1) Worship tradition, experience & biblical worship perspective
Traditionally for me, worship in the context of the African American experience(s) has been an expression of giving thanks unto God for having “brought us from a mighty long way.” Worship that gave “true thanks” was to be celebrative and highly spirited and anything less was and still is in some circles, is not considered as worship. Thanking God what he “done done” for you would surely encourage God to do more for you. It is out of this context of worship that I frequently minister, but with a new understanding that worship is about praising God for who he is and thanking for what he has done. Three weeks ago I expressed to my congregation that erroneously we thank God for who he is and praise him for what he does. Many things or people can be the object of our worship. Even worship itself can become the object of our worship as we worship the way that it makes us feel, or in the context of the particular styles that Calhoun mentions like traditional, contemporary, liturgical and emerging. Paul said in Romans 1:25, They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator - who is forever praised. Amen. (NIV) True worship places God at the apex of all that we value and allows us join God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in godly celebrations for all that we have to be thankful for, including and most imporatant, the redemptive work of God in the world through his Son Jesus. The culmination of such celebration is witness in the life of believers by partaking in the Lord's Supper.
2. Sabbath
Sabbath is a time for me to refocus who I am and whose I am in Christ Jesus as a new creation. It is my time join with God in celebrating his redemptive power and love for the world. God created us to be both an object and reflection of his love. It is through worship that I can express my appreciation towards God for the life, death, resurrection and return of his Son Jesus the Christ. The many things that I do everyday rob me of both energy and focus and Sabbath helps me to keep the main thing the main thing. God has given us the Sabbath to save us from over doing it. My vision for ministry, within the context of pastoral ministry, is to develop corporate worship experiences that will facilitate and teach people how to make worship a lifestyle and passionately pursue and value God above all using music, prayer, the Word, fellowship and the giving of time, talents and financial resources as instruments for expressing that value.
3.A Psalm of Rest
Oh how wonderful and great is the God of my salvation.
He rescues me from the enemy of time and ushers me into his rest
The stars in the heavens, the moon and the sun stand still in his peace
The waves of the sea rise and bow down as his Spirit hovers above
The clouds part to reveal the Almighty God sitting upon his throne
Come see the Lord who makes men to lay still in his peace.
Rejoice oh my soul and dance as the heart provides the rhythm
Make glad the soul of my King for he alone is to be praised for the many Sabbaths of my soul.
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2 comments:
Nice work Ben on your post; tonight I was splitting wood in the full moonlight. The beauty of night with the stars and moon on a cold night as the sledge hit the wedge made me think of your post. He gave us wood to build our homes, heat our homes, craft our furniture, and to manufacture paper to express our thoughts and feelings. The beauty, simplicity, and majesty of creation are displayed in the cosmos, tree/wood, and His Word printed on tree paper and lived out in our lives.
Ben,
After reading your post all I could say was Amen. We come from a similiar worship style and I have also began to think that we worship for how it makes us feel rather than how God has kept us and blessed us. I wonder if you just took a survey after church, would it reveal statements that begin, "It made me feel...
Your praise poem touched my heart as you used the elements moon and stars to speak of peace, waves standing still, which indicated God's power. "Rescuing me from the enemy of time" is a line that speaks to all of us as we seek much needed Sabbath rest. God has commanded this, we must be obedient.
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