I have called on Your name, O Lord
Out of the deepest pit
You heard my cry with listening ear
And said to me "Fear not"
The last line could be this:
And told me "Do not fear"
I would appreciate input if you have any.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
We Were Not Created To Worship?!?
This phrase caught me off guard as I was reading Harold Best's brilliantly crafted section on worship. I have always heard that "You and I were made to worship" and that God needs our worship. Honestly never having thought about this in depth, my mind has been churning with thoughts about this all day. If we are created to worship, it would follow that the creation was intended to fill in a gap that was missing. It was the phrase immediately following that has really had me thinking; "this suggests that God is a being who needs that kind of attention." God is perfect, and deficient in nothing, therefore there was no gap that needed to be filled by our worship. I love the way that Best describes the human soul, "We were created worshiping - already at worship." At the fall, "we exchanged gods" and "worshiped the creature rather than the creator." This is another implication of the necessity of discretion when putting songs before your congregation. We must think through the implications of what we and the songs we choose are saying, and make sure that they line up with scripture.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Scriptures, our sole authority
As I reflect upon this semester, the thought that continues to appear in my mind is the importance of Sola Scriptura. Sure, I knew that the Bible was powerful and that we could apply it to all of our lives, but throughout the class, the matter of the regulative principle has greatly impressed on me the importance of Scripture alone, in worship, in prayer, in preaching, and all of life. God's Word alone has the power to change people. We must be daily devoted to studying His Word and enjoying Him in the process. Our focus should be on knowing and enjoying God rather than merely doing a good work or a duty. Glorifying God must be our sole passion and the only instruction on how to accomplish that is found in the Scriptures alone. So let us be a people who look to the Scriptures for instruction in every area of life. let us live Sola Scriptura.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Looking Back with Different Eyes
To obtain an accurate view of what I learned over the semester in this class, I surmise that I must not look back at my notes. I must not review the books. I must not reread the blog. Rather, I must think, without aid, about what has changed. For that which comes to mind now is most likely that which will come to mind years from now when I have forgotten the blog, the notes, and perhaps even the class.
So here I will begin. Entering this fast-closing semester, I was uncomfortable with drama, mega-church videos, and the like being used in corporate worship, but I could give no concrete reason for this discomfort. The discussion concerning the regulative principle contributed to my beliefs, providing foundation for an existing structure. The Word of God is the only infallible truth, and corporate worship is the body’s affirmation of that truth to its Head. Therefore, all of worship must be governed by that which God has commanded. As far as I can tell, that is the heart of the principle.
Let me be clear that I am not questioning the motives of those who rethink “how we do worship.” I’m sure some of them are attempting to honor God with their performances. However, that which distracts or detracts from the unchanging message of God, leaving behind theology for cultural, therapeutic appeasement, is wrong. Churches must sing to God, sing His character, sing His deeds, sing His Word. Logocentrism seems a lost cause today, but I know that the words of God will never pass away. The church is called to proclaim those words. Any other pursuit which causes this one to be neglected or minimized in any way is of no eternal value. No other gospel saves. No other gospel can glorify God.
The church does not exist for self-satisfaction or self-help. True, “there is great gain in godliness with contentment.” That’s real satisfaction. The cross, “my grace” God told Paul, is sufficient. No other help, from within yourself or without, can be of any help at all. Sola Scriptura. Soli Deo Gloria.
So here I will begin. Entering this fast-closing semester, I was uncomfortable with drama, mega-church videos, and the like being used in corporate worship, but I could give no concrete reason for this discomfort. The discussion concerning the regulative principle contributed to my beliefs, providing foundation for an existing structure. The Word of God is the only infallible truth, and corporate worship is the body’s affirmation of that truth to its Head. Therefore, all of worship must be governed by that which God has commanded. As far as I can tell, that is the heart of the principle.
Let me be clear that I am not questioning the motives of those who rethink “how we do worship.” I’m sure some of them are attempting to honor God with their performances. However, that which distracts or detracts from the unchanging message of God, leaving behind theology for cultural, therapeutic appeasement, is wrong. Churches must sing to God, sing His character, sing His deeds, sing His Word. Logocentrism seems a lost cause today, but I know that the words of God will never pass away. The church is called to proclaim those words. Any other pursuit which causes this one to be neglected or minimized in any way is of no eternal value. No other gospel saves. No other gospel can glorify God.
The church does not exist for self-satisfaction or self-help. True, “there is great gain in godliness with contentment.” That’s real satisfaction. The cross, “my grace” God told Paul, is sufficient. No other help, from within yourself or without, can be of any help at all. Sola Scriptura. Soli Deo Gloria.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
The means of our growth in grace.
During this semester in this class, I have witness how the book “Gospel Worship” has epoch in Jeremiah Burrough’s life and a superficial impact it has taken in my life this semester. This class has lived up to my expectations I had before the semester began. It has showed me the importance for having foundations in my worship of God and the issues that come with human opinions that do not line up with the Sovereignty of God. Thanking Christ Jesus for giving you to us Doc.
The greatest gift we can receive from God besides His Salvation is prayer. Christ came as prophet like Moses (Deu. 18:18), crucified as the Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7-8), ascended unto the Father after his death, burial and resurrection on the behalf of his elect as our high priest like Melchizedek (Ps. 110:4; Heb. 4:14) who is now seated at the right hand of the Father (Col. 3:1) as our King of Kings like David (Ps. 29:10; Lk. 23:2; Is. 23:1; Acts 2:24-36).
Burrough’s thoughts on prayer were higher than humanistic thoughts they were spiritual thoughts, which God commanded us to do (Col. 3:2). Burrough’s said “God expects that we should have our thoughts, will, and affections, our whole soul acting upon Him in duty of prayer, or else we do not pray to God as unto a God” (pp.281). This statement took me back to when I read “The Sovereignty of God” by A.W. Pink. Pink said,
“Prayer redounds to God’s glory, for in prayer we do acknowledge our dependency upon Him. When we humbly supplicate the Divine Being we cast ourselves upon His power and mercy. In seeking blessings from God we own that He is the Author and Fountain of every good and perfect gift. That prayer brings glory to God is further seen from the fact that prayer calls faith into exercise, and nothing from us is so honoring and pleasing to Him as the confidence of our hearts. Prayer is appointed by God for our spiritual blessings, as a means for our growth in grace. When we seek to learn the design of prayer, this should ever occupy us before we regard prayer as a means for obtaining the supply of our need. Prayer is designed by God for our humbling.”
Burrough’s and A.W. Pink both comprehended the Sovereignty of God on prayer. We are designed for prayer because that is true worship and it cause the Believer to be humbling to God. This class will be forever itched upon my mind for true desire of Sanctifying God’s Name when I come nigh to Him.
The greatest gift we can receive from God besides His Salvation is prayer. Christ came as prophet like Moses (Deu. 18:18), crucified as the Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7-8), ascended unto the Father after his death, burial and resurrection on the behalf of his elect as our high priest like Melchizedek (Ps. 110:4; Heb. 4:14) who is now seated at the right hand of the Father (Col. 3:1) as our King of Kings like David (Ps. 29:10; Lk. 23:2; Is. 23:1; Acts 2:24-36).
Burrough’s thoughts on prayer were higher than humanistic thoughts they were spiritual thoughts, which God commanded us to do (Col. 3:2). Burrough’s said “God expects that we should have our thoughts, will, and affections, our whole soul acting upon Him in duty of prayer, or else we do not pray to God as unto a God” (pp.281). This statement took me back to when I read “The Sovereignty of God” by A.W. Pink. Pink said,
“Prayer redounds to God’s glory, for in prayer we do acknowledge our dependency upon Him. When we humbly supplicate the Divine Being we cast ourselves upon His power and mercy. In seeking blessings from God we own that He is the Author and Fountain of every good and perfect gift. That prayer brings glory to God is further seen from the fact that prayer calls faith into exercise, and nothing from us is so honoring and pleasing to Him as the confidence of our hearts. Prayer is appointed by God for our spiritual blessings, as a means for our growth in grace. When we seek to learn the design of prayer, this should ever occupy us before we regard prayer as a means for obtaining the supply of our need. Prayer is designed by God for our humbling.”
Burrough’s and A.W. Pink both comprehended the Sovereignty of God on prayer. We are designed for prayer because that is true worship and it cause the Believer to be humbling to God. This class will be forever itched upon my mind for true desire of Sanctifying God’s Name when I come nigh to Him.
Concerning the Matter of Prayer...and Foundations and Issues of Worship.
Among the many things I have learned this semester in Foundations and Issues of Worship, one of the greatest is concerning the matter of prayer. I've always desired a more consistent and meaningful prayer life. My grandfather told me once that it's something you will spend the rest of your life making efforts to improve. In all honesty, I never fully understood what prayer is and how to pray until the last year, but it was Jeremiah Burrough's chapter on prayer that God used to kindle a greater desire and motivation to improve.
At the beginning of the chapter, Burroughs declared that we must live in continual dependence on God and pray continually. "That soul that every day and hour is sensible of the infinite dependence it has upon God for its present and eternal estate will be fit for prayer." I believe one of the greatest struggles of living in a prosperous culture like ours is that we don't need to depend on God for everything - or at least we don't think we need to. The problem I've found myself facing is that I will go through an entire day without ever entertaining thoughts of God's Word and how it should change the way I think and live. Since my time in this chapter, I've made changes in my schedule to accomodate Scripture meditation and prayer throughout the day. I hope to continue growing in a continual dependence on God.
At a later point in the chapter, Burroughs says, "Take this one note with you: all those dreadful, vile, unclean, covetous thoughts of yours in prayer have been to God as if you had spoken them in words." He stated that a godly man's prayer life is like a spaniel that "is running from his master, yet, if he gives him a call, he is able to call the spaniel to him immediately." I am a distracted prayer. Rare is the time that I will be fully focused in my personal prayers or even the public prayers of others. Vain thoughts and lusts pervade my mind constantly. Concerning this, I have made changes in the my understanding of prayer which has changed the disposition of my heart during prayer times. Along with this I simply begin my prayers by asking for God's help.
God has used this class to change me as a person and change the way I understand corporate worship. I'm thankful for Doc, for great authors and teachers, for Puritans, and for the Bible. Although God is continuing to grow my prayer life, I have learned many other things as well. Thank you, Doc, for your willingness to teach what God has taught you and introduce us to great men of the faith.
At the beginning of the chapter, Burroughs declared that we must live in continual dependence on God and pray continually. "That soul that every day and hour is sensible of the infinite dependence it has upon God for its present and eternal estate will be fit for prayer." I believe one of the greatest struggles of living in a prosperous culture like ours is that we don't need to depend on God for everything - or at least we don't think we need to. The problem I've found myself facing is that I will go through an entire day without ever entertaining thoughts of God's Word and how it should change the way I think and live. Since my time in this chapter, I've made changes in my schedule to accomodate Scripture meditation and prayer throughout the day. I hope to continue growing in a continual dependence on God.
At a later point in the chapter, Burroughs says, "Take this one note with you: all those dreadful, vile, unclean, covetous thoughts of yours in prayer have been to God as if you had spoken them in words." He stated that a godly man's prayer life is like a spaniel that "is running from his master, yet, if he gives him a call, he is able to call the spaniel to him immediately." I am a distracted prayer. Rare is the time that I will be fully focused in my personal prayers or even the public prayers of others. Vain thoughts and lusts pervade my mind constantly. Concerning this, I have made changes in the my understanding of prayer which has changed the disposition of my heart during prayer times. Along with this I simply begin my prayers by asking for God's help.
God has used this class to change me as a person and change the way I understand corporate worship. I'm thankful for Doc, for great authors and teachers, for Puritans, and for the Bible. Although God is continuing to grow my prayer life, I have learned many other things as well. Thank you, Doc, for your willingness to teach what God has taught you and introduce us to great men of the faith.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Burrough's Exemplary View of God
Throughout the duration of this class I have not ceased to be impressed with the writings of Jeremiah Burroughs. His appeal is broad, his heart warm with love and devotion, and his thoughts obviously enraptured with the excellency and greatness of God. It is particularly on this last point that I have learned much from his book, Gospel Worship.
In these days of prevailing man-centeredness and lack of reverence for God, I found the view of God that he presents through his writing to be quite refreshing and immensely convicting. It is clear when he expounds on proper worship of God that he highly esteems and reveres God. While some of our fellow Christians today are telling us that we can be inventive and creative in the ways that we approach God in his worship, Burroughs stands at hand bearing the reminder of Nadab and Abihu: “I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me”.
In particular, his section on prayer was of great use to me. When he states that “God expects that we should have our thoughts, will, and affections, our whole soul acting upon Him in the duty of prayer, or else we do not pray to God as unto a God”, I am chastened and humbled to realize how far my fear and reverence of God are from where they ought to be. Burrough’s constant display of honor and fear for our infinitely holy God is one that I hope to learn much from as I grow in my understanding of where I stand before God as a redeemed, justified sinner.
In these days of prevailing man-centeredness and lack of reverence for God, I found the view of God that he presents through his writing to be quite refreshing and immensely convicting. It is clear when he expounds on proper worship of God that he highly esteems and reveres God. While some of our fellow Christians today are telling us that we can be inventive and creative in the ways that we approach God in his worship, Burroughs stands at hand bearing the reminder of Nadab and Abihu: “I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me”.
In particular, his section on prayer was of great use to me. When he states that “God expects that we should have our thoughts, will, and affections, our whole soul acting upon Him in the duty of prayer, or else we do not pray to God as unto a God”, I am chastened and humbled to realize how far my fear and reverence of God are from where they ought to be. Burrough’s constant display of honor and fear for our infinitely holy God is one that I hope to learn much from as I grow in my understanding of where I stand before God as a redeemed, justified sinner.
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