What do you believe?

Filed under Theology, Worship by on January 23, 2012 at 6:19 pm {no comments}

Enduring Elements of Public Worship (part 1)

Thomas Aquinas said we must know:

  1. What to believe (The Apostles’ Creed)
  2. How to live (The Ten Commandments)
  3. What to pray for (The Lord’s Prayer)

These are the core issues of life and they are answered in the Creed (What to believe), the Commandments (How to live) and the Prayer (What to pray for).   Peter Kreeft in Knowing the Truth of God’s Love 1988 p44-47

What to believe?  The answer to that question is longer than we usually have time to explain. In fact, we often don’t know where to begin to give an answer.  For hundreds of years the “Apostles’ Creed” has been a common statement of faith for Christians all over the world.  Forms of it appear as early as A.D. 140 and full versions as early as A.D. 460.  Though not written by the apostles it is based in Scripture. It has become for many of us Christians a concise statement of our own belief – a shorthand way of expressing the fundamentals of our faith. It is also, importantly, short enough to memorize and readily bring to mind.  When recited together we remember we are the new people of God here, all over the world, and throughout the past 20 centuries.  Ephesians 2:19 “you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household,  20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.”  We do well to commit it to memory and declare to ourselves and each other what we believe.  I commend it to the church as a regular part of worship.

In the next issue we will consider “How to live – The Ten Commandments” and later “What to pray for – The Lord’s Prayer.”

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Public Prayer in Public Worship

Filed under Prayer, Worship by on January 16, 2012 at 5:26 pm {no comments}

It was over 20 years ago that Gordon MacDonald changed my understanding and practice on the subject of public prayer in worship (“The Cleansing Power of Public Prayer” in Leadership, Winter Quarter, 1987).   Since then I have read a number of books and articles on the subject (see suggested books below) and am more convinced than ever that prayer should have a significant role in our public worship services.  In a previous article, I wrote about the lack of the public reading of Scripture in many evangelical churches, likewise I have discovered there is a lack of public prayer.  Prayers when offered are but a few sentences (or less) and seem either obligatory or as mere segues in the order of service.  In too many churches, thoughtful, pastorally-significant, biblically-based prayers are infrequent.

In a well-intentioned attempt to create greater intimacy and genuineness in public prayer many pastors/worship leaders have reduced public prayer to   inviting all people to pray their own private prayers at the same time (usually silently). It is as if the intention is to create a private devotional experience in a corporate setting.   Obviously, private prayer is very important in the life of the Christian but that is (or ought to be) a different subject than the corporate prayer in public worship about which I am here writing. Certainly Christianity is very personal but it is not private. The Bible has much more to say about our life together as the people of God than it does about our private experiences.  Even the prayer the Lord taught his disciples is corporate (note the plural pronouns and context).

While intentionality should be exercised in prayers of invocation, confession, thanksgiving and benedictions I am here speaking mostly to what was once called the “pastoral prayer” – that usually longer, substantively-inclusive prayer offered in the main body of the worship experience.  For that “pastoral prayer,” I am now an advocate for carefully crafted prayers that accomplish several important objectives:

  • Lead the people into the presence of the living God in a respectful and thought-filled way. The pastor’s words and demeanor should communicate that we are on holy ground.
  • Express our corporate gratitude and plead our corporate cause. The pastor should speak on behalf of his people and himself.
  • Teach the people how to pray. Our private prayers can tend to be spontaneous, self-serving and short. The public worship service is an excellent time to demonstrate prayers that are thoughtful, centered on God and his kingdom and long enough to be obviously substantive (but short enough and eloquent enough to hold one’s attention). The pastor can model the appropriate full range of prayer – adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication (though not necessarily in every prayer).

You will notice I presuppose the pastor leads such prayer.  I clearly believe that such prayer can be effectively led by women as well as men and by non-elders as well as elders (pastors).  But as a pastor I am jealous for that weekly opportunity to “pastor,” in this unique way, the people God has given to me as his under shepherd.

Leading such intentional prayers require that we give greater than usual attention to preparing both our hearts and our words. I found that it took upwards of an hour to carefully determine what should be prayed for in a particular prayer and how it should be worded so that my words became the people’s words; they were following me into the presence of God.

For help in how to lead in public prayer I suggest the following works some of which are instructional and others illustrative:

Leading in Prayer Hughes Oliphant Old

The Pastor’s Public Ministry  Terry Johnson

Mother Kirk   Douglas Wilson

A Method for Prayer Matthew Henry

A Guide to Prayer Isaac Watt

Valley of Vision   Puritan prayers edited by Arthur Bennett

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The Public Reading of the Bible

Filed under Articles, Bible, Church, Worship by on January 10, 2012 at 6:25 pm {no comments}

Bible

What happened to the public reading of God’s Word?

A visit to many “evangelical” churches will confirm how few give serious attention to this biblically mandated part of corporate worship.  Maybe some would suggest that in a highly literate culture where most have access to printed Bibles, public reading of the Scriptures is not as necessary.  But the real issue is not whether people can read but do they read the Bible.

But whether people do read the Bible on their own or not, the Bible illustrates and declares that public reading is to be part of God-directed and God-centered worship.  Consider the following passages:

1 Timothy 4:13 “Until I come, devote your yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.” (ESV) Though the Greek word “public” is not in the manuscript, almost all major English translations insert the word because of the definite article (“the”) used with the word “reading” and the context of the public acts of “exhortation” and “teaching.”

Luke 4:16-17 “And he (Jesus) came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and he entered, as his custom was, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And he opened the book, and found the place where it was written (and he read)…” (NIV)

Ezra 8:2-3 “And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.  3 And he read therein before the broad place that was before the water gate from early morning until midday… (NIV)

It is important that we do not allow the sermon to become a substitute for the reading of the Bible.  Both are necessary.  Clay Schmit (author of The Public Reading of Scripture) points out that the sermon is really a secondary proclamation, God speaking through a preacher. “Reading the Word is God’s direct proclamation to us. You are called upon to be the human embodiment of the Word of God when you read Scripture publicly,” he says.

If you look again at the Ezra 8 passage you do have to ask yourself how practical it would be to read the Bible aloud each Sunday for 5-6 hours.  And if you read further in that 8th chapter you find that the people stood for the reading (for 5 hours?).

Some suggestions for making the public reading of Scripture a joy and not a burden for listeners:

  • Select readers whose voices are pleasant to the ear and easily understood and who are teachable as to public reading.
  • The reader should know the passage and context well to be able to accurately communicate the intention of the writer.
  • The reader should read the text with proper expression (the kind of expression that communicates the ideas accurately).  A monotone reading or, conversely, an overly dramatic reading will detract.
  • Select carefully the number of verses to be included in the reading. The passage needs to be long enough to capture the main idea of the text selected but not so long as to be difficult for people to maintain attention.
  • Encourage people to follow along in their own Bibles (best) or with the text projected for all to see – what we see and hear is usually better comprehended.
  • Use variety in the reading – responsive readings, two or more readers if it is a narrative dialog, etc.
  • If the reader is visible to the listeners they should dress so as not to distract thus detract.
  • Practice, practice, practice.

For more information see:

Reading the Bible and Praying in Public by Stuart Olyott (Banner of Truth)

The Public Reading of Scripture  Clay Schmit  (Abingdon)

 

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Applause in Worship

Filed under Worship by on December 4, 2011 at 3:08 pm {no comments}

ApplauseI remember the first time I heard a worship leader invite worshippers to “Give God a hand!”  The congregation erupted in enthusiastic applause.  Both the instruction and the response caused me discomfort but as I reflected on it I realized we all need ways, many ways, to express our joy and gratitude to God for his grace.  Upon further reflection I realized there were at least two questions that gave rise to my discomfort:

1.  Can applause be an appropriate worship response?

2.  Who is being worshipped (or recognized) when we applaud?

The answer to the first question is undoubtedly, “Yes!”  There are times when thoughts of the magnificence of our God coupled with music or words that call forth a response of great joy or anticipation cannot be contained and we erupt in everything from a loud “amen” to applause, to whatever else seems culturally appropriate. 

The answer to the second question is also quite clear.  The only appropriate focus of our attention in a service of worship is God.  If we applaud it must be because our desire is to express our joy or approval of God. 

I fear that we, in our public services, too easily respond in the same ways and for the same reasons that people do in concert halls and athletic events – we are applauding the performers.

I request that you ask yourself two questions the next time you think about applauding in a public worship service:

1.  Is my applause truly a response to my God (and not just to the person who sang or spoke)?

2.  Would God consider applause the appropriate response to the truth that has stimulated me in this situation? (Or would quiet reflection, a prayer, a gently spoken “amen”, or some other response be more appropriate?).

 

I personally think applause is an excellent response if it is done for the right reasons and at the appropriate times.  May our God be praised.

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