I wrote this some time in the
1970s. It draws on some things then
being discussed among the non-instrument churches. It speaks to some of the issues today about
the "worship question."
It
is right to learn
from a brother's experience and thinking.
In fact, this is one of the safeguards built into the Christian System
(the church-kingdom) Compare Galatians
1:19; Acts 15:4; 11:4.
Logan Fox was for some time a missionary
to Japan
"The counselor learns to accept the
client, whatever the client's behavior or feelings. This involves neither
approval nor disapproval, but is a deep respect for the person and worth of the
client. This, to me, is love, and this is something we can do in obedience to
the will of God."
"I am now convinced that the church
is failing in its mission of 'healing' because we have failed to heed Jesus'
words: 'Judge not.' We have relied on the power of social disapproval in trying
to change people's behavior rather than relying on the power of acceptance and
love. In this, we have shown that we trust the power of the world more then we
trust the spiritual power of love and holiness."
And this from another brother, whose
name I have forgotten.
"Freedom is not someone's gift, nor
do we need to ask permission for it. We must not complain that we are not free,
and it is ours to act 'freely."'
The devil wants us to believe that we
are still slaves. But Christ has set us free; See John 8:36; Roman,, 6:18; 8:2;
Galatians 5:1. We are already free and just need to act that way!
"A man's mind, stretched by a new
idea, can never go back to its original dimension." (Oliver Wendel Holmes)
This is really another way to say what Jesus said about 'new wine' and 'old wineskins.'
Do we act out what we claim to
believe??? "Revitalize the worship by practicing the presence of
God!" Jesus said HE was right there when "two or three are gathered
together in My name" (Matthew 18:20). Do we 'believe' Jesus is here
as we worship??? If we could see Him with our eyes -would it make
any difference in HOW we worship???
To work something out, you must begin at
the right point. But this may not be where you thought it was. This is
certainly true of the work of the Lord's church.
"I was typical in my approach to
worship. I was focused so much on evangelism and I thought that was what the
church was about. Worship was an auxiliary activity. But in 1958, after hearing
G. R. Carlson speak about the priority of worship, I was convinced that my
approach was wrong. When God calls us to
worship Him, His goals are encounter and action. He wants to meet with us
and move
among us, interacting
with and transforming His people.
God is not administering a Bible quiz on Sundays, checking to see that
everyone is making the right doctrinal
and biblical sounds so that He can bless them the following week." (Jack
Hayford)
"Praise and worship are not the
same. Praise is thanking God for the blessings, the benefits, the good things.
It is an expression of love, gratitude and appreciation. . .Worship involves a
more intense level of personal communication with God, centering on His Person.
In concentrated worship, there is a sort of detachment from everything external
as we enter God's presence...As I made praise part of my daily life, I began to
see the power that God provides. I began
praise in the morning, often singing in the shower. I continued all day long in
the car, in my home, even at work." (Thurlow Spurr)
The worship service is the place
to begin evangelism. And worship grows out of praise in our own life. Our own
praise and joy will lead us to worship with more power. And worship based on praise and joy will
cause others to turn to Christ. In this way our goal of evangelism will be
fulfilled.
"Do not put out the Spirit's
fire!" This is what Paul is
saying in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. "HE will be with you forever!"
That's what Jesus said about the Holy Spirit. Joel spoke of the Spirit being
poured out on both "men and women, both old and young, etc." (Acts
2). We are to be "filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). We are to
"pray(ing) in the Holy Spirit" (Jude 20).
But some, as Forrest H. Wells says, had
in the past "used truth to teach error in order to explain the absence of
an active Lord among an unbelieving people. We had deprived the Spirit of His
role and place among us. Paul warns of having a form of godliness, but denying
the power thereof (2 Timothy 3:5). We have accepted His blood but not His
Spirit. Compare what Jesus said about the Pharisees in John 5:38-40. They
studied the Scriptures intensely
and firmly believed these were the word of God - yet they missed the point when
they did not see Jesus. Note how Paul
brings this out in 2 Corinthians 3:6-18.
"Jesus didn't go from door to
door. He didn't canvass the
neighborhood. He was the Light, and
people who were in darkness came to Him.
He will teach us, day by day, and when we have learned the lesson, He
will give us someone with whom "to share it." He "opens
doors" and also shuts them (Revelation 3:7-8).
Dr. Flavil Yeakley is an expert on
Church Growth. In a recent survey of a typical Church of Christ
"To whom God would make known what
is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ
in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). Compare Ephesians 2:19-22;
Philippians 3:8-11; Titus 3:4-?; Romans 8:31-39.
Book to
read:
Christian, You were Baptized In water And Spirit.
Robert
Leon Gibson
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