Some worship thoughts for followers of Jesus Christ!

Tag: temporal

Music in Church: Holy, Not Holy, Only Holy?

WHO’s are we?
We are not born as children of God, but children of Satan. Jesus said in John 8:44 (NIV) “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” The main conversation of John 8 was Jesus explaining his relationship with His Father to a “dumb” audience. (see also Ephesians 2:1-5)

We start as children of the world, the world is under Satan’s power. But as God’s grace leads us to the cross, we choose Christ as our Savior and become adopted into God’s family. One of the hardest things I believe the merciful have to come to grip with is the fact that “innocent, new-born babies have more potential and opportunity to grow up evil than they do good. Only through receiving Christ, does anyone have hope.”

Bethel, Hillsong, and Elevation’s Music
In his best-selling book “The Purpose Driven Life,” Rick Warren makes this statement, “There is no such thing as ‘Christian’ music; there are only Christian lyrics. It is the words that make a song sacred, not the tune. There are no spiritual tunes.” He continues “God loves all kinds of music because he invented it all — fast and slow, loud and soft, old and new. You probably don’t like it all, but God does! If it is offered to God in spirit and truth, it is an act of worship . . . There is no biblical style!”

Inspirational or “Feels good!”
We need to personally know what “Holy” means! Your sacred boundaries should dictate what music you believe to be holy and what you think is secular. Ephesians 2:1 says we are spiritually dead until we receive Christ. When I hear a special song or experience an extraordinary performance, or see a once in a lifetime sunset or sunrise, etc., – they can all be considered inspirational. According to Webster, to be “inspired” simply means “aroused, animated, or imbued with the spirit to do something, by or as if by supernatural or divine influence.” (Webster’s Dictionary) Before Christ, things may have looked beautiful, but they were not “seen” with an “eternal” eye directed by the Holy Spirit — so everything was only temporal and dies. Only the Truth will last forever. A Christian by the power of Christ should be able to look at the simplest thing and see the majesty of God. The ocean, a mountain, a bird, a tree, a blade of grass all proclaim the majesty of God. Moreover, in humility, the same Christian must endure the heresy of this world and daily humble themselves, pick up their cross, and follow Jesus.

Every Christian will fall to what I call “the temptation of the Pharisee.” In our futile attempt to understand God’s grace, we question the purpose and significance of other people’s ministry. This leads to one of the things I love about the Christian Church, there is a multitude of denominations, with a variety of worship styles. No perfect people, no perfect worship, no perfect churches down here. Somewhere there’s fit. Hebrews warns us not to forsake the fellowship of the saints. When Peter asked our Lord about John, Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” (John 21:22)

I don’t like all Hillsong songs, though I love “Shout To The Lord.” I certainly don’t like all Elevation’s music, but, I love “O Come To The Altar” and their new song “Graves to Gardens.” I do not align myself with the theology and religious practices of Bethel, but I love “Living Hope” and the “Goodness of God.”

Jesus said even evil parents know how to give good gifts to their children. If a song helps a believer or non-believer come closer to knowing “good” — knowing God, then isn’t it a good gift? Besides our Lord Jesus, to me, scripture’s greatest worship leader was King David. Still, he was a liar, adulterer, and murderer. Do we stop singing his “Psalms” because he was a sinner? I believe a heart that is spiritually alive, washed by the blood of Christ can sing “I’m Walking On Sunshine” into heaven. Moreover, I know of only one song perpetually sung in heaven “Holy! Holy! Holy! Is the Lord God Almighty! Who was, and Is, and Is to come! (Revelation 4:8)” But soon, “Worthy is the Lamb… (Revelation 5:12)” will be sung.

In this current, cultural climate of rebellion and dissension, Christians need to remember “everyone is in submission.” (Ephesians 5:21) Remember this always, Jesus said this in Matthew 12:36 “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.” — Or sung?

Galatians 5:6 “For in Christ… The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”

God’s Loves Us Forever and Then More

gods-loveO’ to know the length, breadth , height, and depth of God’s love! It is infinite, not temporal. It can not be restrained by the confines of our concepts of time and space. God loves us more than the circumstances of the present and the accumulation of our limited lifetimes. God loves us eternally. He loves us from the beginning of His creation. He loves us now and He loves us in eternity – for His glory! He loves us forever and then more!

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