But if we want to speak of meager we need to understand that the amount most Christians give of themselves to Christ is meager at best. The vast majority of Christians either believe that they can live however they want to six days a week and then seek God and obey Him on the last day and still be a "Christian". Or they live in sin six days a week and do not care thinking that since they put in their time once a week they will earn eternal life.
Can we live how we please six days a week and then live according to the Bible one day a week? Or did Christ intend for something greater than that? Did Christ intend for a heart change that transformed the way one believes? Christ did and does intend for just that. We can find Christ's expectations for the way we are to live in these verses,
Luke9:23-25,
"Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?"
Romans 12:1-2,
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Romans 12:1-2,
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Maybe the ICs have breed this dishonor towards God by the way they have contorted the things of God. Those in authority in the churches have sought out knowledge about the word of God instead of seeking out God. God will reveal things to us in His timing. We cannot force them or logically pull them out of God. It is done in His time and manner.
Maybe because of some poorly conceived theology the ICs have come to believe that lifting your hands up and singing songs to God is worship. To a degree these things are part of the worshipping of God. But they are not the root as we have for so long been taught. Maybe this poorly conceived notion was born out of a desperate pastor to get his congregation truly excited about God. Yet excitement about God is not the root of worship either.
In any other religion, such as Buddhism or ancestral worship, as a believer you can simply go through the motions and never mean it. Other religions allow you to think and feel however you please about others, live however you would like (some do place limitations) and simply do the time to earn eternal life. You can go and bow, say five prayers a day, burn incense, and look honorable to them. Even if your heart is spewing out hateful curses towards that "god" it does not matter. You have done the motions and will inherit eternal life.
Or so they believe. But as Christians we believe that all other gods are inanimate objects. Why then, do we try to continue the same pagan practices. Many people come to ICs thinking how much they dislike or hate God and yet they go through the motions of standing, singing, worshipping, and listening to the sermon. Do you see the similarities? It is because the IC has adopted the practices of pagans. That we can worship God by motions and following the set patterns of behavior expected while our hearts are clouded by sinful lifestyles and thoughts.
Christ had a different opinion. Christ was more concerned by the thoughts of men than by their actions. Jesus said to think to murder that you have done so. That if you look at a woman with lust than you have commited adultery with her. According to Christ you cannot enter heaven by just going through the motions. You have to deny yourself and live for Him daily. That means control over your life and thoughts.
When you take control over your life and thoughts and cause them to be something that pleases Christ you are becoming honorable. Yes, we all fall short and sin but that is much different then a lifestyle of sin. A slip is a mistake. A lifestyle of sin is dishonor towards Christ.
In the new testament we see references where people bowed down an worshipped Christ. This form of worship means, "an expression of profound reverance." Reverance is a feeling of deep respect tinged with awe born out of honor for someone. Our worship towards God is the way we live and think during the day. Because this is what brings Christ honor and shows Him respect. Bowing, raising our hands, singing, and clapping does not bring Christ honor or respect.
This expression should only be an overflow of the way we live and think. Not as the only act of honor. Bowing, raising our hands, singing, and clapping are a form of praise. We see many instances where King David praised the Lord. But this was a form of thanking God for what He had done for King David. Not born out of a lifestyle and thought patterns that honored God. But when King David writes the psalms and lives and thinks in a way that brings God honor, then Kind David considers bowing down true worship.
Let us begin to live honorable lives and think honorable thoughts. That way we can truly worship God instead of calling praise worship. Do not let ICs fool you. They want to believe that everyone can come to Christ easily and praise God in order to have salvation. It makes them feel worthwhile and like they are accomplishing something as you raise your hands. But if you heart and life is far from God it is not worship. Its just an action. But if you raise your hands as an overflow of the honor you have showed God by your life and thoughts and your thankfulness for what Christ has done, then you are worshipping God.
Maybe because of some poorly conceived theology the ICs have come to believe that lifting your hands up and singing songs to God is worship. To a degree these things are part of the worshipping of God. But they are not the root as we have for so long been taught. Maybe this poorly conceived notion was born out of a desperate pastor to get his congregation truly excited about God. Yet excitement about God is not the root of worship either.
In any other religion, such as Buddhism or ancestral worship, as a believer you can simply go through the motions and never mean it. Other religions allow you to think and feel however you please about others, live however you would like (some do place limitations) and simply do the time to earn eternal life. You can go and bow, say five prayers a day, burn incense, and look honorable to them. Even if your heart is spewing out hateful curses towards that "god" it does not matter. You have done the motions and will inherit eternal life.
Or so they believe. But as Christians we believe that all other gods are inanimate objects. Why then, do we try to continue the same pagan practices. Many people come to ICs thinking how much they dislike or hate God and yet they go through the motions of standing, singing, worshipping, and listening to the sermon. Do you see the similarities? It is because the IC has adopted the practices of pagans. That we can worship God by motions and following the set patterns of behavior expected while our hearts are clouded by sinful lifestyles and thoughts.
Christ had a different opinion. Christ was more concerned by the thoughts of men than by their actions. Jesus said to think to murder that you have done so. That if you look at a woman with lust than you have commited adultery with her. According to Christ you cannot enter heaven by just going through the motions. You have to deny yourself and live for Him daily. That means control over your life and thoughts.
When you take control over your life and thoughts and cause them to be something that pleases Christ you are becoming honorable. Yes, we all fall short and sin but that is much different then a lifestyle of sin. A slip is a mistake. A lifestyle of sin is dishonor towards Christ.
In the new testament we see references where people bowed down an worshipped Christ. This form of worship means, "an expression of profound reverance." Reverance is a feeling of deep respect tinged with awe born out of honor for someone. Our worship towards God is the way we live and think during the day. Because this is what brings Christ honor and shows Him respect. Bowing, raising our hands, singing, and clapping does not bring Christ honor or respect.
This expression should only be an overflow of the way we live and think. Not as the only act of honor. Bowing, raising our hands, singing, and clapping are a form of praise. We see many instances where King David praised the Lord. But this was a form of thanking God for what He had done for King David. Not born out of a lifestyle and thought patterns that honored God. But when King David writes the psalms and lives and thinks in a way that brings God honor, then Kind David considers bowing down true worship.
Let us begin to live honorable lives and think honorable thoughts. That way we can truly worship God instead of calling praise worship. Do not let ICs fool you. They want to believe that everyone can come to Christ easily and praise God in order to have salvation. It makes them feel worthwhile and like they are accomplishing something as you raise your hands. But if you heart and life is far from God it is not worship. Its just an action. But if you raise your hands as an overflow of the honor you have showed God by your life and thoughts and your thankfulness for what Christ has done, then you are worshipping God.
0 comments:
Post a Comment