An Interesting Quote about Worship

Sorry I'm having no original ideas of late.  So here's some interesting thoughts about worship from an excellent book:

"Is worship, then, essentially an experience or feeling?  Is it to be identified with a special sense of the presence of God, or with some kind of religious ecstasy or with expressions of deep humiliation before God?  Are there truly special moments in a Christian meeting when we are truly 'worshiping' God?  Are church services to be measured by the extent to which they enable the participants to enter into such experiences?  Such a subjective approach is often reflected in the comments people make about Christian gatherings, but it has little to do with biblical teaching on the matter.  Furthermore, it creates significant problems for relationships amongst Christians, since not all will share in the same experience and some will inevitably be made to feel that their worship is inferior.  Worship must involve certain identifiable attitudes, but something is seriously wrong when people equate spiritual self-gratification with worship!" (17 Emphasis Mine)

This is a great quote from an awesome book called "Engaging With God: a Biblical Theology of Worship."  In it author David Peterson looks at the topic of Worship from Genesis to Revelation helping us to see beyond style preferences to what the Bible actually says concerning the subject.

Naked Christianity

"Losing our illusions is painful because illusions are the stuff we live by.  The Spirit of God is the great unmasker of illusions, the great destroyer of icons and idols.  God's love for us is so great that He does not permit us to harbor false images, no matter how attached we are to them.  God strips those falsehoods from us no matter how naked it may make us, because it is better to live naked in the truth than clothed in fantasy" (13)

Brennan Manning "Lion and Lamb: The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus"

Kierkegaard Quote

"That Jesus Christ died for my sins certainly shows how great his grace is,
but it also shows how great my sins are." (283)

Kierkegaard. Provocations

John Calvin on Suffering

"Hence also in harsh and difficult conditions, regarded as adverse and evil, a great comfort comes to us: we share Christ's sufferings in order that as he has passed from a labyrinth of all evils into heavenly glory, we may in like manner be led through various tribulations to the same glory.  So Paul himself elsewhere states: when we come to know the sharing of his sufferings, we at the same time grasp the power of his resurrection; and when we become like him in his death, we are thus made ready to share his glorious resurrection [Phil. 3:10-11].  How much can it do to soften all the bitterness of the cross, that the more we are afflicted with adversities, the more surely our fellowship with Christ is confirmed!" (702)

Calvin, John.  Institutes of the Christian Religion

The Surprise Gospel!

Here are some telling and enlightening words from Michael Horton concerning the need for Gospel centered ministry.  He exclaims:

"Gospel is the surprise, and it remains a surprise announcement even to believers.  Like a branch that has been bent out of shape, we fall back naturally to being curved in on ourselves unless we are being pulled back constantly to raise our eyes up to God in faith as he has clothed himself in the gospel of his Son.  We do not need a reporter to announce to us that we need to be better parents, spouses, and friends; that we should have integrity in our relationships; to be less selfish and more giving; get in the game of life instead of standing on the sidelines; and so forth.  Give us advice on these matters and we nod.  We begin to take notes and resolve to put them into practice next week.  Our ears perk up when we hear exhortations to be all we can be.  Our self-righteousness springs to its feet when we are told that we have what it takes if we just put the game plan into practice.
As true as a lot of these exhortations might be, the familiarity of law (things to do) can make us wonder why the message of our churches is all that different and why the Christian message is all that radical.  Only the radical news concerning Jesus Christ can distract us from all the trivial pursuits and transform us from the inside out...
It is no wonder that people become bored with church and assume that they can get along well enough in life without it.  We need to see God as the headliner again, instead of ourselves" (22-23)

Horton, Michael.  The Gospel-Driven Life

PS: For those of you who like surprises!

The Cross, Jurgen Moltmann, & Jesus Camp

Several months ago I read a book by German Theologian Jurgen Moltmann called “The Crucified God.” Around the same time I rented the controversial film called “Jesus Camp” from Family Video. As I was watching these two theologies (or ways of life) unfold in front of me I couldn’t help but be astounded by the extreme differences of the two.

Mike Yaconelli on the Bible

"Looking back over the years, I realize that the Bible isn't magic, but it is corrective; it isn't an answer book, it is a living book; it isn't a fix-it book, it is a relationship book.  When I confront God's word, I am confronted; when I read God's word, it reads me; when I seek God's presence, he seeks me."
-Mike Yaconelli "The Core Realities of Youth Ministry"