To Worship God in spirit and truth takes risk. We must be willing to risk our own rights, feelings, and desires. We must risk our personal opinions, beliefs, and traditions and make knowing God the focus of our lives. What are you willing to risk to worship God.
Worship wars have been a problem sense God created man. It’s not a music preference, church philosophy, personal preference, or issue of style. It is an issue of the heart. Always has and always will be.
C.S Lewis says, “God seeks and values the gifts we bring Him–gifts of praise, thanksgiving, service, and material offerings. In all such giving at the altar we enter into the highest experiences of fellowship. But the gift is acceptable to God in the measure to which the one who offers it is in fellowship with Him in character and conduct; and the test of this is in our relationships with our fellow men. We are thus charged to postpone giving to God until right relationships are established with others. Could the neglect of this be the explanation of the barrenness of our worship?” (Matt 5:24)
Chapter 11 of 1 Corinthians is a great example of what our worship should look like. The chapter uses Communion to express how our worship should reflect our relationship with Jesus Christ rather than a rule book of liturgy. Let’s define what Communion represents and how it expresses a heart of worship.
Communion is 1) an expression of the unity and fellowship of the church. 2) an expression of Jesus’ presence. 3) an expression of Jesus’ historical sacrifice. 4) an expression of our new relationship to God through Christ. 5) an act of proclaiming the past event and the future coming of Christ. 6) and a serious act of worship. This is lived out through serious, authentic, and heart felt communion with Jesus and the rest of the church. It is pure and adulterated worship. This type of worship should permeate every thought, feeling, attitude, and action we have. Worship oozes out of the true Christian’s existence.
Two Questions that help you “Win” the Worship War
Beyond the specifics that Paul shared with the Church in Corinth, we have two timeless questions that we can answer as we seek to worship God in spirit and truth. We need to ask – Are we dishonoring God in any way, and what best brings honor and Glory to God in our specific context.
- Are we dishonoring God in any way?
- If yes, then how exactly are we dishonoring God?
- What do we do to stop dishonoring God?
- What best brings honor and Glory to God in our specific context?
- Know the Word, know yourself, know your church
- How do you implement your knowledge?
To Worship God in spirit and truth takes risk. We must be willing to risk our own rights, feelings, and desires. We must risk our personal opinions, beliefs, and traditions and make knowing God the focus of our lives. What are you willing to risk to worship God.
An article paints a clear picture of what risk looks like, and how selfishness isn’t apart of the equation.
What are you willing to “Risk” to Worship God?
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