Topic: Worship
Passage: John 4:20-24, 1 Corinthians 14:14-20
“Scripture makes both doctrine and experience essential elements in healthy Christianity. An authentic experience of God’s truth always issues from the fountainhead of His revealed Word.” (Richard Mayhue, “Divine Healing Today,” [Moody Press: Chicago, 1983] p.12)
Doctrine and experience are not mutually exclusive. In other words, the head or the intellect is not inimical to the heart or practice. Both are intertwined, indivisible and inextricably bound together. You cannot have one without the other. Dr Mayhue’s words above are correct in expressing this great and neglected truth. Christendom is divided today because of these opposite poles: one faction considers and emphasizes experience over and above teaching; however, the other group considers and emphasizes teaching over and above experience. Both exhibit an unhealthy de-emphasis of one over the other. In other words, the intellect, academic, or teaching should not be stressed over and above the experience, neither should feelings, experience, or emotions be stressed over and above the teaching. There should be a balanced view. However, one thing is for certain: the teachings and doctrines should form the pillar on which the feelings, the emotions, the subjective, or the experience is based upon. A reversal of this would be detrimental and sheer folly, notwithstanding unbiblical. How can we cultivate a balanced and biblical view? How can we verify that we are indeed balanced? Answering these two questions is crucial in the developing of equilibrium. Whenever we are evaluating a practice or a method for the church, for example, our barometer or standard should be the Word of God. In other words, before validating its merits, its value; sift it through Scripture and ensure that Scripture warrants or verifies it. Putting it another way, see if Scripture gives doctrinal examples of what you will be implementing. On another note, if someone comes to you with something he feels, or something he has experienced, before authenticating the experience, see if Scripture teaches it or gives solid examples of the truth they are personally relating by their experience. I believe these are safe principles to follow. Next time you are facing a claim of some sort that is subjective place it under the microscope of the Word of God and discover if there are amoebas swimming in the murky waters of experientialism.
Blessings,
Pastor James T. Cater
Miramar Church
6390 SW 32nd Street
Miramar, FL 33023
(954) 981-4677
pastorjim@miramar.org
www.miramarchurch.org
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“Scripture makes both doctrine and experience essential elements in healthy Christianity. An authentic experience of God’s truth always issues from the fountainhead of His revealed Word.” (Richard Mayhue, “Divine Healing Today,” [Moody Press: Chicago, 1983] p.12) Doctrine and experience are not mutually exclusive. In other words, the head or the intellect is not inimical to the heart or practice. Both are intertwined, indivisible and inextricably bound together. You cannot have one without the other. Dr Mayhue’s words above are correct in expressing this great and neglected truth. Christendom is divided today because of these opposite poles: one faction considers and emphasizes experience over and above teaching; however, the other group considers and emphasizes teaching over and above experience. Both exhibit an unhealthy de-emphasis of one over the other. In other words, the intellect, academic, or teaching should not be stressed over and above the experience, neither should feelings, experience, or emotions be stressed over and above the teaching. There should be a balanced view. However, one thing is for certain: the teachings and doctrines should form the pillar on which the feelings, the emotions, the subjective, or the experience is based upon. A reversal of this would be detrimental and sheer folly, notwithstanding unbiblical. How can we cultivate a balanced and biblical view? How can we verify that we are indeed balanced? Answering these two questions is crucial in the developing of equilibrium. Whenever we are evaluating a practice or a method for the church, for example, our barometer or standard should be the Word of God. In other words, before validating its merits, its value; sift it through Scripture and ensure that Scripture warrants or verifies it. Putting it another way, see if Scripture gives doctrinal examples of what you will be implementing. On another note, if someone comes to you with something he feels, or something he has experienced, before authenticating the experience, see if Scripture teaches it or gives solid examples of the truth they are personally relating by their experience. I believe these are safe principles to follow. Next time you are facing a claim of some sort that is subjective place it under the microscope of the Word of God and discover if there are amoebas swimming in the murky waters of experientialism.
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My dear ones, listen to the words of Peter in 1 Peter 1:1-2: 1. "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:Grace to you and peace be multiplied." Peter tells us that we are called (effectual call) "in sanctification" (made holy) "for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ." Two things are gleaned from this verse: definite sanctification (setting apart and made initially holy and righteous before God, in other words, regenerated, born again, converted); "for obedience" (Greek, "eis hupakone"), i.e., continuous sanctification. In other words, God begins the process and is involved throughout your Christian walk ensuring that you are sanctified by using His means to get you holy. The purpose of sanctifying you initially is to get you to conform to the image of Christ, the last Adam. Therefore, sanctification involves God from beginning to end. Sanctification is a reversal: out with the old self and in with the new self. Recommended Reading on Sanctification is to read the Westminster Confession Article 13 of Sanctification.
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“Jesus was born of a virgin, suffered under Pontius Pilate, died on the cross and rose from the grave to make worshipers out of rebels!...I am of the opinion that we should not be concerned about working for God until we have learned the meaning and delight of worshiping Him…God is trying to call us back to that for which He created us—to worship Him and enjoy Him forever!...I can safely say, on the authority of all that is revealed in the Word of God, that any man or woman on this earth who is bored and turned off by worship is not ready for heaven.” (AW Tozer, Whatever Happened to Worship?, [Camp Hill, Pennsylvania: Wing Spread Publishers, 1985] p.11-13)
Tozer’s writings continue to be an inspiration, encouragement, and soul- bending experiencing. With each author I read, Tozer remains a favorite!! The author’s words above reflect a true desire to see change within evangelical churches to a clear biblical pattern of personal and public worship. Real worship is a spirit and truth endeavor. We cannot substitute anything beyond what is set before us in Scripture. Yet we are finding that the church at large has gravitated to some form of worship that has in fact done exactly that. Have you ever tried a recipe you know has a substitute ingredient? Have you tasted a favorite recipe of yours only to find out it just isn’t right? Beloved, if you have tasted true worship in your life you will surely spot a substitute! Beloved, if you haven’t tasted or do not know what true worship is or looks like, then you can’t distinguish between a counterfeit and the real stuff. Many of our churches have replaced the real thing for some form of worship but it falls short because it doesn’t taste like the real thing! Beloved, have you ever asked yourself if you worship God genuinely? Sounds like a stupid question? Well, maybe, but this is in fact necessary. The woman at the well needed to ask herself the same question! Indeed, she was not worshipping God correctly: she had the wrong facts and the spiritual dimension was deficient. Nonetheless, worship begins internally and moves externally manifesting itself through deeds, obedience, words, gestures, mannerisms, our expressions, and therefore, all forms of expressions will reveal the true condition of the heart. No one is capable of worshiping externally without the internal satiated heart of worship. Worship: “it’s all about you Lord, I’m sorry for what I’ve made it,” so says the modern chorus! Are you ready for heaven? Then worship like it!! Are you ready to work for God, then worship first!
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“Christians quite often live out their lives in personal pain, with unresolved problems and in terribly unfair situations. Prophecy reminds us of the goodness of God by showing that He has written the final chapter on the human condition, which presently includes suffering and pain. If this life and this world were all there was, or the best we had coming, we might rightly challenge the idea that God is good and loving. Prophecy reveals with crystal clarity that the ending of the story is good for the children of God. And it is a kind of good that really cannot fathom. The apostle Paul, who endured incredible adversity, suffering, and trouble proclaimed without any reservation, ‘I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us’” (Rom. 8:19) (Paul Beware, “Understanding End Times Prophecy,” Chicago: Moody Press, p.12)
One thing is for certain suffering and pain is all around us. We are subject to it like the sun’s rays. We cannot elude this human trademark. If you were born, then you are not immune to disease, pain, suffering, or trouble. You will succumb to one of these sooner or later! However, the issue is not whether we will experience adversity or not, but whether we respond to it correctly. If we know that God ultimately controls everything with an exhaustive meticulous providence then we will be more likely to submit under his care. This is because we know that God has either directly or indirectly disposed everything in our lives for a purpose. His providence includes every detail of our lives. He knows what trouble we are going through due to the fact that he may have caused the events to unfold for our good.
Not only is God in control of everything but He also has the last word. He will not be left with nothing to say in the end of the day. He will certainly complete this chapter of human history. He will certainly finish what He started. So don’t fret, don’t lay in anguish, don’t complain, don’t murmur, and don’t worry because God knows your every problem. Stand with God in your good times as well as in your bad times.
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“I say, then, in the first place, that a scriptural view of sin is one of the best antidotes to that vague, dim, misty, hazy kind of theology which is so painfully current in the present age. It is vain to shut our eyes to the fact that there is a vast quantity of so-called Christianity now-a-days which you cannot declare positively unsound, but which, nevertheless, is not full measure, good, weight, and sixteen ounces to the pound. It is a Christianity in which there is undeniably ‘something about Christ, and something about grace, and something about faith, and something about repentance, and something about holiness’; but it is not the real “thing as it is” in the Bible. Things are out of place, and out of proportion. As old Latimer would have said, it is a kind of “mingle-mangle,” and does no good. It neither exercises influence on daily conduct, nor comforts in life, nor gives peace in death; and those who hold it often awake too late to find that they have got nothing solid under their feet. Now I believe the likeliest way to cure and mend this defective kind of religion is to bring forward more prominently the old scriptural truth about the sinfulness of sin. People will never set their faces decidedly toward heaven, and live like pilgrims, until they really feel that they are in danger of hell.” (J.C. Ryle, Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots, Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers) p.12 I believe that what JC Ryle wrote above in 1877 is still relevant today. Much of evangelicalism is a “mingle-mangle.” The same issue of shallowness and light-fluffy theology prevails and endangers the gospel today. Too much of the culture is infiltrating the church today. From business oriented methods, shoddy evangelism, and candy cane theology to poor exposition of Scripture, non-existent accountability, and a dearth of doctrine, the church is in need of a wake-up call! I ask you to pray for the church at large. Let us keep the apostolic tradition going. We can save the evangelical church!
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“Great things are done by the Holy Spirit when a whole church is aroused to sacred energy…Contemplate at the outset the possibility of having a church of soul-winners. Do not succumb to the usual idea that we can only gather a few useful workers, and that the rest of the community must inevitably be a dead weight: it may possibly so happen, but do not set out with that notion or it will be verified…Labor to gather a church alive for Jesus, every member energetic to the full, and the whole in incessant activity for the salvation of men.” (Charles Spurgeon as quoted in Mark Dever, “The Gospel and Personal Evangelism,” Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 2007) p.117 Once again we are confronted with the mighty injunction to evangelize! Now you might be thinking this command is only for the professionals, the evangelists, the pastors, the clergy, the leaders, the others of position of some sort. This may get you off the hook for just a small while. But Spurgeon, as quoted above, did not believe this to be so. He exhorted the pastor to teach about evangelism, to model evangelism, and to encourage others of the congregation to do the same. The problem with many of us, and the church at large, is that we have relegated the mighty commission to evangelize to something or someone else. We have all too often felt the need to do this because of sincere yet erroneous ideas: I don’t know how to share my faith, what if I’m rejected, I get confused with hard questions on the Bible, I usually give my testimony, etc. These are common reasons given from those that do not engage in evangelism. However, this must not be so! We are all commanded to go and disciple. We are all commanded to get out into the harvest field for the field is ripe. Several tips for improving your evangelism:1. Ask God to show you that importance of the Great Commission through Scripture.2. Pay attention to the messages and the teachings on evangelism.3. Be willing to follow your pastor and leaders as they commit themselves to this sacred task. 4. Be faithful, available, and teachable without which your success will be seriously hindered.5. Ask God to place in your heart and soul a burden, desire, and love for the lost so that you may imitate your Heavenly Father who is in heaven.6. Ask God to help you become more obedient to the evangelistic campaign as set forth in Scripture. 7. Be diligent, fervent, consistent, and content at your God-given efforts.
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“Discernment is not a matter of simply telling the difference between what is right and wrong; rather, it is the difference between right and almost right” (from Charles Spurgeon, as quoted from Tim Challies’ book, The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment)
I believe that it is doubtless true that discernment, spiritual discernment that is, is very difficult to acquire, much less to cultivate. When we read and observe all the various and sundry books, pamphlets, literature, etc., that is pumped out for the Christian populace, we are confronted with an immense amount of discerning to exercise. This is indeed a reason perhaps for the vast majority’s lack of desire to engage. However, we need to remember that the Bible is replete with commands to discern and to be discerning children. This truth we cannot escape! Therefore, how can we overcome the dearth of discernment in the church? How can we become discerning sons and daughters? May I suggest a few principles that will help you acknowledge, and then maybe, put you on the right path: 1). Acknowledge humbly, submissively, wholeheartedly, and fully the saturated passages that command us to be discerning: 1 Thes. 5:21-22, 1 John 4:1-6, 2 Tim 1:14, 1 Kings 3:9. 2). Acknowledge that as a Christian, you have a built-in lie detector that prods and enables you to separate between good and evil, and therefore expose evil: 1 John 2:20, 27. 3). Acknowledge that discernment is a skill and that it needs to be cultivated: Hebrews 5:11-14. 4). Acknowledge that practicing discernment helps you preserve the truth: 1 Thes 5:21-22. 5). Lastly, acknowledge that the more discerning you are gives you a better understanding of the Doctrine of God and avoids falsity and false doctrine that leads to aberrant applications and practice: 1 Timothy 4:16. These principles should get you started. However, the truth is that the more you read and study God’s Word, the more the knowledge gleaned will help you to spot a counterfeit. The statement above from Charles Spurgeon only accentuates or underscores the difficulty associated with being discerning. For this reason, a solid grasp of biblical doctrines and theology cannot be relegated to the field of academics. God has called every Christian, and the church as a whole, to be discerning. Let us be stimulated to preserve truth and be reminded of the great truth of 1 Timothy 3:15, which says that the church is “the pillar and support of the truth.”
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“Today, after 2,000 years, Christianity is the faith, at least nominally, of one-third of the earth’s population…Surely one of the more remarkable aspects of Christianity today is how few of these professed believers have ever seriously studied the history of their religion…Should we really be surprised, then, when today’s Christian so frequently blends gross errors with orthodox confession or defends some pagan practice as ‘Christian’ conduct?” (Bruce L. Shelly, Church History in Plain Language, Dallas, Texas: Word Publishing, 1995) (p.491) After his masterful presentation of church history, from beginning to present, Bruce Shelly, (author of “Church History in Plain Language), pens the words above in his epilogue. It is the zeal and disappointment of every great teacher to see their pupils either flourish or decline in their studies. Both responses to the teaching become a reality to the loving teacher. The former, is the awakening of the pupil’s eyes which sparks continual discovery; the latter, is the disappointment of regress to continual darkness. On which part of the spectrum do you find yourself? Bruce Shelly’s words are for those who find themselves declining and are a disappointment to the teacher. And, evidently ignorance becomes their dayspring. Ignorance is not bliss! Many Christians today find themselves feeding off the fruit garden of cretinism. Our Master of masters, the Lord Jesus Christ, would be dismayed to witness such darkness prevailing in His children. Beloved, such is not supposed to be! Jesus himself demanded labored and meticulous observance of doctrine: Mat 7:24-28, 28:18-20; Luke 24:27; John 8:31, 17:17. In fact, Jesus asked the Father to sanctify the disciples in the truth. The truth, the comprehensive story of the Bible, is to be sought after relentlessly. It is our duty to be a delight to our pastor-teachers. Pastor-teachers who regard teaching and doctrine as adornment to their ministries desire the same response from their beloved flock. Is it easy? No! Is it worth your while in gold? Yes! Don’t find yourself in gross error, because if you do, it will only show your ignorance. Be a faithful servant, therefore, feeding off the Vine continually, so that you will not be found on the wrong side of the pendulum. The end-result is the prophetic words of Peter: “There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.”
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“I have a deep conviction for many years that practical holiness and entire self-consecration to God are not sufficiently attended to by modern Christians in this country. Politics, or controversy, or party spirit, or worldliness, have eaten out the heart of lively piety in too many of us. The subject of personal godliness has fallen sadly into the background. The standard of living has become painfully low in many quarters. The immense importance of ‘adorning the doctrine of God our Savior’ (Titus 2:10), and making it lovely and beautiful by our daily habits and tempers, has been far too much overlooked.” (J.C. Ryle. Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots. [Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2007.) (p.xxi) In the introduction to his classic book, J.C. Ryle poignantly and with sharp precision makes an analysis of holiness, or the lack of it, in the church of his day. It is not surprising that the above quote is relevant to our church today. Today many Christians and non-Christians almost look identical. They wear the same designer brands: worldliness, selfishness, superficiality, individualism, materialism, and plenty more. What used to be so distinct in a Christian—selflessness, humility, self-denial, meekness—have all but disappeared, and worse, they are not even addressed. Most Christians see these Christ-like traits as unattainable and a relic of a bygone era. What has lead to this dismal situation? What are the causes? Why has it gotten this bad? The answers are not as easy as asking them, howbeit, an attempt to respond to them, in my opinion, can and should be at least endeavored. The possible causes may be: 1) weak gospel preaching, if any gospel is being preached at all, 2) a dearth in biblical/doctrinal preaching, 3) a poor emphasis on the holiness of God, 4) a poor understanding of biblical conversion, 5) lack of emphasis on sin and the lack of confrontation of it, 6) the increase in individualism, and 7) poor or non-existent discipleship. These, among others, may be a starting point of where we can begin to reshape the future of Christianity. Will you be the one to help in this change? Will you begin with your own personal holiness? Let’s begin to honor and glorify God by restoring the church’s old glory.
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