While there are some who erroneously teach sinless perfection is achievable in this sinful fallen body which we inhabit, what are we to do about those of us who have not reached such lofty peaks? In all my travels, I have yet to find one individual who does not sin. Nor have I found one true believer who does not struggle in their dealings with the evil one (and his minions), the world and the flesh.
The more I study the Scriptures and the revealed will of God as found in His Word, the more I see my own failures. This is particularly true in regards in the area of worship. If you as a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ are anything like me though, you have been misinformed as to what worship is and/or what the contents of that worship should be.
By way of clarifying, I have done this myself and just about all the believers I know use the following terminology or something which is quite similar: 1) Praise and worship, 2) Personal worship, 3) Corporate worship, 4) Family worship, etc., etc.
1. Praise and worship is generally used to refer to the 45 minutes preceding the ministry of the word. Some churches and believers would even disagree with us and state that if there are not certain types of musical accompaniment or choruses or _______, then it is not TRULY worship!
2. Personal worship tends to be described as that period of time each day (or whatever your particular frequency happens to be) when we spend time in reading our Bibles and offering our prayers to our Heavenly Father. Sadly, much of the Bible reading is done with the purpose of reading through a list for the year and not much seems to be sinking in and making a significant difference. And as for prayers, if the barometer of local churches is any indication, then the vast majority have no idea what “Sweet Hour of Prayer” means apart from the fact that it is a gospel song.
3. Corporate worship is similar to the time on a Sunday morning, but some would open the gates a little wider and may even include any time the local body gathers together for the purpose of edifying the saints and building up the work of the ministry.
4. Family worship – This is one of my favourite terms when it comes to worship. Again, we have the idea (and many are being taught) that this is a specific time whereby we come together as individual families for the purpose of reading a Psalm, a chapter from Proverbs, sing a song, try to keep the kids from squirming while seeking to direct their little minds to the Saviour, etc., etc.
The question then becomes, is there anything wrong with these terms? I believe that in their proper context that the terms are appropriate provided we do not stop with set times and definitions in order to try and prove to ourselves and/or others that we are “worshipping” God.
However, it is discouraging to note among true believers found in many local assemblies and churches that the terms themselves are often misapplied, misused, and misunderstood. In other words, these terms leave much to be desired. It leaves too much on the table which is being ignored.
Again, by way of example, there are 168 hours in a week. Of those, the average individual will use up the bulk of the day in work or school activities during the week. Homework, school, or work will account for about 45 hours a week. Sleep will be another 55 hours a week. Eating, dressing, bathing, etc. will consume another 15 hours a week.
The average home watches (recreational viewing pleasure) 4 hours a day of television which amounts to 25 hours a week. Other activities like shopping or recreation consume an average of 10 hours a week. With an average of 2 hours for church (including travel), the common family ends up with about 2 ½ hours per day to find other activities to fill the empty gaps. Out of that 2 ½ hours, a few people manage to find 15-30 minutes for God individually or with the family (if they are consistent). And the time “given” to God is called WORSHIP!!!
So to clarify, out of the 168 hours a week in each of our lives, our worship is confined to no more than 3-5 hours per week!! There is something drastically wrong with that picture!! Does anybody wonder with these kind of figures why homes are falling apart, why our children have no desire for the things of the Lord as they grow into young adults, why we see no true revival in our churches, and why the world does not see us as any different than what they are?
At least, they are not being hypocrites about what they say they believe or don’t believe; whereas, many of us who are true believers call ourselves by the name of Christ before the eyes of the world and are content with saying we worship the God we say we love and adore and reverence with 3-5 hours per week!!
The children of Israel were commanded to keep the Word of God before them and at the gates of their houses. This was to be a continual reminder of the covenant between them and God as a chosen people and also to remind them of the commands that they were to worship the One True God alone. They wore little boxes on their arms or on their foreheads with small copies of those commands written on pieces of parchment. As they went about from day to day in all activities, the box was to be a small reminder that God was to be worshipped with every step, every act, every thought, and every motive!
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ!”
Paul wrote those words to the Corinthians in his second epistle. He knew that the temptations of the world would be difficult for them to overcome. However, just as he told the Roman believers about renewing their minds, so too, he informs these believers in the wicked city of Corinth that they were to bring even their very thoughts into captivity.
Now, let’s go back again to the matter of Family Worship to see how close we align with the commands and principles to keep God first in ALL THINGS!
Picture the average “Christian” home today. Dad and mom can’t get along with each other. The teenagers are in open rebellion. Church is a mere social aspect and not really for the purpose of going to learn and grow in grace with other believers. The only “family” time for the most part is spent parked in front of the television watching predominantly garbage. When the television is not on, then the radios (CD players, IPods, etc.) are blaring out ungodly music in a multitude of various genres. And all of these things are being done by the world in order to capture our attention and bring it into the captivity of the evil one!
Sunday comes around for the above mentioned family, and nobody really wants to go as they are tired from staying up late and filling their minds with the things of the world. Arguments and fights are the order of the morning. The family finally arrives at church and nobody is happy. The brothers and sisters are still bickering as they walk into their class. The parents are putting on a false front (called hypocrisy) and shaking hands with everyone and telling the pastor they are all doing fine!
The message might as well not have been preached as far as they are concerned because they did not hear it, and even if they did, they have no desire to have the Holy Spirit to change their lives. As they walk out, the cycle begins again for another week, but in their minds many are wondering – What am I doing wrong? Is this really what Christianity is supposed to be about?
(to be continued…….)
The Desert Pastor
2 Comments
June 28, 2008 at 10:59 am
That is so true! I think it’s so easy to forget what we are supposed to be doing. We are all desperately in need of being reminded over and over again what we are supposed to be doing!
July 7, 2008 at 6:27 pm
That is what most people do today. It helped a lot.