Our Identity Manifested through Worship
As we continue our blog series on the elements of our Providence Identity Statement, here is our statement on Worship:
OUR WORSHIP is both formal and informal. In our formal worship, God, His Word, and His Gospel are at the center of the lyrics we sing, the words we pray, the gifts we give, and the fellowship we share. Because God’s Word is quite simple in its description of the worship and function of the local church, our worship and function is also quite simple. In our informal worship throughout the week, we value vibrant, individual fellowship with the Lord, seeking Him in prayer, listening to Him in the Word, and interacting with Him in His Body, the church.
In Romans 12:1-2 the apostle Paul writes “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
At the end of verse 1 there is a critical phrase: “your spiritual worship”. The word “spiritual,” in the context of worship, is talking about something that comes from our heart, from our soul. Some translations say that this is our “reasonable service”. Considering the unimaginable Gift of Salvation in Christ, offering my whole life as a sacrifice of worship to God is even more than what we call reasonable. What this verse means is that if we reason it out, our only response to His Grace and Mercy is worship.
Now keep in mind, worship is an act by which we offer praise to God, right? It is not a mood that we put ourselves in. It is not a feeling that is produced by the beauty of what we hear. Worship is an activity which we offer to God. He is the only audience. He is the one to whom we offer worship. So, we need to offer Him that worship which is acceptable to Him.
And what is acceptable worship to God? Again, it is that worship that is spiritual, not physical - not just the voice, but the soul. It is that worship that rises out of the heart. This is the worship that is satisfying to God. And in Romans 12:1 and 2, you may be surprised to see that there is no mention of music.
I think many see music as synonymous with worship. We may have strong opinions on style of music, so much so that if the style doesn’t appeal to us worship doesn’t happen in us. (At this point, though, I must say that I am grateful our music at PBF is not Disco-style music. Disco makes me want to throw myself in front of the Bee Gees tour bus!) Churches have even split over music, because the people may believe that worship results from music, or music moves us to worship - if style of music isn’t right, then there is no worship. How does music impact your worship?
As much as I love music, I do not need music to worship. But music can carry my worship. So, even though I love music, from the melodies, harmonies, lyrics and dynamics, my worship originates elsewhere but may be expressed in music.
Music playing and singing can be our physical response to the worship of the soul. True worship, then, comes from the soul; and the more your soul dwells on the majesty of God, the more you will worship.
So, what should motivate our worship? Verse 1: “I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God.” We should be motivated by the mercies of God to offer to God spiritual worship.
What are the mercies of God? It is everything that God has given us in mercy. That means everything God has given us that we don’t deserve; and that would include everything, because we don’t deserve anything. Everything that we have from God is a mercy.
Some of mercies of God are: eternal love, eternal Grace, the Holy Spirit, peace, joy, saving faith, adoption into His Family, comfort, strength, wisdom, hope, patience, kindness, honor, glory, righteousness, security, eternal life, forgiveness, reconciliation, justification, sanctification, freedom, resurrection, and intercession to the Father, and more.
How should we respond to these mercies of God? Psalm 116:12 asks “What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me?” In other words, “When I count up the mercies of God that are given to me, what shall I give to the Lord?”
Romans 12:1 answers the question: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” As a result of the salvation that has come to us through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and the resurrection, we should be compelled, driven by the overwhelming mercies of God to us to worship Him. Think of “by the mercies of God” as “because of the mercies of God.”
By the way, the “therefore” in verse 1 of Romans 12 is following Romans 11:33-36 “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things.”
Pure worship flows out of embracing the truth about the riches of God given to an undeserving sinner. In congregational worship, personal prayer, reading of His Word, loving one another, sharing the Good News, or just living – let it all of our lives be worship of our Merciful God.
Blessings,
Pastor Dan
Comments