks to help people succeed by guiding people through their burdens until they are strong enough to bear them themselves. Blaming only seeks to put people in their place, to 'stick it to them' if you will. Which isn't very Christ like or loving.

Matthew 6:14-15 says.
For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

Blaming is not forgiving, and by not forgiving we condemn only ourselves.

There is also an old joke that says, everyone complains about the weather, but nobody ever does anything about. Funny because it's true. People love to complain, but they don't love getting involved, nor do they like adjusting their attitudes about things they have no control over. I've said it before, but it deserves repeating. Are you master of your emotions or do your emotions master you? If you follow your feelings blindly, it's likely the sinful nature rules you. That is just what the one who blames is doing, recklessly reacting, instead of acting deliberately as a good disciple should. Consider that the next time you feel the urge to point a finger of blame at someone.

The visual PARABLEist

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Owning our mistakes

You have probably heard of the concept of confession in the church. However, Biblical confession goes deeper than just admitting a mistake made. It's about acknowledging what God says about said action is true; that sin dishonors God, is bad for your soul, and sometimes harmful to others. True confession is the first step to repentance. Yet, true repentance is more than just a change of action, but a change of heart. Without a change a heart we can't experience true spiritual transformation, and are not truly walking the path of a genuine disciple. These are central truths of the Christian creed that the church universal needs to reexamine and embrace again.

Why do I say that? Scripturally speaking, God often uses sinful people to discipline His people. We historically see this playing out with the Philistines, the Babylonians, the Romans, and others.

Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and said, “Because this nation has violated the covenant I ordained for their ancestors and has not listened to me, I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died. I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the Lord and walk in it as their ancestors did.” The Lord had allowed those nations to remain; he did not drive them out at once by giving them into the hands of Joshua. -Judges 2:20-23

Let's face it, unrighteous people are attacking the church and the faith from every side right now. The great irony of it is that nonbelievers are using many of the same unloving and Pharisee like tactics that the church has mistakenly used far too often. Things like critical correction, mockery, forcing ideas down people's throats, hating those who believe differently, and shaming people into submission. So one must consider the possibility that God is allowing this to test and disciple his church for our lack of Christ likeness.

The question is, how are we as the church going to respond to this possibility? Will we play the victim as the world does, forsaking Christian confession and repentance. Or will we take a long hard look at ourselves and hold ourselves accountable by addressing these proverbial planks in our eyes. If we don’t, we do not have the right to point fingers, or even have the wisdom to know how to correct properly as a true disciple should. (Matt 7:1-5)

Example speaks louder than lecture. So let us set a good example by examining our hearts and transforming accordingly.

The Visual PARABLEist

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because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. -Proverbs 3:12

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” -Luke 19:10

But I say to you that everyone who is angry with their brother or sister will be in danger of judgment. If they say to their brother or sister, ‘You idiot,’ they will be in danger of being condemned by the governing council. And if they say, ‘You fool,’ they will be in danger of fiery hell. -Matthew 5:22 

The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.  -Isaiah 29:13

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? -Romans 2:1-4

Spirit, Truth & Emotions?

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. -John 4:23

Have you ever considered what Jesus meant by worshiping in spirit and truth? Weather people consciously put it this way or not, I dare say many equate this with emotion. We see this most predominantly, but not exclusively, in the contemporary worship movement. It’s all designed to provoke a positive feeling, and those who go are often motivated by the emotional boost that they offer. However, if catering to our feelings is our primary goal, are we not worshiping self, instead of God? That is definitely not worshiping in anything resembling truth. I also contend that if truth is a qualifier for worship, emotion cannot be, for the simple fact that emotion is not necessarily truth. This is why I say that.

• Facts and truth are constant, but emotions are inconsistent. Feelings often swing back and forth with the seasons of our lives. So how can emotions be an absolute truth?

• Emotions are easily manipulated. When a manipulative person strikes, they always attack your emotions. Unless you believe manipulative people are always right; emotions can't always be truth.

• Fear is an emotion, so if emotions were always true, all our fears would always materialize. That is clearly not the case, so emotions are not necessarily truth.

• We can just as easily have an emotional reaction to a lie as we can a fact. How can we call emotions truth, when they are sometimes based on inaccurate information. 

 
Consider this also. Most of the people who have betrayed you, which you took so personally, were probably just following their emotions blindly. It works the other way to, when people accuse you of betrayal.

Don't think that I'm promoting the opposite extreme of emotions are inherently false. Or that I'm telling you to suppress your emotions as stoicism teaches. I'm saying our feelings need to be tempered in spirit and truth, not replace spirit, and truth. That worship needs to be about honoring God, and not our own feelings.

The Visual PARABLEist

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Losing Hope?

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. -Romans 5:1-5

I have been pondering this Bible passage a lot lately. Since the truth in it seems more evident than ever. Specifically verse three, which states "suffering produces endurance." I say this because our current culture sees no value in suffering, and will go out of its way to avoid suffering, especially when it comes to our children. The result of this is quite evident; we have a generation of people who have little endurance. So they lack the ability to tolerate anything outside their tiny zone of comfort, or accomplish anything significant.

It gets even more interesting in verse four where it says "perseverance produces character." Public schools used to be in the business of instilling character in our children. Now, they have shifted the focus to social justice. While that may seem like an insignificant detail, and these kids may say they want equality for everyone. However, without character, they lack the desire to get directly involved in creating social justice. They will protest and complain, but no further. So all they are doing is pushing that responsibility onto others. They expect everyone else to fix things for them.

The notion closes with “character produces hope.” There is no denying that hope is on a rapid decline. But that shouldn’t be a surprise since we have sabotaged everything that leads to genuine hope. An internal hope that stems from being a strong and righteous person, instead of forcing the outside world to revolve around our fragile feelings.

Let me elaborate. A Christian college in my area still operates on the mantra of “character begins with denying self.” Which flies in the face of our self-indulgent society. A culture that seems more dissatisfied than ever, ironically enough. But that begs the question, is a self-indulgent culture really interested in social justice, as in everyone. Or only as far as it effects them and their tiny comfort zone.

Here is another example; this social justice generation is supposed to be all about volunteering. While they may say that in these polls we keep hearing about, I have a hard time finding real world evidence of it. I know someone who works in a nursing home, and according to them, all these new nurses lack empathy. They are in a job where they are paid help people in need. Yet, they don't even treat the residents as people. They are too self-absorbed to even notice the need, let alone address it without being specifically told. I said this to someone who was in a different nursing home at the time, he affirmed he had experience that first hand.

While the Bible tells us that suffering produces endurance, we are called to help people through it, not be the cause of it. Meaning it’s fruitless to criticize the weak for being weak. The damage that has been inflicted upon the world because of this avoidance runs deep. We will have to do a lot more than complain and protest ourselves to counteract this harm. We will have to set a good example and get involved. We will have to get at the heart of and address the issue, and not just ridicule the symptoms as we have been.

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“In this religious world, those who refuse to take burdens upon them are comparatively little use. Their chief anxiety is to be fed; and they become in time so fastidious that they reject both the milk and meat of the gospel, and demand sweetmeats that spoil the appetite and ruin the health. They are vacillating and unsteady. They seldom hold out. They are driven to and fro by every wind of doctrine and cunning craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. They will try church after church in its turn, but no church benefits them, and they do harm wherever they go. They genuinely end by turning away from the truth, and turning to fables.
Then do not be afraid of burdens that God in his providence would lay upon you. It will, in the long run, be much easier to bear them than shirk them. By taking them cheerfully for Jesus’ sake, and doing the best you can, you will benefit yourself as much as you do others. Strength is gathered by action. “ 

-B.T. Roberts, founder of the Free-Methodist church

Diversity versus Equality

Diversity and equality are buzz words that are being lifted up as virtue by “the world.” However, the way they apply them seem to put them at odds with one another. Yet, nobody seems to notice this inconsistency.

What do I mean? In our current PC culture, it is somehow wrong to point out any difference. It doesn't matter if the intent is good, bad, or indifferent; you are automatically deemed racist, sexist, elitist, or some other inflammatory term that applies to the issue by doing so. But, if diversity is supposed to be a good and positive thing, why is it bad to highlight details of it? Granted, our world may only be applying diversity in a very narrow and fixed way, but I think it goes deeper than that. It likely comes from the belief that the only way to make everyone equal, is to make everybody the same. So pointing out how we are in reality diverse, is somehow promoting inequality in some people's eyes.

One must realize this incongruence fits right into a rather strong element of human nature that is very easy to follow blindly. If equality and diversity are ever to live in harmony in a Biblical way, we must be aware of and seek to overcome this tendency, not give into it.

Let me put it this way, they say kids are cruel, and why is this? Children naturally notice differences and make judgments on them. It starts as soon as they can talk, nobody has to teach them this. It only progresses as middle and high school comes rolling around. Where they break off into cliques; mini sub-cultures that grants them the acceptance we desire, but requires us to fit into a pre-determined mold, as well as expect us to declare yourselves superior to the people outside it. Yet, we wonder why diversity is often seen as a bad thing, when our introduction to it involves being picked on and bullied.

While we may learn some tact when we get out of college. The scars of the past remain, and we often end up looking at the world through the eyes of the broken children we once were. Leading us to live out a one size fits all path. To afraid to rock the proverbial boat, and never honoring the unique creation God made us to be. A built in diversity we are often tragically unaware of because we wasted our youth seeking approval of the masses that are just as lost as we are.

When you get down to it, God chose to make us diverse so that we would need each other, with the hope we would help one another with our gifts. So that, we would be stronger as a community than as individuals. Not an excuse to exalt self, dismiss others, or imitate one another. In the unlikely event that people manage to recreate ourselves as uniform drones, you wouldn't need anybody since you would be no more able than anyone else; and nobody would need you either. There would be nothing special about you, and average would be the new perfect.

Saying this, I'm sure there are those who think an absolute equality that leaves no room for diversity sounds great. But, I am sure that is their emotional scars and insecurity talking. I will be the first to admit that Pharisee like church people can be perpetrators of this abuse as well. But let me point out, they are likely projecting their emotional wounds and inadequacy as well. They are just wrongly using the pretense of God to rationalize it.

Yet, I am here to tell you there is healing for all this. But, it has no chance of happening if you do not embrace God's true will and model for community, which is unity in diversity AKA "the body of Christ." (1 Corinthians 12) It will not happen if you insist that everyone around you think, feel, and value what you do. It won't happen if you seek the approval and acceptance of the world above self discovery. Let's face it, all the people you are at odds with over your mere comfort and preferences are likely doing the exact same thing as you are. They just feel different from you, and their definition of comfort is quite diverse of yours.

Biblical diversity goes deeper than skin, and even emotions, it goes to the core of whom we are. So the church must learn to uplift and celebrate all our God given talents, and not just the few we currently made sacred cows of. If we don't, It just makes it easier for the world to sell this shallow brand of diversity that's all about self and not community. 

The Visual PARABLEist  

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It is these worldly people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing divisions. -Jude 1:19

“Coming together is a beginning, working together is a process, staying together is a success.” - Henry Ford

"Cultural differences in the body of Christ enable different types of people to draw near to the heart of Jesus. . . . Jesus did a fantastic job of knowing His audience and speaking directly to their hearts. For example, Jesus talked sheep to shepherds, fish to fishermen, and bookish theology to bookish theologians. He was all things to all people. I think that our differences enable us to speak richly and directly to the hearts of all types of people. . . .
   Culturally homogeneous churches are adept at targeting and attracting a certain type of person and creating a strong group identity. However, attendees at such churches are at a higher risk for creating the overly simplistic and divisive . . . labels that dangerously lead to inaccurate perceptions . . . as well as hostility and conflict. What often begins as an effective and culturally specific way to reach people for Christ ends up stifling their growth as disciples. Perhaps this is because we often fail to make a distinction between evangelism and discipleship. People can meet God within their cultural context but in order to follow God they must cross into other cultures because that’s what Jesus did in the incarnation and on the cross.
   Discipleship is cross-cultural. When we meet Jesus around people who are just like us and then continue to follow Jesus with people who are just like us, we stifle our growth in Christ and open ourselves up to a world of division. However, when we’re rubbing elbows in Christian fellowship with people who are different from us, we can learn from each other and grow more like Christ. . .
   For this reason, I believe that churches and Christian organizations should strive for cultural diversity. Regardless of ethnic demographics, every community is multicultural when one considers the various cultures of age, gender, economic status, education level, political orientation and so on. Further, every church should fully utilize the multifaceted cultural diversity within itself, express the diversity of its local community, expertly welcome the other, embrace all who are members of the body of Christ [which is everyone] and intentionally collaborate with different churches or organizations in order to impact the kingdom. And churches situated in multi-ethnic communities—I’m not letting you off the hook—you should absolutely be ethnically diverse . . . seeing culturally different others as God’s gift to us." -Christena Cleveland, social psychologist, theologian, and professor at Duke Divinity School

First seek to understand, then to be understood.

The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret. Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.” When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?” So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. -John 18:19-24 nasb

The above passage is one of the more obscure trials of Jesus. Only the gospel of John mentions Jesus being questioned by the former high priest Annas. A man who was stripped of his official authority by the Roman Empire for performing executions. Yet still maintained some unofficial authority in the eyes of the Jews. But I'm not writing today to talk about the obvious implications of Annas' role in Christ's crucifixion. Instead, I want to look at the less obvious lesson about emotions, and what it adds to my recent writings on the subject. As I have stated earlier, the Bible never uses the word emotion, but Jesus does indirectly address the subject here.

What we see happening is the temple officer rebuking Jesus with an emotional outburst. Jesus then essentially says, if you're accusing me of something, accuse me properly, and specifically. Obviously knowing that he can't in his state of reactionary anger.

Is that not so very indicative of human nature? When we respond when emotions are high, there is often little in the way of discernible facts, logic, or reason within it. Yet, we expect people to know what we mean, yet have the nerve to get more upset when they don't. That is the danger of emotions, one can react to them without examining or even understanding them. Yet, we wonder why things don't turn out better when we indulge them thoughtlessly.

I’m sure we’ve all been in a position where we have asked people to explain themselves after an emotional outburst, but they can’t seem to find the right words, but only add more abstract expressions to their reply. A strong indication that they are only reacting hastily, instead of acting deliberately. That they have not actually examined their own feelings, they are just indulging them blindly. We have all likely been that person at some point as well. Such actions inevitably create confusion, increase animosity, and harms relationships.

Let me be clear, I'm not telling you to suppress or deny your emotions, nor am I telling you to dismiss the feelings of others. None of these common extremes are healthy. Instead, I'm encouraging you to examine your emotions carefully, because real truth lies at the roots of them. You may just find greater understanding of both yourself, and others this way. Be the master of your emotions, don’t let you emotions master you.

When you get down to it, many recent mass shootings are extreme forms of emotional outbursts. Also, many common everyday conflicts occur because we can't accept the fact that other people feel different about issues. Which leads us to try to tell people how they should feel, instead of trying to understand the origin of their feelings. Guess what, people will not change the way they feel just because you demand it of them. You also have no hope of changing a thing if you don't seek to understand what lies at the heart of the issue. Yet, if you did look closer, you may just discover it's not all about your comfort and convenience. Remember, it's very easy to apply logic and reason to other people's problems; but when it's our own situations, it all becomes very complicated by emotion. Image how different our world would be if we would only seek the truth behind our emotions before we acted.

  The Visual PARABLEist

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The heart of a disciple.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” -John 13:34-35

Of all the things Jesus could have said here, he used love as a qualifier. Yet, I believe what he did not say here is just as revealing as what he did say. He did not say everyone will know that you are my disciples by your doctrine, your logic, or even your holiness. The very things that the unloving put front and center I might add. I'm sure that Jesus understood that we are emotional creatures. Knowing this he realized that facts, figures, and reasonable arguments have little effect on us if they don't affirm our feelings first.

We see this concept playing out on social media continually. People are searching for and sharing data, and arguments on every issue that is convenient for them, in service of their own comfort. Yet it's all quickly dismissed without a second thought by those who feel different. Yet, the dismissing people are engaging in the same futile behavior, with identical results. Both sides expect their brand of logic to change everything, but in the end it never changes anything. Reason only has value to emotional beings if it serves our feelings first.

Jesus was trying to tell us that love can conquer and break through where logic does not. Yet, why does the church routinely forsake love for logic, reason, and doctrine? Maybe because while we all want to be loved, to love others means putting our emotions in a vulnerable position. Apparently, there is more to this qualifier of love than we give it credit for.

The Visual PARABLEist

“There is a simple reason I never listened to street preachers: they didn’t seem to care about me. It wasn’t that they were annoying. I found their passion admirable, and I appreciated people who stood up for what they believed. Rather, it was that they treated me like an object of their agenda. Did they have any idea how their message would impact my life? Did they even care? . . . Unfortunately, I have found that many Christians think of evangelism the same way, foisting Christian beliefs on strangers in chance encounters. The problem with this approach is that the gospel requires a radical life change, and not many people are about to listen to strangers telling them to change the way they live. What do they know about others’ lives? . . . Effective evangelism requires relationships, there are very few exceptions.” - Nabeel Qureshi, Seeking Allah, finding Jesus

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Worship Wars

I've been a part of the church universal for decades now, and I've seen many shifts in worship over the years. So naturally I've encountered many strong opinions over these shifts as well. Unfortunately, many of these opinions are often based upon emotion, sentiment, and preferences instead of truth. Let's face it, when our objective is to gratify our feelings via our preferences, God is taking a backseat to self; which obviously isn't proper worship at all. So the subject warrants an objective look as things are starting to shift yet again.

One of the biggest shifts in recent decades was the contemporary worship movement that saw its peak in the 90's. For many critics of it, it was unfamiliar, which ultimately made it uncomfortable. Leading to many vague, but emotionally charged criticisms of contemporary worship. Which were sentimental reactions, not theological arguments. People who were all for it, found it emotionally up-lifting. While they may say it was actually spiritual and not emotional. However, many proponents of the contemporary worship movement are starting to admit that it in no way produced good disciples. Which is strong evidence that contemporary enthusiasts were confusing emotion for spirit.

The primary difference between contemporary and traditional worship is the music. Many argue that hymns are more doctrinally sound and convicting, where contemporary praise music is but fluff that doesn't go any deeper than what God does for us. These are but broad and blanket statements that may sometimes ring true, but not always. For example, the famous hymn, Come Thou Fount, is very much a song about God's provision, so it's very praise song like in its subject matter. Plus, it's not that there are not convicting praise songs that are challenging to us as disciples. It's just they are not the ones that become famous and popular. Which I dare say reflects more upon the people listening, than the style of music.

One good argument I have heard against contemporary worship, is that it functions mostly as an attractant. Which is a product of evangelism and not worship. While we need both, we shouldn’t forsake one to emphasize the other. (Luke 11:42) No matter how much we may need new converts right now. Because of the contemporary worship movement's failures, it has led many to bring back liturgical worship in recent days. Which is a very old style that predates what we often refer to as traditional worship. While people are offering many reasons for this change, the most common being, this is what millennials supposedly want. I dare say the real reason is that it dates to a time before the church started to lose its hold in our world. As if that is the only factor in this loss.

But just like any other shift, it’s unfamiliar and it violates peoples comfort zones. So we are already encountering resistance to it. One of the big arguments against it, is that it can become rote. However, you can make the same argument about hymns and praise songs. We often sing along without any conscious thought once they become familiar to us. It’s just that the emotive aspect of music often camouflages how rote it can really be. Anything can become rote if the individual allows it. That burden lies on the sincerity of the worshiper, not the worship style. Not that I don’t understand where they are coming from when they call it rote. It was not until I had to fill in for the absent pastor and the responsibility of leading people in liturgy fell on me, did the real gravity of our responsive readings really strike me. It was through practicing it in private where I was really able to meditate on the power of the liturgy, not in corporate worship. So I challenge you, before you dismiss liturgy, to bring it into your private worship, assuming you even set aside a time for that. This experience got me thinking about some of the few times that scripture reveals what worship looks like in heaven.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.” -Isaiah 6:1-3

After this I looked, and there in heaven a door stood open! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the spirit, and there in heaven stood a throne, with one seated on the throne! And the one seated there looks like jasper and carnelian, and around the throne is a rainbow that looks like an emerald. Around the throne are twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones are twenty-four elders, dressed in white robes, with golden crowns on their heads. Coming from the throne are flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and in front of the throne burn seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God; and in front of the throne there is something like a sea of glass, like crystal. Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with a face like a human face, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing, “Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.” And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” -Revelation 4:1-11

These scenes definitely have the earmarks of liturgy to them. That in itself is probably the best argument for liturgical worship you will ever find. Since it’s based upon examples from scripture, and not emotion, sentiment, or personal preference.

While liturgical worship may seem like a burdensome cross to bear for many. But let me remind you that Jesus told us to deny self, take up our cross, and follow him. (Matthew 16:24) So maybe it's about time we set aside the emotion, and preferences that causes us to follow self. Then start to offer true devotion and reverence for God by revealing his glory, as proper worship should. Maybe liturgy really is an effective way to get back to the true heart of sincere worship. A method that actually educates it’s followers, not just entertain them.

The Visual PARABLEist

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Human Nature

For those who were following my series on the human heart might have noticed I took a break from it over the Christmas season to do an Advent project. Soon, after an opportunity to guest speak came along, which I seized the opportunity to utilize some of my new found knowledge on the subject of the heart. Which you can watch for yourself at the link below. I hope to be back to my series very soon.
Human Nature

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