Newsletter- December 5, 2009
Giving is important this time of year. This is the season when we remember that God gave all of heaven in his Son to the world. But how limited we are in our generosity.
This year the healthcare debate heated up. I am not a politician but I can see the signs. The gulf between the have’s and the have not’s is ever widening. Personally, I find it difficult to name the name of Christ and sit in my proud prosperous seat having healthcare while a fellow human being suffers without it…and this only because I and others are unwilling to share. There are great limits to our giving.
Does not the Bible say: “It is God who gives us power to have wealth?” (Deut 8:18) Is it not true that our wealth as well as all of God's enabling is not just to be selfishly used but shared? Did not Christ give freely of what he had, without judging the receiver as unworthy?
I have heard dedicated Christians say, "I have no problem with people having health care, or a nice car, or a good home, or...as long as they're willing to work for it, like I do." That is clearly an American statement...legalistic, but American. If only life were that simple? It is not.
No, we don't have to “sell everything we have and give to the poor…then come follow me (Jesus).” (Luke18:22)...I think. Every American -- no, every human should have basic care; food, shelter, and health care. It is basic, necessary for life and joy. Somehow if we are willing to partner with him, God can bring it about…not just health care…but full life care.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Thanksgiving
Not many Christian holidays are closely compared to biblical holidays. Thanksgiving is one of those that is. The feast of Tabernacles was a joyous festival celebrating the ingathering of the harvest near the end of the year. It was a seven-day celebration and is described in Leviticus 23:33-43; Exodus 23:16.
Thanksgiving observances have been around a long time. In America, the formal observance originated with the Plymouth colonists upon their arrival at the Berkeley plantation in Virginia on December 4, 1619. The severe winter killed almost half the settlers. In 1621 the joined together with the Wampanoag Indian tribe and gave thanks to God for their harvest. The Pilgrims provided the fruit of their harvest, and their Native American friends provided the wild turkeys and venison. They enjoyed a three-day celebration of prayer and feasting.
Pres. George Washington proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving Day as November 26, 1789. Pres. Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in the year of 1863 as a National day of Thanksgiving and Praise to God. In 1941, the American Congress proclaimed it a legal federal holiday -- Thanksgiving Day.
Scriptures tell us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. This Thanksgiving as we celebrate with our loved ones in whatever way that is, probably a lot of good food and family reunions, remember that God is the one who makes it all possible.
Thanksgiving observances have been around a long time. In America, the formal observance originated with the Plymouth colonists upon their arrival at the Berkeley plantation in Virginia on December 4, 1619. The severe winter killed almost half the settlers. In 1621 the joined together with the Wampanoag Indian tribe and gave thanks to God for their harvest. The Pilgrims provided the fruit of their harvest, and their Native American friends provided the wild turkeys and venison. They enjoyed a three-day celebration of prayer and feasting.
Pres. George Washington proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving Day as November 26, 1789. Pres. Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in the year of 1863 as a National day of Thanksgiving and Praise to God. In 1941, the American Congress proclaimed it a legal federal holiday -- Thanksgiving Day.
Scriptures tell us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. This Thanksgiving as we celebrate with our loved ones in whatever way that is, probably a lot of good food and family reunions, remember that God is the one who makes it all possible.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Same Sex Unions
With all the furor from the religious right today about the homosexual political machine trying to destroy marriage by bringing in same-sex marriages, I decided I would share some thoughts that have been kicking around in my head.
Marriage is a Biblical institution and God ordained it to be between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24, Man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife.) Since we do not live in a theocracy, we cannot expect the world to follow Scripture, nor is America a Christian nation. It is a secular nation. It makes sense that there is often a difference between what the church and state say.
Every pastor who has conducted a marriage ceremony realizes that there are actually two ceremonies going on: a religious one and a civil one. He or she simply conducts both of them at the same time, melded together to flow nicely. One, ordained and created by God, and the other fulfills the requirements of the state. This becomes obvious with the pronouncement at the end of the ceremony. The officiate says something like this: Now by the authority vested in me as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ and duly authorized by the state of (name) I do now pronounce that you are husband and wife. Both ceremonies have occurred simultaneously and the couple then walks out legally married and blessed by God in their new relationship together. A Justice of the Peace on the other hand would only perform the civil ceremony.
Since marriage is ordained and created by God, it must follow the principles that God has laid out in the Bible. However, the state can do what it wants outside of the religious ceremony, and this may allow for same-sex couples. I don’t think the state should tell the church what to do and I don’t think the church has a right to tell the state what to do. God established the governing authorities (Romans 13:1, There is no authority except that which God has established.) but that does not make them Christian or spiritual.
There is something else at work here. There has been more than 6000 years of sin on planet earth, which has led to many diseases and our fallen nature that shows up in unfortunate and sometimes even perverted ways. Yes, we know that people can inherit diseases from their parents. Should we be surprised that some people will feel like they had been born a man in a woman’s body or a woman in a man’s body? Through no fault of their own, physiologically they just didn’t start out right. Now I’m not saying that all homosexuals are a result of heredity. We all have the power of choice. Often the influence of our environment or our upbringing can strongly lead us. But we must also recognize that this problem of sin affects us in many different ways. Perhaps men wanting to marry men and women wanting to marry women are simply a result of the sinful world in which we live. A desire for a same sex partner may not have originated from choice but heredity.
There are at least two forces at work in us: Our fallen sinful nature, which likes perversion and inherits perverted tendencies from our forbearers. Ones responsibility comes in choosing to follow that desire. That is also where innocence ends and sin begins. Unfortunately those who sense a pull to homosexuality through no conscious desire on their part will have difficulty (more then the rest of us in this area) remaining free from that lifestyle. It may appear that they are cursed by being in the wrong body. It is true, we are all under a curse. (Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the law. Galatians 3:10). We all need Christ, no one is exempt.
Since we live in a secular society, I am willing to accept same-sex couples having a civil union with all of the legal benefits that come with it. That does not destroy the sanctity of marriage. It does not affect me or any others who do not choose to have that lifestyle. Treating these people as criminals will just alienate them further from God and the healing that God can bring in their lives. God loves them just the way they are, as with all of us, and His transforming power can do a work of righteousness in us through Jesus Christ (We are being transformed into His likeness. 2Corinth. 3:18). Jesus died for them on the cross the same as he died for me. Their sins are no worse than mine are, and they are no more deserving of death than I am apart from Christ.
Tolerance, love, and understanding can go a long way in helping each of us find the transforming power of Christ in our life. That is a far greater goal.
Marriage is a Biblical institution and God ordained it to be between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:24, Man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife.) Since we do not live in a theocracy, we cannot expect the world to follow Scripture, nor is America a Christian nation. It is a secular nation. It makes sense that there is often a difference between what the church and state say.
Every pastor who has conducted a marriage ceremony realizes that there are actually two ceremonies going on: a religious one and a civil one. He or she simply conducts both of them at the same time, melded together to flow nicely. One, ordained and created by God, and the other fulfills the requirements of the state. This becomes obvious with the pronouncement at the end of the ceremony. The officiate says something like this: Now by the authority vested in me as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ and duly authorized by the state of (name) I do now pronounce that you are husband and wife. Both ceremonies have occurred simultaneously and the couple then walks out legally married and blessed by God in their new relationship together. A Justice of the Peace on the other hand would only perform the civil ceremony.
Since marriage is ordained and created by God, it must follow the principles that God has laid out in the Bible. However, the state can do what it wants outside of the religious ceremony, and this may allow for same-sex couples. I don’t think the state should tell the church what to do and I don’t think the church has a right to tell the state what to do. God established the governing authorities (Romans 13:1, There is no authority except that which God has established.) but that does not make them Christian or spiritual.
There is something else at work here. There has been more than 6000 years of sin on planet earth, which has led to many diseases and our fallen nature that shows up in unfortunate and sometimes even perverted ways. Yes, we know that people can inherit diseases from their parents. Should we be surprised that some people will feel like they had been born a man in a woman’s body or a woman in a man’s body? Through no fault of their own, physiologically they just didn’t start out right. Now I’m not saying that all homosexuals are a result of heredity. We all have the power of choice. Often the influence of our environment or our upbringing can strongly lead us. But we must also recognize that this problem of sin affects us in many different ways. Perhaps men wanting to marry men and women wanting to marry women are simply a result of the sinful world in which we live. A desire for a same sex partner may not have originated from choice but heredity.
There are at least two forces at work in us: Our fallen sinful nature, which likes perversion and inherits perverted tendencies from our forbearers. Ones responsibility comes in choosing to follow that desire. That is also where innocence ends and sin begins. Unfortunately those who sense a pull to homosexuality through no conscious desire on their part will have difficulty (more then the rest of us in this area) remaining free from that lifestyle. It may appear that they are cursed by being in the wrong body. It is true, we are all under a curse. (Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the law. Galatians 3:10). We all need Christ, no one is exempt.
Since we live in a secular society, I am willing to accept same-sex couples having a civil union with all of the legal benefits that come with it. That does not destroy the sanctity of marriage. It does not affect me or any others who do not choose to have that lifestyle. Treating these people as criminals will just alienate them further from God and the healing that God can bring in their lives. God loves them just the way they are, as with all of us, and His transforming power can do a work of righteousness in us through Jesus Christ (We are being transformed into His likeness. 2Corinth. 3:18). Jesus died for them on the cross the same as he died for me. Their sins are no worse than mine are, and they are no more deserving of death than I am apart from Christ.
Tolerance, love, and understanding can go a long way in helping each of us find the transforming power of Christ in our life. That is a far greater goal.
We are Blessed!
We are blessed in this country, this gives us a responsibility to help others.
If you own inspirational books, you are abundantly blessed. One third of the world does not have access to even one.
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the 1 million who will not survive the week. (From United Nations Population Division) If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people around the world.
If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than almost 3 billion people in the world.
If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy. (Adapted, Pearson Education)
If your parents are still married and alive, you are very rare – even in the U.S.
If you hold your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because although the majority can, most do not.
If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over 1 billion people in the world who cannot read anything at all. (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO)
From Parables, Etc.
If you own inspirational books, you are abundantly blessed. One third of the world does not have access to even one.
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the 1 million who will not survive the week. (From United Nations Population Division) If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people around the world.
If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than almost 3 billion people in the world.
If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy. (Adapted, Pearson Education)
If your parents are still married and alive, you are very rare – even in the U.S.
If you hold your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because although the majority can, most do not.
If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over 1 billion people in the world who cannot read anything at all. (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO)
From Parables, Etc.
Worship From Scriptures
WORSHIP
From the Scriptures
By Gary J. Tolbert
INTRODUCTION
Worship: 1. The reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol or sacred object. The ceremonies, prayers or other religious forms by which this love is expressed. 2. Ardent devotion; adoration. To honor and love a deity, to regard with ardent or adoring esteem or devotion.
The Scriptures are the principle place we discover how God has been worshipped in the past and how He desires to be worshipped today. The First Angel's Message is very close to Adventist theology. We often look at this message as the Gospel, the Judgment and the Sabbath (worship). But it does say, “Worship Him" (Rev 14:6,7) This worship is much more then just keeping the Sabbath holy. His message is a message of getting back to worshipping God wholly and completely. The worship of God is integral to the Adventist message and the Word of God.
OLD TESTAMENT WORSHIP
A large part of Old Testament (OT) worship has to do with the Sanctuary Services. God told the Israelites to build a Sanctuary that He may dwell among them. (Ex 25:8) The "Tent of Meeting" was placed in the middle of the camp. Worship was to be central in the life of God's people. Clearly the model for worship was built around these services. All of the services and ceremonies of the Sanctuary taught salvation for the people. This salvation actually was dependent upon the coming of the Messiah, Jesus. Even though the "Shekinah Glory" dwelt in the temple, the temple was not God's house. God does not dwell in houses made by man. In fact, the heavens cannot contain Him. (1Kings 8:27) The worship of Israel was filled with symbols like the furniture of the Sanctuary and many of the sacrifices connected with it. These all pointed to Christ. (Heb 10)
Other than the services of the Temple, OT worship involved mostly a recounting of the mighty acts of God. (Deut 26:3-11; 2Chron 20:1-23) In Israel God also gave the people Festivals during the year to celebrate. The most important were: Passover, remembering God's deliverance form Egypt; Feast of Unleavened Bread which followed the Passover; Pentecost, celebrating the season of the wheat harvest; and the Feast of Ingathering or Tabernacles. There were also the Blowing of the Trumpets, which was the New Years Day and the Day of Atonement, relating to the Day of Judgment. These Festivals included seven festival Sabbaths in addition to the weekly Sabbath. There was also a New Moon Festival which came monthly. Later, two more festivals were added, the Feast of Purim, commemorating the deliverance of the Jews by Esther and the Dedication of Kislev, the restoration and rededication of the temple. These two are not Biblical. Each of these Festivals is to be celebrated as a remembrance of the great acts of God for Israel.
Music was a very big part of worship. It was present instrumentally and vocally during the Festivals as well as important celebrations. Because there is no word in the Hebrew language for 'religion', the religious life of the people was a part of everyday life. There was little separation of the sacred and the secular, it was all considered sacred. All the music had a folk or religious purpose. Instruments used were a full line of percussion, stringed and wind instruments. There were also praise teams put together with singers and instruments. (1Chron 15:16; 2Chron 5:11-14)
As we read from the OT Prophets, God was often unhappy with Israel for their sins and for the evil way they treated their fellow man. In Malachi 1:6-10 God describes the sloppy way Israel offered sacrifices to Him. They would not even have given the sick and lame sacrifices to the governor of the land, but they present this to God. In Isaiah 58 He describes their fasting and sacrifices offered to God all the while they are mistreating the poor and others. Definitely, to offer worship to God in an insincere manner or with hypocrisy is not acceptable to Him. God wants us to love Him with all our heart, soul and might. (Deut 6:5) Worship is one important way we can express this. The Catholic and formal, liturgical churches like Orthodox and Episcopal take their model for worship from the OT Sanctuary Service. The sacrifice of the Mass, the symbols, candles all are a duplication and counterfeit of the true worship of God in the OT.
NEW TESTAMENT WORSHIP
By the time Jesus came, the Shekinah Glory had departed from the temple (Ichabod) at its earlier destruction and had not returned. The presence of God was no longer in Israel. When Jesus came, He was the Shekinah Glory, the presence of God. The focus was now away from a building and on a person, Jesus Christ.
The synagogue, or the place of assembly for the people, was the place for Jewish worship. A typical service in the synagogue involved 5 parts: 1- The recitation of the Shema' , a confession of faith based on parts of Deuteronomy and Numbers. There was also a sevenfold prayer offered and the Aaronic blessing. (Lev 9:22; Num 6:23-27) 2- A reading of a section of the law. (first 5 books of Moses) This was done while standing. 3- A reading from the Prophets. 4- A sermon based upon the readings was usually spoken while seated. Sometimes guests were invited to speak this sermon. 5- The benediction.
Music in the New Testament (NT) was primarily voice except in Revelation where we see instruments used. Jesus makes mention of musical instruments in Matt 11:17 and Paul in 1Cor13 and 14. It is significant that Paul mentions in two different places the counsel to "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make melody in your heart to the Lord." (Eph 5:19; Col 3:16) We know what psalms are and we know what hymns are, spiritual songs probably are more closely related to our choruses or praise songs.
The NT Christian service was simple like the synagogue. The principle place we see it is in Acts 2 and 1Cor14. In Acts 2 after the Holy Spirit is given, the church devotes themselves to teachings, fellowship and prayer. (Acts 2:42) Often the church would meet in people’s homes. Every day they met together, they broke bread in their homes, praising God and the Lord added to their number daily. (Acts 2:46-47) In 1Cor14 the Apostle speaks about order and intelligence in worship. In 1Cor 14:26, when they come together everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All these things are done for the strengthening of the church. More than one person can speak, but there should be order and peace. (1Cor 14:29, 33) NT worship was based upon the synagogue and an informal style of worship.
There is biblical evidence for a change in worship from the OT Sanctuary Model to a new style. We see this at the Cross. The Shekinah Glory was no longer in the temple. It hung upon the cross in the person of Jesus. When Jesus died, the curtain in the temple was ripped, exposing the Most Holy Place. (Matt 27:51) The meaning of the Sanctuary was gone, now it was all seen in Jesus. Jesus was the focus. When He ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost and it became the Shekinah Glory, available to all of us. Rather then offering sacrifices as in the OT, we offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, a spiritual act of worship. (Rom 12:1)
When you look at the word 'Church' in scripture, in the 115 places, it never once refers to a building or a sanctuary. It always refers to the people of God. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. (1Cor 6:19) The word literally means, 'called out ones'. His Church is His Body. (Col 1:24) The church is made up of living stones. (1Peter 2:4, 5) The emphasis is taken off the building as in the OT and now is on the people filled with the Spirit. In fact, Jesus said to the woman at the well, (John 4:21-24) worship is not dependent upon a place like a mountain or a city or even a place in Jerusalem. "Yet a time is coming and now has come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." Today the building is not important, the OT sacrifices or sanctuary services are meaningless, being all fulfilled in Christ, true worship, which the Father is seeking is based upon the truth and the spirit. The Catholic and many of the Protestant churches today seem to ignore this truth and put sacredness upon the building, as a carryover from the Sanctuary or Temple of the OT. Though it is important for us to respect the place that is set aside for worship, it is not 'holy' or sacred, the people of God are. This truth should influence the kind of worship we have.
GENERAL PRACTICES OF BIBLICAL WORSHIP
Simply looking at the words in scripture can reveal much about the general practices of worship in both the OT and NT.
The word `praise' appears in 313 places in scripture using various forms of the word. They speak mostly of giving praise to God and often in connection with singing. Because praise is so prominent, a little discussion may be helpful. There are at least a dozen words translated 'praise' and more than 50 words used relating to praise. The six most commonly used words for praise are, (from the OT): hallal - to laud, boast, rave or to celebrate; vadah - to worship with extended hands; Barak - to bless, to declare God the origin or power for success, prosperity and fertility; tehillah - to sing or laud; zamar - to pluck with strings of an instrument, to praise with song and; shabach - to commend, address in a loud tone, to shout.
Praise is not just something you think about. It is action. It is something you do. It must come from the heart to be genuine but it is always active, demonstrative and open. It is not passive or secretive. When 'praise' is mentioned, movement, actions, sounds and songs are seen and heard.
There is strength in praise! In Acts 16, Paul and Silas seemed overcome by the enemy. They were in jail with their feet fastened in the stocks. But they praised the Lord in prayer and song - loud enough for the other prisoners to hear. There was a violent earthquake that shook the doors of the prison open and all the chains fell off There is power in praise! It stops the enemy in his tracks, and Satan doesn't like it. He hates praise to God. So we should not hold it back.
The word 'worship' occurs 178 times in its forms. Most of the time it has to do with true worship of God. The word 'song' appears in its various forms 179 times. 'Music’ appears only 18 times. The word joy occurs in its forms 198 times. You can see from the occurrence of words where the emphasis is in scripture. Praise, joy, song and worship have great emphasis. Music has very little. Yet today, music occupies the most heated controversy in the church.
Lesser appearing practices in the Bible connected with worship are: Clapping, (Psalm 47:1. Isaiah 55:12) Lifting hands. (Psalm 134:2, Psalm 28:2, Psalm 63:4, 1Timothy 2:8) and Dance. (2Sam 6:14. Psalm 30:11)
CONCLUSION
Though this study is not exhaustive from scripture, it does indicate where the meaning is in worship and where the emphasis is. There is a warning that Jesus gives. In the context of putting human tradition above the teachings of God, Jesus condemns this and says it is futile to worship according to human tradition. (Matt 15:7-9) The Seventh-day Adventist Church is certainly a church based upon the Word of God, first. This is our distinction in the world. Our worship should definitely be Biblical. It is my hope that people will look forward to worship in our church, that we will truly be glorifying God in worship and God will accept our praise and worship as heart felt, sincere and strengthen us through it.
From the Scriptures
By Gary J. Tolbert
INTRODUCTION
Worship: 1. The reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol or sacred object. The ceremonies, prayers or other religious forms by which this love is expressed. 2. Ardent devotion; adoration. To honor and love a deity, to regard with ardent or adoring esteem or devotion.
The Scriptures are the principle place we discover how God has been worshipped in the past and how He desires to be worshipped today. The First Angel's Message is very close to Adventist theology. We often look at this message as the Gospel, the Judgment and the Sabbath (worship). But it does say, “Worship Him" (Rev 14:6,7) This worship is much more then just keeping the Sabbath holy. His message is a message of getting back to worshipping God wholly and completely. The worship of God is integral to the Adventist message and the Word of God.
OLD TESTAMENT WORSHIP
A large part of Old Testament (OT) worship has to do with the Sanctuary Services. God told the Israelites to build a Sanctuary that He may dwell among them. (Ex 25:8) The "Tent of Meeting" was placed in the middle of the camp. Worship was to be central in the life of God's people. Clearly the model for worship was built around these services. All of the services and ceremonies of the Sanctuary taught salvation for the people. This salvation actually was dependent upon the coming of the Messiah, Jesus. Even though the "Shekinah Glory" dwelt in the temple, the temple was not God's house. God does not dwell in houses made by man. In fact, the heavens cannot contain Him. (1Kings 8:27) The worship of Israel was filled with symbols like the furniture of the Sanctuary and many of the sacrifices connected with it. These all pointed to Christ. (Heb 10)
Other than the services of the Temple, OT worship involved mostly a recounting of the mighty acts of God. (Deut 26:3-11; 2Chron 20:1-23) In Israel God also gave the people Festivals during the year to celebrate. The most important were: Passover, remembering God's deliverance form Egypt; Feast of Unleavened Bread which followed the Passover; Pentecost, celebrating the season of the wheat harvest; and the Feast of Ingathering or Tabernacles. There were also the Blowing of the Trumpets, which was the New Years Day and the Day of Atonement, relating to the Day of Judgment. These Festivals included seven festival Sabbaths in addition to the weekly Sabbath. There was also a New Moon Festival which came monthly. Later, two more festivals were added, the Feast of Purim, commemorating the deliverance of the Jews by Esther and the Dedication of Kislev, the restoration and rededication of the temple. These two are not Biblical. Each of these Festivals is to be celebrated as a remembrance of the great acts of God for Israel.
Music was a very big part of worship. It was present instrumentally and vocally during the Festivals as well as important celebrations. Because there is no word in the Hebrew language for 'religion', the religious life of the people was a part of everyday life. There was little separation of the sacred and the secular, it was all considered sacred. All the music had a folk or religious purpose. Instruments used were a full line of percussion, stringed and wind instruments. There were also praise teams put together with singers and instruments. (1Chron 15:16; 2Chron 5:11-14)
As we read from the OT Prophets, God was often unhappy with Israel for their sins and for the evil way they treated their fellow man. In Malachi 1:6-10 God describes the sloppy way Israel offered sacrifices to Him. They would not even have given the sick and lame sacrifices to the governor of the land, but they present this to God. In Isaiah 58 He describes their fasting and sacrifices offered to God all the while they are mistreating the poor and others. Definitely, to offer worship to God in an insincere manner or with hypocrisy is not acceptable to Him. God wants us to love Him with all our heart, soul and might. (Deut 6:5) Worship is one important way we can express this. The Catholic and formal, liturgical churches like Orthodox and Episcopal take their model for worship from the OT Sanctuary Service. The sacrifice of the Mass, the symbols, candles all are a duplication and counterfeit of the true worship of God in the OT.
NEW TESTAMENT WORSHIP
By the time Jesus came, the Shekinah Glory had departed from the temple (Ichabod) at its earlier destruction and had not returned. The presence of God was no longer in Israel. When Jesus came, He was the Shekinah Glory, the presence of God. The focus was now away from a building and on a person, Jesus Christ.
The synagogue, or the place of assembly for the people, was the place for Jewish worship. A typical service in the synagogue involved 5 parts: 1- The recitation of the Shema' , a confession of faith based on parts of Deuteronomy and Numbers. There was also a sevenfold prayer offered and the Aaronic blessing. (Lev 9:22; Num 6:23-27) 2- A reading of a section of the law. (first 5 books of Moses) This was done while standing. 3- A reading from the Prophets. 4- A sermon based upon the readings was usually spoken while seated. Sometimes guests were invited to speak this sermon. 5- The benediction.
Music in the New Testament (NT) was primarily voice except in Revelation where we see instruments used. Jesus makes mention of musical instruments in Matt 11:17 and Paul in 1Cor13 and 14. It is significant that Paul mentions in two different places the counsel to "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make melody in your heart to the Lord." (Eph 5:19; Col 3:16) We know what psalms are and we know what hymns are, spiritual songs probably are more closely related to our choruses or praise songs.
The NT Christian service was simple like the synagogue. The principle place we see it is in Acts 2 and 1Cor14. In Acts 2 after the Holy Spirit is given, the church devotes themselves to teachings, fellowship and prayer. (Acts 2:42) Often the church would meet in people’s homes. Every day they met together, they broke bread in their homes, praising God and the Lord added to their number daily. (Acts 2:46-47) In 1Cor14 the Apostle speaks about order and intelligence in worship. In 1Cor 14:26, when they come together everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All these things are done for the strengthening of the church. More than one person can speak, but there should be order and peace. (1Cor 14:29, 33) NT worship was based upon the synagogue and an informal style of worship.
There is biblical evidence for a change in worship from the OT Sanctuary Model to a new style. We see this at the Cross. The Shekinah Glory was no longer in the temple. It hung upon the cross in the person of Jesus. When Jesus died, the curtain in the temple was ripped, exposing the Most Holy Place. (Matt 27:51) The meaning of the Sanctuary was gone, now it was all seen in Jesus. Jesus was the focus. When He ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost and it became the Shekinah Glory, available to all of us. Rather then offering sacrifices as in the OT, we offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, a spiritual act of worship. (Rom 12:1)
When you look at the word 'Church' in scripture, in the 115 places, it never once refers to a building or a sanctuary. It always refers to the people of God. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. (1Cor 6:19) The word literally means, 'called out ones'. His Church is His Body. (Col 1:24) The church is made up of living stones. (1Peter 2:4, 5) The emphasis is taken off the building as in the OT and now is on the people filled with the Spirit. In fact, Jesus said to the woman at the well, (John 4:21-24) worship is not dependent upon a place like a mountain or a city or even a place in Jerusalem. "Yet a time is coming and now has come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." Today the building is not important, the OT sacrifices or sanctuary services are meaningless, being all fulfilled in Christ, true worship, which the Father is seeking is based upon the truth and the spirit. The Catholic and many of the Protestant churches today seem to ignore this truth and put sacredness upon the building, as a carryover from the Sanctuary or Temple of the OT. Though it is important for us to respect the place that is set aside for worship, it is not 'holy' or sacred, the people of God are. This truth should influence the kind of worship we have.
GENERAL PRACTICES OF BIBLICAL WORSHIP
Simply looking at the words in scripture can reveal much about the general practices of worship in both the OT and NT.
The word `praise' appears in 313 places in scripture using various forms of the word. They speak mostly of giving praise to God and often in connection with singing. Because praise is so prominent, a little discussion may be helpful. There are at least a dozen words translated 'praise' and more than 50 words used relating to praise. The six most commonly used words for praise are, (from the OT): hallal - to laud, boast, rave or to celebrate; vadah - to worship with extended hands; Barak - to bless, to declare God the origin or power for success, prosperity and fertility; tehillah - to sing or laud; zamar - to pluck with strings of an instrument, to praise with song and; shabach - to commend, address in a loud tone, to shout.
Praise is not just something you think about. It is action. It is something you do. It must come from the heart to be genuine but it is always active, demonstrative and open. It is not passive or secretive. When 'praise' is mentioned, movement, actions, sounds and songs are seen and heard.
There is strength in praise! In Acts 16, Paul and Silas seemed overcome by the enemy. They were in jail with their feet fastened in the stocks. But they praised the Lord in prayer and song - loud enough for the other prisoners to hear. There was a violent earthquake that shook the doors of the prison open and all the chains fell off There is power in praise! It stops the enemy in his tracks, and Satan doesn't like it. He hates praise to God. So we should not hold it back.
The word 'worship' occurs 178 times in its forms. Most of the time it has to do with true worship of God. The word 'song' appears in its various forms 179 times. 'Music’ appears only 18 times. The word joy occurs in its forms 198 times. You can see from the occurrence of words where the emphasis is in scripture. Praise, joy, song and worship have great emphasis. Music has very little. Yet today, music occupies the most heated controversy in the church.
Lesser appearing practices in the Bible connected with worship are: Clapping, (Psalm 47:1. Isaiah 55:12) Lifting hands. (Psalm 134:2, Psalm 28:2, Psalm 63:4, 1Timothy 2:8) and Dance. (2Sam 6:14. Psalm 30:11)
CONCLUSION
Though this study is not exhaustive from scripture, it does indicate where the meaning is in worship and where the emphasis is. There is a warning that Jesus gives. In the context of putting human tradition above the teachings of God, Jesus condemns this and says it is futile to worship according to human tradition. (Matt 15:7-9) The Seventh-day Adventist Church is certainly a church based upon the Word of God, first. This is our distinction in the world. Our worship should definitely be Biblical. It is my hope that people will look forward to worship in our church, that we will truly be glorifying God in worship and God will accept our praise and worship as heart felt, sincere and strengthen us through it.
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