Why Do We Worship?

One of the things I hear again and again in popular Christian literature is the following statement: “Worship is a response to God’s grace to us through Jesus Christ.”  While this is true, I was challenged this morning as I read the following excerpt from Created for Worship: From Genesis to Revelation to You by Noel Due:

…worship is not simply (or even primarily) our response to grace.  So often it seems that Christian worship, especially in the evangelical tradition, focuses on the act of redemption.  While this is not to be rejected, the Scriptural testimony is much wider than this.  The worship and service of God is to be engendered by both creation and redemption, and as much by the former as the latter.

Due goes on to explain his position:

It may be true, theologically, that we cannot see God as Creator without first seeing him as Redeemer, but Jesus’ (as with the First Adam’s) role was to worship God as his Father, and he stood in no need of redemption….While worship may arise as a response to the gracious action of God in redemption, for example, it actually belongs more fundamentally to the structure of human beings as sons of God.  God the Creator is worthy of worship by virtue of his own being, irrespective of any gracious work on his part to redeem fallen humankind. It is this worshsip for which human beings were created, and it is this which brings added poignancy to the thought that human beings may say to some other, so-called god, ‘You are my father’ (Jer. 2:27 cf. 3:4, 19). [itallics mine]

This truth should be meditated upon.  Our understanding and worship of God is most certainly heightened and fully clarified for us who have sinned by means of Redemption, but God is worthy of worship apart from Redemption.  He is by virtue of being Creator worthy of all of our worship.  How much greater is our praise to think that that God who was already worthy of worship while we were destined for Hell sent his only Son to die in our place so that we might come into fellowship with Him!  Praise be to God our Father through the Lord Jesus Christ!

Our New Apartment

For all of you out there (MOM) who want to see our new apartment….

The view as you enter our apartment–the living room.

Our recliner with the geetar behind it.

This is our bookshelf/computer table.

The built in bookshelf in our living room.

Our couch. Sweet.

The view of the dining room from the living room.

A view of our dining room.

The entrance to the kitchen from the dining room.

Our range stove. We set a fire in it this weekend trying to cook monkey bread!

My beautiful wife at our kitchen sink doing the job women were made for (just kidding).

The former entertainment center that now serves as our kitchen pantry.

This is what you see when you walk in the baby’s room.

This is our stylin’ new glider that goes very well in Bean’s room.

The view of the baby’s crib and the bookshelf with no books.

Here it is…the crib is ready for use (well, almost).

Our messy bed as you enter our bedroom.

The computer desk and bookshelf in our bedroom.

The dresser in our room…haven’t set up the mirror yet, but soon.

On That Cross

On That Cross

When you were on that cross
I can’t believe you died for me
Oh Lord you gave me eyes to see
When I was lost
You showed me which way to go
Oh Lord you even saved my soul
When you were on that cross

[VERSE:]
Yes, the Lord reigns robed in majesty
The
Mountains melt like wax
Before the Lord cause He’s Holy
And it has to be
Nothing but pure reverence
By His wisdom
And understanding He stretched out the heavens
Who can
Endure His presence?
Let us make a joyful noise to the rock
Of our salvation
We praise Him with all that we’ve got
Even
The seas roar
Let the trees of the forest sing for joy as the
Rivers clap before the Lord
In case you’ve ever
Wondered
Why was it all done?
What is it for?
My Lord the
Stars moon and sun
Even the skies testify to your
Greatness
Revelation 4:11 praise for all your creation
It’s all
For your glory
Through your infinite power
Your intricate
Skill is seen through a blossoming flower
But yet Father you
Were pleased to bruise your own Son
So that sinners could
Come and be redeemed
Amen

When you were on that cross
I can’t believe you died for me
Oh Lord you gave me eyes to see
When I was lost
You showed me which way to go
Oh Lord you even saved my soul
When you were on that cross

[VERSE:]
We spend a lifetime looking for satisfaction in
Wrong places
But a blind man embraces whatever catch his
Fall
But if he’s spiritually blind and can’t see that he’s
Falling
Then quite naturally this cat a keep bumping into
Walls
But if a man who was also God offered him sight
Said
He could save him from his behavior and sorry plight
And
Give him eyes to see the beauty of God the creator
Would
He take Him by faith and stop putting up a fight?
Would he
Fall to the ground with his face to the pavement?
Just to
Worship the man who was God making His payment
For the
Sin he was born in that made him blind
And the debt he
Accumulated for loving lying
And bringing peace between
The one in which he has beef
And sins against every week
When he’s hugging the streets
And bring him close by the
Power of the Holy Ghost
The same God who crushed His
Son 2000 years ago

When you were on that cross
I can’t believe you died for me
Oh Lord you gave me eyes to see
When I was lost
You showed me which way to go
Oh Lord you even saved my soul
When you were on that cross

[VERSE:]
Listen…
Every step Jesus took on the way to
Golgotha
Echoed throughout the universe – for you
Father
For the glory of God is of infinite worth
And his
Death’ll justify many and bring new birth
And every blow to
His hands every thrust to his side
Every heave on the cross
Is for the glory of God
And now the murderer the prostitute
And even the thug
And average person can now be
Cleansed by blood?

When you were on that cross
I can’t believe you died for me
Oh Lord you gave me eyes to see
When I was lost
You showed me which way to go
Oh Lord you even saved my soul
When you were on that cross

These lyrics are beautiful.  They are deep, theologically sound, and cause me to look to the cross.  And they were written by a student at Boyce Theological Seminary.  FLAME, a.k.a. Marcus Gray, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and was rudely awakened in a near fatal car accident and by the death of his Grandmother, the strongest Christian influence in his life.  You can read his full biography here, and you can hear him talk about the story of his second CD, Our World: Redeemed here.  To hear the lyrics posted above, follow this link and hear FLAME prove that theology and rap are not antithetical to one another.  You can purchase the album here.

And the sex of our new baby is…

The telling sonogram

We are TOTALLY pumped!  I don’t have much to say in this post other than I just finished painting the baby’s room green (which took longer than you might think) and we are ready for his arrival in December.  We will keep the name of our baby boy under wraps until he pops out, so sorry for those of you who would like to know early.  Here are the other ultrasound pics.  Hope you enjoy!

The telling sonogram.

Freeeeeeeddddddooooooommmmm!

In the following video we are given perhaps one of the most stirring monologues in movie history.  The Scots are at a crossroads.  They can retreat from battle and continue to live in subjection under the tyranny of England and her atrocities, or they can fight the battle and strive for freedom from the bondage and oppression they have lived under for so long.  The Scots are outnumbered, their weapons are inferior, and they are (in comparison with the Brits) unprepared for well-thought-out warfare.   The answer of what to do is obvious when the Scots reach the crest of the hill to the battlefield and see the enemy combatants.  They prepare for retreat.

Enter William Wallace.

After this stirring speech the Scots go on to fight valiantly, and–they win.  Against all odds, and to the surprise of the English, they win.  This speech gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.  I have seen Braveheart more times than I can count, and yet every time the story and the speeches continue to resonate within me.  Why is this?   Just think about it.  You have the underdog Scots versus the big, bad, sure victors, the Brits.  William Wallace’s passion for his country is evident, and by the time he finishes rallying the troops, I am ready to go out and fight to the death with them–and then I remember that I am watching a movie.

There is something about fighting for freedom that captures us.  But what is freedom?  Often when I think of freedom I think of release from rules, decrees, and orders.  I think of having the ability to choose whatever I want to do–whatever pleases me most.  This is my view of freedom.  And it is deficient.  The Scriptures make it clear that without Christ we are free–free to sin, free to die, free to choose that which we in our flesh want most, which will only lead to death.  When we grasp for the world’s understanding of freedom, when we hope for a life without rules, without a ruler, without order–when we grasp for this idea of freedom we get exactly what we ask for–sin and death.

But freedom in Christ looks different.  Freedom in Christ is the freedom to choose not to sin.  It is freedom to do the will of my Father who is in heaven (Matthew 12:50).  It is the freedom to live life in submission to God (James 4:7-10).  It is the freedom to be a son of the most high King (1 John 3:1).  It is the freedom to choose life and not death; hope and not despair; trust and not disobedience.  It is the freedom to be who I was made to be.  This freedom is not a libertine freedom.  I am not free to do whatever I wish.  I am not free to use the freedom given to me through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus to condone or excuse my sin (Romans 6:1-4).  I am no longer a slave to sin (what I once called freedom), but now I am a slave to righteousness (true freedom)[Romans 6:15-23].  I am bound by the commands of Christ.  I am a son of God, and as such I want to do that which pleases my Father.  Thankfully, that which most pleases my father will ultimately be most pleasing to me.  This does not mean that I will have my best life now.  It does not mean that I will not suffer or have hardships.  It does not mean that I will live a carefree life.  Instead it means that in all circumstances–whether I am suffering through trial and affliction or whether I am experiencing a time of peace and relative ease–I will trust that God has His glory and my ultimate good in mind.

What do you think of when you think of freedom?  Is your understanding of freedom in the Christian life acceptable?  Is it biblical?

Sorry for the Unexplained Absence

Hello to all you faithful readers (all three of you!).  I apologize for the long delay in posts.  I meant to put up a post saying that there would be a delay before my beautiful wife and I took a cruise to the Bahamas, but I failed to do so.  Now that I am back, I will not offer a deep theological story or rant here, but I will instead offer you a glimpse of the future that is in store for my wife and myself.  Below are pictures of our first official baby purchase–a Chicco Cortina Travel System, circa 2006.  We got a heck of a deal for it–a system that includes two bases, an infant carrier/car seat, and a stroller that usually costs $370 (the travel system usually costs $300, but the extra base is an extra $70) we got off of craigslist for $95!  For those of you who are curious, the car seat has never been in an accident, and everything was in excellent condition.  I am now a pro at tearing the cloth off of the car seat and the stroller seat, both of which have been washed and drip-dried.  Our baby will be riding in style, as you can see from the pictures below.  Hope you enjoyed the pics.  Until tomorrow, peace!

Front view of the new stroller with packed books in the background.

Side view of the new stroller.

The new infant carrier/car seat. Ain’t she a beaut?

The two bases and the infant carrier/car seat. What a bargain!

Worship and Word: A False Dichotomy

Bob Kauflin’s book, Worship Matters: Leading Others to Encounter the Greatness of God, is both accessible and challenging.  While it is written in large part for Worship Leaders, it is helpful reading for any thinking layperson.  In his chapter, “…Skillfully Combinining God’s Word…” Kauflin argues that worship is more than the singing portion of the Sunday service.  He points out that many pastors have made the false distinction between “worship and the Word” when, in fact,

singing and preaching aren’t incompatible or opposed to each other in any way.  Both are meant to exalt the glory of Christ in our hearts, minds, and wills.  Then whole meeting is worship; the whole meeting should be filled with God’s Word.  And the whole meeting should be characterized by the Spirit’s presence. (89)

Kauflin walks through the experiences of Moses, David, Ezra, Jesus, and the early Christians to show that worship throughout the Scriptures is always centered in God’s Word.  ”True worship, Kauflin argues, “is always a response to God’s Word” (91).

Kauflin goes on to ask: “How can we ensure that the Word of God is central as we lead the church in worship?  By treasuring, singing, reading, showing, and praying God’s word” (91).  He unwraps these answers, but perhaps the most impressing answer is “singing God’s Word.”  This point is extremely relevant for today. He argues:

Songs are de facto theology.  They teach us who God is, what he’s like, and how to relate to him.  ”We are what we sing,” one man said.  That’s why we want to sing God’s Word. (92)

Kauflin continues:

Singing God’s Word can include more than reciting specific verses in song.  If the Word of Christ is going to “dwell in [us] richly” (Colossians 3:16), we need songs that explain, clarify, and expound on what God’s word says.  We need songs that have substantive, theologically rich, biblically faithful lyrics.  A consistent diet of shallow, subjective worship songs tends to produce shallow, subjective Christians. (92)

…

Too often we can be tempted to choose songs because of the music rather than the theological content.  We need to realize that when words are combined with music we can be deceived.  Music can make shallow lyrics sound deep.  A great rhythm section can make drivel sound profound and make you want to sing it again. (93)

I have found it to be the case in many of the church services I have attended that the lyrics are shallow.  The music may be upbeat, catchy, and memorable, but the lyrics lack solid biblical, theological truth.  Kauflin states (and I fully agree) that not every song “requires a seminary degree to understand,” and not every song “needs seven verses” (92).  Simple songs can reflect biblical truth exceptionally well, and Kauflin gives a marvelous example:

Holy god in love became

Perfect man to bear my blame.

On the cross he took my sin;

By his death I live again.

Do we consider the lyrics we hear on Sunday morning?  Do the songs we listen to talk about the glory of the cross, the substitutionary atonement of Christ, the greatness of God?  Or could our songs on Sunday morning easily be edited to run on the local soft rock love station due to the infrequent use of “God” that could be replaced by “Sally” or Sara” or “Lucy?”    If this is the case–if our songs could just as well be about Geraldine as God–Kauflin has a final word: “vague ideas of God don’t serve us or the people we lead.  If most of our songs could be sung by Buddhists, Muslims, or Hindus, it’s time to change our repertoire” (62).

Guest Blog: Jason Adkins on Derek Webb’s New CD, “Stockholm Syndrome”

{My good friend Jason Adkins just wrote a great post on Derek Webb’s new album that I introduced to you yesterday, Stockholm Syndrome.  Jason is a godly man who has a wonderful perspective on culture, art, theology, and life in general.  He is married to Lacey Carter Adkins, and they have a daughter, Riley.  The Adkins clan attend Auburndale Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, and Jason is working on his MDiv at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  So without further ado, I give you Jason Adkins.}

[Note: this is the first of two reviews of Derek Webb’s new album, Stockholm Syndrome. A second, forthcoming review will focus on the content and controversy surrounding the album.]

On September 1, Derek Webb will release his fifth solo album, Stockholm Syndrome. Fortunately for Webb fans, a preorder of the album (www.derekwebb.com) comes with an immediate digital download. I’ve had the digital copy for a couple of days, enough time to craft a few first impressions.

Stockholm Syndrome (SS) has been billed as a bit of a stylistic departure for Webb. Indeed, the electronic-driven album—replete with synthesizers and drum machines—is a long way from the artist’s acoustic singer-songwriter reputation.

The style should not surprise fans and acquaintances. Traces of experimental sound can be found as early as his second album I See Things Upside Down (“Ballad in Plain Red,” “Now I Want a Broken Heart”) and in other stops along his career, including an electronic remix album One Zero Remix (2007) and some electronic experimentation in Ampersand, a project with his wife Sandra McCracken. In a recent interview, Derek confessed he had grown a bit tired of his singer-songwriter persona.

Enter SS, Webb’s latest stylistic makeover. All five of his solo albums have had significant genre differences. She Must and Shall Go Free, his debut album, was a folksy, at times bluegrass-sounding, discussion of the church. I See Things Upside Down was an alternative rock sounding album. Mockingbird had a diverse blend of piano, guitar, bells, and horns. The Ringing Bell was an upbeat, at times Beatles-esque, rock record.

Most of Webb’s stylistic makeovers have been successful, though a contingency of fans remains loyal to She Must and Shall Go Free and compares all subsequent albums to its style. SS, as the riskiest of these makeovers, may meet with less success artistically than former Webb installments. Furthermore, it might be the “exit stage left” cue for the She Must and Shall Go Free hangers-on.

At times, SS is an unbearable blare of synthesizers and a dissonant blend of samples. Other times, the album is a step away from a cheesy imitation of 90s dance music. One track, “What Matters More,” reminded me of the Taco Bell Black Jack Taco commercial that ran a few months ago. I could imagine the commercial’s narrator coldly chanting “Black” to the intro of the song.

Yet for the moments of stylistic awkwardness, the album contains a handful of quality tracks. The album’s masterpiece, “I Love/Hate You,” by itself is worth the $7.99 digital download.

A digital doo-wop critique of Fred Phelps—cultural provocateur and pastor of Westboro Baptist Church—“Freddie, Please,” is as unique as it is entertaining. Catchy tunes like “The Spirit vs. the Kick Drum,” “Jena & Jimmy,” and “What You Give Up to Get It” will fit comfortably on anyone’s playlist

And I’m sure that one, if not all three of these songs, will end up on an episode of Grey’s Anatomy: “I Love/Hate You” for a closing scene, and “Jena & Jimmy” or “What You Give Up to Get It” for one of Grey’s racier scenes.

So, SS isn’t quite as strong as I See Things Upside Down or The Ringing Bell, but it’s worth a purchase and a listen. Others will probably enjoy it more than I do; I’m not cool enough for drum machines and synthesizers.

Derek Webb: The Man and the Controversy

I want to tell you about one of my favorite artists of all time: Derek Webb.  Long ago Derek played with a Christain band called Caedmon’s Call, a group that is still on the Christian charts today.  He played acoustic guitar and sang backup/lead vocals.  You might recall a song Caedmon’s did a while back called Thankful…Derek was the lead vocalist for that song.  In 2003 Derek went solo, breaking from Caedmon’s Call with his first CD release, She Must and Shall Go Free.  This was a folk album that was, in my opinion, off the charts amazing.  But one of the tracks on this CD, Wedding Dress, created some controversy and kept some Christian stores from releasing the CD.  The chorus reads: I am a whore I do confess / I put you on just like a wedding dress / and I run down the aisle / I run down the aisle / I’m a prodigal with no way home / I put you on just like a ring of gold / and I run down the aisle / I run down the aisle / to You.  The song is spectacular, and you can watch a live version here.

So, in short, from the beginning Derek has not minded using controversial language if it helps get his point across.  His newest album, however, takes new steps that will cause some who have sided with Webb in the past to part ways with him.  One step is stylistic.  While his earlier albums have been all over the board creatively–from folk to rock to synthetic beats–this one is his first full-fledged electronically synthesized work.  Some who were on board for his initial work will not stay on board for this one.  Another step is a movement in content.  One of the songs, What Matters More is at the center of the content controversy.  Below is the track in full for you to listen to, and I am printing the Lyrics underneath.  BE WARNED, THERE IS EXPLICIT LANGUAGE USED IN THE SONG–D*** AND S*** ARE BOTH FOUND BELOW.

You say you always treat people like you like to be
I guess you love being hated for your sexuality
You love when people put words in your mouth
‘Bout what you believe, make you sound like a freak

‘Cause if you really believe what you say you believe
You wouldn’t be so damn reckless with the words you speak
Wouldn’t silently conceal when the liars speak
Denyin’ all the dyin’ of the remedy

Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?
Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?

If I can tell what’s in your heart by what comes out of your mouth
Then it sure looks to me like being straight is all it’s about
It looks like being hated for all the wrong things
Like chasin’ the wind while the pendulum swings

‘Cause we can talk and debate until we’re blue in the face
About the language and tradition that he’s comin’ to save
Meanwhile we sit just like we don’t give a shit
About 50,000 people who are dyin’ today

Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?
Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?

I will post my thoughts on the song later, but I wanted to give you a background into who Derek Webb is and what he writes about first.  Tomorrow I will post a stylistic review written by my good friend Jason Adkins.  He will later post a review on the content, and I will add that as soon as he forwards it to me.  In the meantime, I would love to hear your thoughts.  What do you think of the song?  Are the lyrics acceptable to move forward the content of the song?  Should these words ever be used by Christians?  Do you think that the electronic beat is over the top?  I really want to know what you think.  My thoughts will come soon.

How Great Is Our God!

Here is a clip from Louie Giglio’s How Great is Our God tour.  I would encourage you to go to amazon and buy this DVD.  It is excellent!  It is amazing to think that our God, who “breathed out stars” thinks of us.