The primary purpose for Christians to gather each week is not to build social networks, hear inspirational stories and music, or to indulge in stimulating presentations. Above all, God has instituted one day in seven so that we might rest from our labors and be refreshed in our souls with the promises of the gospel. Second to this, we go for exhortation and instruction to live as Christ lived, in grateful response to His grace.
The simplest description I might give of worshiping in a Church that rightly preaches Christ and grace, is that we go to hear how we are loved and leave to live as we have heard.
Guitars cannot impart faith; Spirit-assisted preaching of the Word does. Immense sonic progressions may swell emotions but possess no magic by which to conjure genuine belief in God’s word.
Personal faith in the Lord Jesus—not outward elements of worship such as volume or lighting, instrumentation or gestures—is the conduit through which the Spirit effectually flows. Melody preserves order and unity, and may even adorn the service with a degree of natural beauty; but faith and doctrine alone give substance to song, thereby elevating mere sounds above ritualistic gonging into vehicles of spiritual devotion.
This is one of my favorite hymns, written by Charles Wesley. “Jesus, Lover of my Soul” to the tune of Aberystwyth. The last two stanzas are especially dear to me.
Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last.
Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone, still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed, all my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of Thy wing.
Wilt Thou not regard my call? Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall—Lo! on Thee I cast my care;
Reach me out Thy gracious hand! While I of Thy strength receive,
Hoping against hope I stand, dying, and behold, I live.
Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name, I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am; Thou art full of truth and grace.
Plenteous grace with Thee is found, grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound; make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art, freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart; rise to all eternity.
Using Gongs in our Worship Services
Lights, camera, action! Having grown up among big-box Evangelicalism, I’ve seen my share of “worship coordinators” who emphasized methods for “re-engaging” people in Church through increasingly complex, polished, and ritualistic fashions of public worship. While I understand the arguments behind these strategies, and trust those who practice them are well-meaning, I find their reasons to lack both in light of scripture and experience.
Don’t think that you are stronger than you are. No matter how strong you are in the Christian faith, a diet of moralistic preaching, a diet without Jesus Christ front-and-center, is going to cause you to be malnourished. There’s no way that your wisdom, and what you know (because you read a lot), is going to suffice to provide the nutrients that you need to be a strong Christian.
Legitimate religious experience is only that which is effected by simple faith in the doctrines of scripture. The bittersweet contentment of Christian martyrs, as they contemplate the heavenly rest to which they go, is more genuinely spiritual than all the ecstasies of myriad zealots who feel themselves moved by the pomp, noise, and culture of vain religiosity.
