This idea of proclamation was a good reminder for me. It's easy to get caught up in the idea that when we worship we turn inward to a time that is just between me and God, but we are called to "proclaim His salvation day after day" (Psalm 96:2). Proclamation involves more than just me and God, it involves everyone. As we "proclaim His salvation" to one another we can encourage and uplift one another; we can help each other through times of difficulty and know Christ better as well as help others come to know Christ for the first time. As the Psalm says, we should be doing this daily as part of our everyday lives, but that includes corporate times of worship as well. Let's keep in mind that it's not just me and God, but that it's me and God and everyone else.
This ties into last week's chapter well in that we need to be conscious of what we look like as we lead, i.e. are we projecting a positive uplifting attitude that will help others to worship also? We need to be aware of those around us (even when we're not leading from the stage). Are we only concerned about ourselves and what we are feeling or not feeling at the moment? Are we connecting with the lyrics that we are singing or are we just mumbling the words and going through the motions with a scowl on our face? Is our expression and action reflecting authentic worship of God? Others are always around us and what we do or don't do impacts them whether we like it or not. God meant for His church to be a community. Are we acting like a community? Or are we acting like a bunch of individuals who happen to be in close proximity to each other?So, how do we "proclaim salvation" to one another? I like how Kauflin answers this question. "It's not enough to merely sing about Christ dying for our sins. We want to help people understand the benefits of what God accomplished through that act. His Word tells us directly, 'There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus' (Romans 8:1). If Christ died for my sins, that means I'm no longer under God's wrath. I don't have to live with the burden of low-grade guilt. I'm completely and finally forgiven. I have been declared righteous in the sight of God--not on the basis of my own works, but on the basis of Christ's righteousness that has been imputed to me." (p. 131) This is what we are to proclaim to one another. Obviously we can get into more detail, and Kauflin does somewhat, but this is the heart of what we want to be proclaiming to one another. We want people to leave our church services proclaiming this: "The gospel of Jesus Christ matters." (p. 130).
These are some of the things that God is working on in me right now through "Worship Matters". What is He working on in you?
I totally agree with the author that the centrality of the Gospel, with all that that means, is essential to meaningful worship.....for ourselves and for all in the congregation. I have noticed though, over the years, that many folks don't want to think about their own sin - they just want to emphasize the grace and mercy that Jesus Christ showed to us by dying on the cross. How can we truly appreciate all that Christ did for us, unless we are willing to think about our own sins for awhile, meditating on just how far we fell from God's perfect standard, and again confirming that we are sinners, in desperate need of a Savior?
ReplyDeleteI have sometimes heard Christians say, "No, I don't think we should be dwelling on our own sinfulness....after all, I confessed it, God has forgiven me, and He's taken away my sin, as far as the East is from the West. So He doesn't expect me to consider it anymore."
I would disagree.....if I want to experience afresh the "joy of my salvation", I have to be willing to think of my sins in thought, word, or deed, that caused me to need that salvation in the first place.
Good point, Madeline. We need to remember our place before God and remember and realize what He saved us out of...our despicable and unacceptable sin. Only when we acknowledge that, can we realize the greatness of what He has done for us and experience that "joy of my salvation". Thanks for posting a comment.
ReplyDeleteWhen the Isrealites came up out of the Red Sea and saw what God did to Pharoahs army, they broke out in song - seeing immediately the salvation of our God. That was whole hearted worship. We get wrapped up in the day to day things and forget how awesome our God is and that he gave His only son for us. That's overwhelming and at the same time should charge us up to encourage others in our times of corporate worship - see and act out the gospel and not just read or speak it out of rote.
ReplyDeleteKauflin points out that "Worshiping God together provides us with the opportunity to remember the One whom we all have offended". Oh, my. I think about the amount of time, over the years, I have spent focused on when I felt someone offended me. Consuming my thoughts and energy...almost reveling in replaying the "incident" and getting all self-righteous about how I was so "misunderstood". Always allows me to feel better for just a moment. And then the moment's gone and all that's left is bitterness. Good time to remember my sweet Lord Jesus' suffering sacrifice. He was truly offended and yet did not turn inward in self-pity but loved the offender. Dear Lord, may I learn to be like You.
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