Worship

I'm an allum of Wheaton College,
so I get their periodic magazine of news and events.

One arrived a few days ago, with a feature article "How then should we worship?" - the thinking of Dr. Daniel Block, long-time (35 years) professor - author of a book to be released very soon - Biblical Theology of Worship (Baker). He has spent the last ten years immersed in the subject. And he is not an old fogey that does't like loud music or contemporary idiom.

Here is some of his thought:

Three ways that current worship practices depart from biblical models:
1. The worship has become too casual - "good times with a Friend," not encountering the God of unfathomable knowledge and might.
2. Worship has become equated with music - in the scriptures more often, worship was associated with prayers, laments, silence....and songs.
3. Worship has become too associated with evangelism - we worship trying to attract the unbeliever, and that is leading us to an anemic and illiterate church.

His definition of biblical worship:
"True worship involves reverential human acts of submission and homage before the divine Sovereign in response to His gracious revelation of Himself and in accordance with His will." (See Deuteronomy 10:12)

"Salvation is unconditional but the Psalms teach that worship is not open to everybody."

May all the worship wars cease.

It is not about length of time, up tempo or down, or cluster of instruments and voices. Nor is it about contemporary or ancient. It is about God - and our hearts -and the prostration ("falling down before someone greater than we are" - is the actual meaning of "worship") of our lives before Him...in accordance with His word.

So may we all fall down....and may it be not the playful actions of children, but the awe of those fully mature enough to tremble in the presence of God.

Deeply moved by these thoughts.

David