Singing? Praise, Worship, is there a Difference? (part 2) [That's Entertainment]

 

Praise and Worship, two almost identical ideas, but scripturally distinct from one another (see part 1). The Bible separates out music and identifies it with “praise” where as “worship” is identified with acts such as prayer and sacrifice. Praise is often given by the penmen of the Scriptures to others aside from God, and Scripture even speaks of those faithful unto God receiving praise from Him. Worship on the other hand is commanded to be exclusively given to God. So what does all of this mean for the modern Christian?

First off we must recognize that as Christians we are commanded both to worship and praise God. These two ideas are not interchangeable; we can’t do one then neglect the other. In many of our modern churches we are seeing much emphasis being put on the praising of God, but a severe lack of emphasis on the true worship of God. We’ll sit in a Sunday morning service and sing a few songs about how great our God is and claim that we’ve done our duty as a Christian. We completely deny the Lord the worship due him through fervent prayer and the perpetual sacrifice of ourselves in service for Him. True worship isn’t in words about how great our God is, but in actions of service, sacrificing our wants and desires and replacing them with His.

Singing? Praise, Worship, is there a Difference? [That's Entertainment]

 I’ve been doing a lot of study on worship lately and I came across something that puzzled me. While looking through passages dealing with worship I could not find one passage that equated singing, or songs, or any form of music with worship. Typically, Scripture equated actions of humility, such as prayer or sacrifice, with the word. Needless to say I was pretty shocked, so I investigated passages that dealt with singing. I found that in every instance I found where music was involved scripture used the word “praise” opposed to “worship”.  This led me to wonder what the difference between “worship” and “praise” is and why Scripture makes such a distinction. Now I’m not a Greek scholar so I can’t tell you what Greek words were used for each instance and what the significance of them is. What I can tell you however is what the good ‘ol English dictionary says. Basically when you compare the two words you’re not going to see much of a difference except in one small point. When you look at the several definitions of “worship” you will find the word “reverent” riddled throughout them. When you look under the word “praise”, however, the word “reverent” is nowhere to be found. So why does Scripture make such a point to separate music from “worship” and give it a more irreverent connotation with the word “praise”?

I honestly don’t know what the significance is, but I don’t believe that Scripture was written this way by accident. Could it be that singing is something that should be left out of our “worship” services because Scripture deems it irreverent? Perhaps just the opposite is true.  Could reverence in our worship not be as of much importance as we have made it out to be? Maybe it isn’t such a big deal if we don’t “dress up” for services, or if we sip our Java while laser lights go off in sync to “Jesus, You Rock My Face Off”, or if we enjoy a full course meal during a life lesson loosely based on a Scriptural truth? Or am I just missing something? Is there some piece of the puzzle in Scripture that I’m missing that ties music to worship that I am simply not seeing? Your thoughts on this are greatly appreciated.

“The Zeal of Thine House” [That's Entertainment]

“And the Jews’ Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: and when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; and said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, ‘The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up’. “John 2:13-17

I’m sure most of you are familiar with this story and your probably wondering what is has to do with Entertainment. Honestly, it doesn’t. What it does tell us, however, is the mind set of Christ when it comes to the house of God.

First, let’s take a look at exactly what was going on within the Temple. We see that there were merchants selling sheep, oxen, and doves and moneychangers exchanging currencies. The reason for this was of course so that Jews, who had come to Jerusalem from all over, would be able to easily purchase the animals. Seems like a perfectly innocent gesture, after all they were just trying to make it easier for people to come worship the Lord, right?

Next, we see Christ’s response. Needless to say He wasn’t thrilled about what was going on. In fact He puts on one the most aggressive displays we ever see from Christ. Now some would say that the reason He was so upset was that the merchants were charging unfair prices, which may or may not have been the case. Regardless we see from His statement “make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.” that he was upset with the whole idea of buying and selling in the house of God. But why would this upset Him? After all, the merchants were just making it easier for people to come and worship. It made it more appealing for worshipers to go to the temple because now they didn’t have to go out of their way to purchase a sacrifice. Despite all these “benefits”, Christ was still disapproving of this for one simple reason. This wasn’t the place for it.

Again, there is nothing wrong with buying and selling, but it not appropriate for the house of God because it is worldly. There’s that dreaded word: “Worldly”. I remember growing up being taught lists of things that were considered ”worldly” and what terrible sins these “worldly” things were. That is not the sort of “worldly” I’m referring to here. “Worldly”, simply, is anything not pertaining to the spiritual. For example, cars are worldly, cell phones are worldly, sports are worldly, and I could go on. These things are by no means sinful, but they certainly aren’t spiritual or of God by any stretch of the imagination. Therefore, these things have no place in the house of God.

Christ makes it very clear that the purpose of Temple was for worship and worship only. Now, as Christians, we obviously don’t go to temple, but our bodies are now God’s temple and where Christians gather to worship there is Christ. God feels just as adamantly today about not having the things of this world taking away from the worship we bring to Him. This is why we must be careful to not allow worldly entertainment into our worship. This is not a small issue as is shown by the aggressiveness that Christ deals with it. For those of us who have allowed things of this world into our churches, we must just as adamantly remove it with the same zeal that Christ had.

 

That’s Entertainment!

Entertainment. It has become a must in the lives of modern man. We can’t get enough of it. We will check Facebook while listening to Pandora while the T.V. runs in the background as we attempt to accomplish some task or another. Our lives are filled with it. Unfortunately, entertainment is something we are seeing creep more and more into our churches. The fact that we are there to worship the Lord isn’t enough to hold our interest. We have allowed entertainment to fill the void where a love for God once was.  Now I am not saying that there is anything wrong or sinful with entertainment. Grant it, there are certain forms of entertainment that are sinful, but there are plenty that are not that a Christian may readily enjoy. The problem is that we are bringing the entertainment of this world into the holy house of God. There are several things in the Bible I would like to point out that deal with this which I am going to break up into several posts. As always your comments, whether for or against my views, are always appreciated.

While you were out…

I’m sure your shocked to see a post from me after so long and are probably wondering why I haven’t written in a while. Well, truth is, I didn’t feel like it. I’ve been pretty busy and writing really isn’t one of my favorite things to do. I do however enjoy writing when I have a topic that’s important to me. So, call me selfish, I haven’t really felt strongly enough to write about anything in a while so I simply haven’t… until now.

I’m currently working on a post that I’m sure will interest many of my readers, and since it’s been a while I wanted to give a little heads up so you know to be looking for it.

Government Dictated Morality

Is it the job of the American government to dictate morality? If so, to what extent?

I grow weary of hearing how America is a Christian nation. We’re not. We never have been. True our founders were Christians of some degree or another, but it was never their intention to found a Christian nation. It was to be a nation of religious tolerance. A nation where one could worship whichever god they believed in, however they felt it should be worshiped.

Keeping that in mind, how can any American citizen, Christian or not, justify standing in support of allowing the morality of one religion to be imposed on that of another?

As Christians, we generally stand firm against gay marriage, abortion, and like issues because they go against the morals that God had commanded us to live by. However, as Americans, should we support the imposing of our Christian morality on those who are non-believers?

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Holiness.

I’ll be honest. I’ve been pretty frustrated lately. I can’t understand how Christianity has gotten to the place that we find it at today. We’ve reduced our God and our faith down to set’s of do’s and don’t. Modern Christians have become consumed with debate over translations, traditions, music, and pretty much every aspect of life. Frankly, I’m getting wore out. I mean 95% of the debated topics are only covered in about 5% of the Scripture, and half the time we’re stretching those verses trying to make them apply  to whatever point it is we are trying to make. I’ve gotten to point I just want to scream “JUST LET IT GO PEOPLE!!!”, walk away from it all, and stop concerning myself over it. Unfortunately, that wouldn’t solve anything and I’m not one to resort to apathy.

All of a sudden, out of nowhere, God gave me this: Galatians 5. I can honestly say it is my favorite chapter of the Bible, at this point. It gave me the answers I’ve been searching for. Literally, a complete guide to how to deal with these issues, all laid out in 26 tiny verses. I’m going to put the whole chapter up, READ IT! It will take you 10 minutes, do it. I guarantee if you take this to heart it will open your eyes and blow your mind. Here it is Galatians 5:

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
This persuasion [cometh] not of him that calleth you.
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
[This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Before I give my comments on this passage of scripture, I would like to know your thoughts on what points Paul is trying to convey in this passage.  Have your friend read it, I’d like as much imput as possible. Thank you in advance.