The Fog of the Crystal Clear
There is a healthy agony to having a good question on my mind. To have three questions on your mind is, perhaps, the same thing. You tell me, O reader...
What is worship and where does it happen and is it my fault if I sing a Psalm with an instrumental accompaniment in an act that some people call formal worship? How can I maintain unity and a good Christian testimony in other churches, while still maintaining the integrity of my conscience?
that's number one.
What does it really and truly mean that God is sovereign? What does it mean to pray to Him and ask Him to grant a request? How can I avoid fatalistic prayers, and maintain a dynamic relationship with God, while still affirming absolutely His omniscience and omnipotence?
that's number two. Honors Bible classmates will recognize where this one came from. :P
And here's the last (and least):
What on earth am I doing here, and what should I be doing with myself?
A hundred different roads lie in the future, and so many things confront me from the past. Life is a confusing muddle. The more I examine my own, the more I realize how little I practice all the things I am convicted of--of being called to worship, called to learn, called to mercy and service, called to love and encourage. In practice, the application is confusing: When? Where? How? How often? How Much?
This is not just a dump, I hope, but a chance for you and I to consider together. "The uncontemplated life is not worth living," said Socrates. And Jesus said that the way to destruction is broad. Many of my blog readers have most likely already confronted at least one of these questions, and I am anxious to hear their voice...
What is worship and where does it happen and is it my fault if I sing a Psalm with an instrumental accompaniment in an act that some people call formal worship? How can I maintain unity and a good Christian testimony in other churches, while still maintaining the integrity of my conscience?
that's number one.
What does it really and truly mean that God is sovereign? What does it mean to pray to Him and ask Him to grant a request? How can I avoid fatalistic prayers, and maintain a dynamic relationship with God, while still affirming absolutely His omniscience and omnipotence?
that's number two. Honors Bible classmates will recognize where this one came from. :P
And here's the last (and least):
What on earth am I doing here, and what should I be doing with myself?
A hundred different roads lie in the future, and so many things confront me from the past. Life is a confusing muddle. The more I examine my own, the more I realize how little I practice all the things I am convicted of--of being called to worship, called to learn, called to mercy and service, called to love and encourage. In practice, the application is confusing: When? Where? How? How often? How Much?
This is not just a dump, I hope, but a chance for you and I to consider together. "The uncontemplated life is not worth living," said Socrates. And Jesus said that the way to destruction is broad. Many of my blog readers have most likely already confronted at least one of these questions, and I am anxious to hear their voice...
posted by Unknown at 7:17 PM
2 Comments:
Question 1:
What is worship?
Strictly speaking in the most general sense, to worship the Lord is to live rightly in relation to Him--to obey Him and seek Him. Thus we worship the Lord in the living of our lives--or else we rebel against the Lord in the living of our lives.
To pray, praise, etc. are particular acts of worship.
Worship, then, in the most general sense occurs everywhere.
But if I understand rightly, your real question is more particular. To paraphrase,
"[Am I sinning] if I sing a Psalm with an instrumental accompaniment in an act that some people call formal worship?"
The answer to that is found in your own understanding and convictions regarding Scripture. It is said, "But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin." (Rom. 14:23). So I would say that--just as in the case of the meat--regardless of the objective status of the singing, if you can't partake in faith, then don't.
Moving beyond that basic point, I would say, "Why would you be at fault/sinning if you partook? What command of God constrains you?" I think clearly answering that question will greatly help you clarify your thoughts. Once you have settled the manner and measure in which this issue is dealt with by God's word, then you can progress in assessing your obligation.
For example, in your understanding of Biblical teaching is the issue in question a disputable matter? In that case we have the command, "Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters." (Romans 14:1) And also, "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose [. . .] All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained." (Philippians 2:1-2,3:15-16).
In conclusion you express concern about, "How can I maintain unity and a good Christian testimony in other churches, while still maintaining the integrity of my conscience?" I think that if you find the matter disputable and that you are able in good conscience to put up with other people singing with musical accompaniment--then unity, testimony, and integrity (from your perspective) can be accomplished either by joining or not as your conscience leads. You will not be acting contentiously, or judging others.
Question 2:
"What does it really and truly mean that God is sovereign?"
It means that everything is accomplished in conformity with His will.
But that is obvious. Your real question is, "What does it mean to pray to Him and ask Him to grant a request? How can I avoid fatalistic prayers, and maintain a dynamic relationship with God, while still affirming absolutely His omniscience and omnipotence?"
As you have phrased this, I would say God's omniscience and omnipotence don't come into the question. For a Christian to make a petition in no way implies that God was unaware of the matter before hand, or somehow lacking in power. If one has true faith in God, that presupposes His omniscience and omnipotence. For a Christian to pray to God inherently affirms the omniscience and omnipotence of God.
However, even disregarding the last bit of your question, we still have: "What does it mean to pray to Him and ask Him to grant a request? How can I avoid fatalistic prayers, and maintain a dynamic relationship with God?"
I think we all struggle with this throughout our lives, at least as much experientially as theoretically. There are those times when you feel fatalistic, or dull rather than dynamic, no matter how well you can repeat theological truths.
But as a starting point to answering that question I would direct you to the prayer of Christ in the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus Christ, above all others, knew the omniscience and omnipotence, and will of God and yet still prayed, ""My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." (Matt. 26:39). One could go on to an entire study of prayer in the Bible (a subject which fascinates me) but here is not the place, or time. As an abbreviated observation, in that prayer Christ clearly makes a request and in the same prayer affirms the sovereignty of God. Is he being fatalistic? That depends on how you define fatalism. I would certainly say His prayer life was dynamic, as we read, "And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." (Luke 22:44)
If I were to briefly put it in my own words I would say that we don't pray to God to enlighten Him, but for fellowship and worship. When we bring our requests before Him we are acknowledging our state (of need, uncertainty, etc) and His Lordship over that.
These answers are painfully short, but the questions really could have books written in response.
Question 3:
"What on earth am I doing here, and what should I be doing with myself?
What you are doing here is serving God, and what you should be doing is seeking His will.
Okay, trite answer. But I don't think you really expected anyone to be able to answer that question for you.
That said, I will offer an observation:
In my own life I have found a certain tension in that question. On the one hand it is right to seek out what God's will is for us in our life, but on the other hand the question can become an expression of a lack of faith. That is, we see the uncertainty and confusion in our lives and we say, "God, I don't want to just walk by faith, trusting that you are leading me through all this. I want to know the answers. Now!"
So, I think it is good to seek God's answers to the question, and to ask Him to reveal His will in our lives, but at the same time not expect all of the answer. In my own life I find the expression of the seeking and the answer, in seeking God's face and walking in the faith of His leading "today."
I don't think any of that answers your questions for you, but perhaps it will help you in your own thinking.
Well, after the aforesaid, I'm not going to say anything except that it's a good thing for you to be thinking about these things and not just taking them for granted. That's what college is for, anyway.
Keep seeking to be like Christ. When you wonder what you're doing or who you are, remember that you're supposed to be trying to be like Him moment-by-moment.
Love you!
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