Distractions to Worship
A couple of years ago, I wrote a post called “Distractions to Worship“.I thank God that he has given me many opportunities to worship him in response to many things that some people would consider “distractions”. How do you respond to “distractions”?
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Saturday night, several friends met in our home for dinner and great conversation. We’ve been meeting together every week or so since last March (see the post called “Fellowship of Faith“). During the week before, I had the chance to talk to one of my neighbors who was struggling in her life. I had invited her to our Saturday evening get togethers, but she did not come. To be honest, I was disappointed. One of the purposes of our meeting together at our home on Saturday evenings has always been to have a safe environment to introduce our neighbors to the gospel and to other believers who are living out the implications of the gospel.
So, I was disappointed that my neighbor did not come to our house last Saturday evening. However, my disappointment did not last long. Soon, I could tell that God was doing a great work in the lives of the people who did gather together. There are so many things that we talked about, and so many ways that I was challenged and encouraged that it is difficult to decide what to write about. But, there is one thing in particular that stands out.
Several people brought up that they had been distracted from worshiping God by various things in their lives. Some people were distracted by strained relationships with other brothers and sisters in Christ. Others were hindered in their worship of God because of certain situations or circumstances that they were going through.
But, as we think through this issue, we must first ask what we mean by worship. If we are talking about singing songs or listening to a teacher or giving an offering or attending a meeting, then we are not talking about worship the way it is described in Scripture. Can these things be a part of worship? Certainly, but they do not constitute worship. In fact, worship – either personal or corporate – can occur without any of those activities taking place. Also, all of those activities can take place, but it does not mean that anyone is worshiping. Instead, worship is an attitude of the heart that is revealed in action. Worship is obedience to God. When we obey, we worship.
If we feel that we cannot worship because something is distracting us, then we are either misunderstanding what it means to worship, or there is sin in our own life. Usually, when we say that we are distracted from worship, we mean that we are interrupted while singing or can’t hear the preacher, or something to that effect. But, as I said previously, we are not limited to certain activities.
We no longer depend on a priest to offer intercession and sacrifice for us. We now have a high priest (Jesus Christ) who is never distracted and never fails in his duties. Plus, he makes us priest, so that we can offer spiritual sacrifices ourselves, both individually and corporately.
We no longer need a temple in order to enter the presence of God. Now, the Spirit has made us – again individually and corporately – into the temple of God and God dwells within each of us through the presence of His Spirit. We do not require the work of another person in order to commune with God; God is already communing with us.
We no longer need certain rituals and activities in order to present ourselves before God. Jesus has already carried out the only ritual necessary to bring us into the presence of God: his death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. Now, since we are indwelled with the Spirit of God, we have direct access to God.
Thus, no one can do anything to prevent our worship (response in obedience) of God. No circumstance or situation can prevent us from worshiping God. God has provided everything that we need.
For example, consider the situation where you are sitting among a group of believers, listening to someone teach. The teaching is very inspiring and challenging. You are really enjoying it. Beside you, a baby starts crying. Can the crying baby distract you from worshiping God? If we assume that you can only worship by listening to the teacher, then the baby would be a distraction. If we assume instead that the way you respond to the crying baby and the baby’s mother reveals your obedience to God, then you can continue to worship – even if you cannot hear the teacher. Perhaps, in this situation, worship would require you to give up your seat and stop listening to the wonderful teaching in order to help out a weary, young mother by walking around with the crying baby. If, instead, we respond to the crying baby by becoming angry at the “distraction” and the loss of an opportunity to listen to Bible teaching, the baby is not truly a distraction – the baby is simply revealing the sin in your own life.
Once again, if we recognize that activities and rituals do not equal worship, then we should also recognized that we cannot be “distracted” from worship by outside interferences. Instead, the only thing that can “distract” us from worshiping God is sin.
I wish that I could say that I brought this up last Saturday night, but I didn’t. It was another very wise brother who started the conversation. But, as we talked about this, several people begin admitting that it was truly sin in their own life that was hindering their obedience to God. Thus, another person’s actions or atitudes were not distracting someone from worship. Instead it was his or her own pride and self-centeredness. Circumstances and situations do not hinder our worship. Instead, it is the person’s own selfish expectations that are hindering their relationship with God.
Can we admit that only our own sin can hinder or distract us from worshiping God?
Reciprocity
According to Princeton’s wordnet, “reciprocity” means “a relation of mutual dependence or action or influence.” Similarly, a “reciprocal pronoun” is “a pronoun or pronominal phrase (as ‘each other’) that expresses a mutual action or relationship between the individuals indicated in the plural.”
Did you know that reciprocal pronouns are common in the New Testament? They are. They are usually translated “one another” or “each other” or even “each one”. Reciprocal pronouns are very important for us to understand how we should relate to one another. Many times, this relationship is obvious and easy to understand.
For example, in 1 John 4:7, John writes that we should “love one another.” (ESV) Most believers recognize that our relationship with one another should be expressed with mutual love. If person A loves person B, but person B does not love person A, we recognize that they are not loving one another.
Similarly, in 1 Peter 5:14, Peter writes that we should “greet (or welcome) one another.” (ESV) Again, it is easy to recognize that if one believer greets someone, but the greeting or welcome is not returned, then they are not greeting one another.
In James 5:9, James writes, “Do not grumble against one another.” (ESV) Grumbling probably means complaining. So, believers should not complain about one another. So, if one sister refuses to complain, but another sister does complain, then the two are not following James’ command. They are grumbling against one another.
We find Paul using reciprocal pronouns often. For example, in Galatians 5:13, he tells us, “Through love serve one another.” (ESV) This is also a command that recognize as a reciprocal command. If a brother is serving someone, but that brother refuses to serve, then the two are not serving one another.
But, there are other reciprocal instructions that are difficult to understand. In fact, in some circles, the reciprocity is removed from these commands.
Consider Paul’s statement in Colossians 3:16. He says that when the word of Christ dwells in us richly, we will demonstrate that by “teaching and admonishing one another.” (ESV) How reciprocal are we with this instruction? If one person teaches, but another person does not teach, do we recognize that they are not teaching one another? What if one person is admonishing but another is not admonishing? Do we allow this instruction to only apply to some believers but not to other believers?
Paul makes a similar statement in Romans 15:14, where he says that he is convinced that the Romans are “able to instruct (admonish) one another.” (ESV) Does the reciprocity in this statement apply only to the Romans? Did they have something that believers today do not have? Or, could God still expect all believers to teach/instruct/admonish reciprocally?
Another interesting reciprocal statement is found in Romans 14:19. Again speaking to the believers in Rome, Paul says, “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding (the edification of one another).” (ESV) The reciprocal pronoun is harder to see in the ESV translation “mutual upbuilding.” But apparently Paul that it was important that all of the believers in Rome reciprocally pursue those things that led to peace and edification. Is this still something that we all pursue reciprocally.
Peter writes some of these difficult reciprocal commands also. In 1 Peter 4:10, he writes, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” (ESV) Do we recognize the importance – the necessity even – of all believers exercising their spiritual gifts in a manner that can serve other believers? Do we sees this as every believer’s responsibility?
There are many other “difficult” reciprocal commands. A couple would include “submit to one another” (Ephesians 5:21), “humble yourselves before one another” (1 Peter 5:5), or “count one another as more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3). These, and many, many other commands in Scripture, are reciprocal commands. That means that the commands are give to a plural group to be carried out as “a mutual action”.
Why do you think its easy for us to recognize “love one another” and “serve one another” as mutual requirements, while we tend to not recognize “teach one another” or “edify one another” as mutual requirements?
Stir Up One Another
Steven at “Biblically Speaking” has written a very good explanation of the term “stirring up” in Hebrews 10:24-25 in a post called “Let us consider how to stir… or provoke… one another“. He says:
I then got up and looked in my wife’s collegiate dictionary for the definition of stir.
This is what I found; disturb, rouse, foment, arouse, provoke, stimulate, goad, spur.
To be emotionally moved. To rouse from inactivity.So with these definitions lets look at the scripture.
Let us consider how to “provoke or rouse one another from inactivity” to love and good works.
You see how powerful that word stir is?
We as Christians come together in order to stir, rouse, provoke each other. It is not a passive word.
Steven is right. “Stir” (or “provoke” depending on your translation) is not a passive word. It is a word of action – helping one another move towards a life of love and good works, regardless of what our life has been like before.
So… are you stirring up?
Martin Lloyd-Jones on the church meeting
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones was a well respected evangelical author. Our school library includes 58 books written by Lloyd-Jones beginning in 1943 with several of his books and papers published post-humously (he died in 1981).
Arthur at “the voice of one crying out in suburbia” points us to a post at “Deliver Detroit” called “D. Martyn Lloyd Jones on Clergy and Laity” which quotes Lloyd-Jones as writing:
Are we giving the members of the church an adequate opportunity to exercise their gifts? Are our churches corresponding to the life of the New Testament church? Or is there too much concentration in the hands of ministers and clergy? You say, “We provide opportunity for the gifts of others in week-night activities.” But I still ask, Do we manifest the freedom of the New Testament church?… When one looks at the New Testament church and contrasts the church today, even our churches, with that church, one is appalled at the difference. In the New Testament church one sees vigor and activity; one sees a living community, conscious of its glory and of its responsibility, with the whole church, as it were, an evangelistic force. The notion of people belonging to the church in order to come to sit down and fold their arms and listen, with just two or three doing everything, is quite foreign to the New Testament, and it seems to me it is foreign to what has always been the characteristic of the church in times of revival and of reawakening (Knowing the Times [Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1989] pp.195-196).
I find quotes like this often in academic works. Of course, that doesn’t mean this understanding often makes its way into the churches.
Good teaching
Last Sunday, my friend Jonathan taught from Matthew 18:20-35 which includes the parable of the unforgiving servant. Several other people also read Scripture and discussed the issue of forgiveness. Was this “good teaching”? Was it “sound doctrine”?
I’ll allow my friend Jason to respond in a post he wrote for our church website:
Yesterday in service, a brother taught out from Matthew 18:21-35, and it dealt with forgiveness; learning to forgive others knowing the forgiveness that we have received from our wonderful Father. Well…it was a very sobering message and the Lord was really breaking me over some things yesterday. One of the things He reminded me of is how subtle bitterness can be in our lives. There has been some tension between myself and another sister and I tried to make it right last week, so I made a call but couldn’t get a hold of this sister. Well I became very prideful thinking that I did my part, which my Father really rebuked me about yesterday. He showed me that I was holding some bitterness towards this person, which I was able to repent of. I decided to give this person a call again to try and make things right, this time the way that the Lord calls us to and not in my own pride. I still wasn’t able to talk much with this sister as of yesterday, but I am hopeful to be able to make things right. I am praying that the Lord would work continue to teach me how to forgive others and continually remind of the great debt that I’ve been forgiven that I might come to know Him more.
So, God used Jonathan’s words and the words of other brothers and sisters to convict Jason of a broken relationship with a sister. In response, Jason began contacting this sister in order to start reconciling that relationship. Sounds like “good teaching” to me.
Each one has a hymn
As I’ve mentioned before, our church meetings are a little different the typical (i.e. traditional) Protestant church meeting.
Each week someone leads our time of singing, but there is a group of people who alternate/rotate doing this for us. We still schedule someone to teach (preach) each week, but that person changes from week to week, and that person is not always an elder. We typically read more Scripture than normal – usually at least two chapters, sometimes more. We also have a time when anyone can exhort the church or ask for prayer or make announcements.
Last Sunday, there was another difference. As I said, there is a group of people who choose songs and lead our time of singing each week. Last week, the brother who was planning to lead the singing, sent out an email to everyone saying that he was not going to choose songs for the church to sing for that Sunday. Instead, he asked the church to think about what songs God had used in their lives during the week. When we came together on Sunday morning, he asked the church to suggest songs that we should sing.
Like I said, this is something relatively different for us. I really enjoyed it, primarily because the people who suggested a song also explained why that song was special to them that week. This was much more than a time for people to request their favorite songs.
As I was preparing to meet with the church on Sunday, I was a little apprehensive about this change. I wasn’t sure how people were going to respond. Would they sit silently and not suggest any songs? Would they get upset because they didn’t have the words to the songs in front of them? Would they be disappointed that the music time didn’t “flow” and wasn’t done with “excellence”?
In fact, all of my fears and apprehensions seem to have been groundless. I’ve talked to several people who were there, and all of them were excited about the time of singing – more excited than normal. (I’m not suggesting that I’ve talked to everyone, and there could be someone who did not like this at all.)
For example, Meagan loved that we sang a song that her 2-yr old daughter likes. One brother told me that he actually enjoyed NOT having the words to the songs, because it forced him to think about what he was singing. Another brother said that he enjoyed hearing why people suggested different songs.
I don’t know if we’re going to do this again. I know the person who is leading our singing this Sunday has already chosen some songs to sing, because he sent a list out for people to see. I’m hoping that this does happen again though. However, even if we never sing this way again, I enjoyed seeing what God would do when “each one has a hymn”.
Synthesis of Theology of Encouragement in Hebrews
Last week, I completed my paper for the PhD seminar in biblical theology. This will be my last paper – well, except for my prospectus and dissertation – for the PhD program at SEBTS. The title of this paper was “Theology of Encouragement in Hebrews”. (I’ve written about this research briefly in my posts “Theology of Encouragement in Hebrews“, “Peterson on Encouragement in Hebrews“, “Mutuality“, “A reminder of our priesthood from Hebrews“, and “Encouragement as Trajectory in Hebrews“.)
In general, there are two parts to a study in biblical theology: analysis and synthesis. Analysis includes exegeting relevant passages, placing them in their historical context and in the context of the book or section of Scripture. For this research, I primarily studied the passages in the Book of Hebrews that included the Greek terms for encouragement. Those terms are found in 3:13, 6:18, 10:25, 12:5, 13:19, and 13:22.
In the synthesis section of the paper, I attempted to combine the information found in the analysis section. In biblical theology, the information is gathered into categories and themes that represent the author’s intent and purpose in writing. This differs from systematic theology, which attempts to answer questions raised by modern culture.
I gathered the information concerning encouragement in Hebrews into these categories: 1) the trajectories of encouragement, 2) the sources of encouragement, and 3) the importance of examples in encouragement.
1. Trajectories of Encouragement
I’ve written about this previously in a post called “Encouragement as Trajectory in Hebrews“. Primarily, the author sees encouragement as both negative and positive trajectories, that is, moving away from undesirable actions and attitudes and moving towards desirable actions and attitudes.
2. Sources of Encouragement
Besides seeing a double trajectory in encouragement, the author also recognizes different sources of encouragement. The author expects his readers to be encouraged from Scripture (OT), from his own letter (Hebrews), and from each other.
3. Importance of Examples in Encouragement
The author also expects examples to offer encouragement to his readers. For Hebrews, examples are primarily found in Old Testament saints (Chapter 11, for example) and leaders (13:17). (Interestingly, the author of Hebrews does not offer his own life as an example, as Paul often does in his letters.)
A study in biblical theology does not normally address modern implications. However, for those of us who believe that Scripture is important and even authoritative in our lives, we must make the next step and decide how to apply biblical theology.
So, I will leave that exercise to you, my readers. How would you apply these three themes of encouragement from the Book of Hebrews? How do we encourage today using different trajectories? Should we still seek encouragement from Scripture and from one another? Are examples still important for encouragement? What other implications do you think this study has for us today?
Church at the beach
Tomorrow, our church is traveling to Wrightsville Beach, NC. We’ll be enjoying one another’s company on the beach all day instead of meeting in our normal location.
I know, many people couldn’t imagine meeting somewhere besides their normal place, usually a special church building. But, we’re strange. We love to spend time with one another in many different environments: the beach, the woods (camping), the lake (picnics).
Of course, if the church is the people, then it doesn’t matter where the church meets.
But, what about those people who can’t travel for 2 1/2 hours Sunday morning and 2 1/2 hours Sunday evening in order to spend the day at the beach? We’ve encouraged them to get together, or to spend time with friends who are part of other churches. Yes, we often encourage one another to “visit other churches”. Aren’t we afraid they may decide to become part of those churches? Not at all. If that’s where God can use them to serve him and serve others, then that’s wonderful!
Anyway, once again, we’re strange. We hope to build up the body of Christ – those who travel to the beach, those who stay in the Wake Forest area, those who are part of other churches… the body of Christ.
When teaching is part of the problem
Matthew at “Mt. Tirzah Baptist Church” has written a great article called “Laziness due to Ecclesiology“. His article is a follow-up on my article called “When mutuality is uncomfortable“.
Matthew says that teaching may be part of the problem, and he gives two different aspects to this: 1) when we study Scripture only to teach, and 2) when we exalt teaching as a special activity. Here are some of his comments:
What I’ve seen is that I study the Word of God much more intensely when I have teaching responsibilities than when I do not. This should not be the case. Should I not study just as intensely because the Word of God is always active and living? It is unfortunately a great source of laziness for myself and others when they do not have a teaching responsibility. Why are we not as eager to pick up the Word when we don’t have a teaching engagement?
However, there seems to be a deeper problem than what we first observe. I think the real problem is that we have exalted “teaching†to only that activity that takes place from the pulpit and to only that activity engaged in by a man filling the office of pastor. The problem is that all people in the church are called to teach each other.
Please read the rest of Matthew’s post. Hopefully, we can help one another think about teaching and what role teaching should play in our lives and the church meeting.
Lane on Hebrews 10:24-25
The more commentaries I read concerning Hebrews 10:24-25, the more I come across statements like this:
The reason the meetings of the assembly are not to be neglected is that they provide a communal setting where mutual encouragement and admonition may occur… The entire community must assume responsibility to watch that no one grows weary or becomes apostate. This is possible only when Christians continue to exercise care for one another personally. – William L. Lane, Hebrews 9-13, Word Biblical Commentary vol 47B (Dallas: Word Books, 1991), 290
This is not an isolated conclusion. In fact, the vast majority of commentators recognize the importance of “mutual encouragement and admonition” when the church gathers together. They recognize that the author of Hebrews assumed that this would be the norm for church meetings.
So, why do so few church meetings today provide opportunities for mutual encouragement and admonition?