Just Visiting

spam. Lately all I’ve done with the blog is clear out the avalanche of spam comments.   The true purpose of spam is to lure us in with false promises in order to transfersomething of value from us to the spammer.    In the present case I’m still losing something of value, time, but it is not being transferred.    The same applies to the world.  We are spammed with false gods and false gospels, often masquerading as the true gospel,  offering what we want but really giving only death.    In addition, many Christians, having found the true God, turn onto unprofitable byways and side streets.  Often they are chasing a vision of god that is acceptable to their sensibilities rather than pursuing a transformation into the image of Christ.  They seek a “worship” experiance  that meets their needs, desires and tastes, rather than humbly, fearfully and joyfully glorifying the triune God who loves us.

Christians need an anti-spam filter,  one that is kept up to date.  That filter is the bible, kept up to date by regular study and application to our lives.  When did you last read one?  When did you last study?  Who helps  you understand?    Is it time for an update?

Just a taste of what I was talking about with CHS. His skill is not limited to Easter but I leave the joy of further discovery to you.

Charles Spurgeon on the Resurrection:

The sun comes forth, at the appointed hour, from the gates of day, and begins to gladden the earth; even so on the third day, early in the morning, Jesus, our Lord, arose from his sleep, and there was a great earthquake, for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven and rolled back the stone from the door of the sepulcher. Then did the Sun of Righteousness arise. Then did the great Bridegroom come forth from his chamber, and begin his joyful race. It must have been a ravishing sight to have beheld the risen Savior; well might the disciples hold him by the feet and worship him. Methinks, if ever angels sung more sweetly at one time than another, it must have been on that first Easter morning, when they saw the divine champion break his bonds of death asunder, and rise into the glorious resurrection life.
- Sermon on Psalm 19:4-6 and Malachi 4:2, November 12th, 1871

This is elsewhere in the blog but I think it bears repetition.

This blog is my personal opinion, except where clearly marked by quotation and citation, and is not the official view of Macedonia United Methodist Church (MUMC).  MUMC is not responsible or liable for the content of this blog, I am.  I thank MUMC for allowing the link for the blog  on their website.

and still I feel better pointing to another source for information.  C.H. Spurgeon is often called the Prince of preachers. Although Spurgeon never attended theological school, by the age of twenty-one he was the most popular preacher in London. Read through his sermons and you will see why. For those that rediscover him his popularity remains.  A prolific author and speaker his works are widely available on the web, via digital libraries and yes, still in printed form. 

For Easter may I suggest his sermon, THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD JESUS, ( http://www.spurgeongems.org/vols28-30/chs1653.pdf ).

depth are the requistes for Holy Week. I’m not sure I’m up to the task so let me make a suggestion. Today is Good Friday, we address the centrality of the cross ( 1 Cor 2:2 ) to Christianity. To this end let me suggest John Stott (www.johnstottministries.com ) and especially his book “The Cross of Christ” (http://www.christianbook.com/cross-christ-exclusive-edition-study-guide/9780830823611/pd/823611?event=AAI). 

I think you will find this book valuable.

your songology? Ok I admit I made the word up. The real question is just longer and sounds much more complex. I want to talk about doctrine, (remembering that all Christians are theologians) your doctrine. Specifically, within the doctrine of worship, what is your doctrine of music? When you go to church this morning and listen to the music think about it. Notice we assume there will be music in a worship service, that would be the first point in the doctrine. Music belongs in a worship service. Where to go from there?

I will admit one of my pet peeves is a joyful song sung like a funeral dirge but that is style and a matter of taste, not the point. I’m also not talking about how well it is performed. Yes, we should give our best to the church, but my best singing will not compare to most people’s, much less a professional. Does that make it of less worth in a worship service? No, just less pleasant for those around me. Also note that music for radio, concert or fun is not the same thing even if some try to bill a particular event as a “worship experience”. The music I have in mind is that done within the scope of a worship service.

In my view I see the music serves three purposes, glorification of God, edification and education of the participants. Anything else should not be in the service. This is not a question of style. You may want to go with John Wesley, orthodox hymns, sung by the congregation, without the aid of instruments. Perhaps you want to bring back the Rez Band, add a reggae flavor to “A Mighty Fortress…” http://nethymnal.org/htm/m/i/mightyfo.htm , dig up a Hendrix rendition of “Rock of Ages http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/r/o/rockages.htm , Gregorian chants or Bach’s organ music. It can all be good, or bad. How do we tell?

First, is the song about God and what he has done or is it about me? This applies both to the words and the presentation. Who is getting the glory, the attention, the praise? If it is me or you, it is wrong.

Edification, education are similar but in my mind I put certain intangibles with edification, within this falls emotional response and reaction. Do you have the proper response to the song? Happy, sad, perplexed, comforted, angered, or does it jar you as being out of place? Then ask, is the problem the music or me? Act appropriately.

As to educating, I like what Bishop Willmon said, within the Methodist church there isn’t doctrine, there’s a hymnal. Do you read the words of the song or just let them pass from your eyes to your mouth without catching inbetween? There is much to learn about God in those words.

Regrettably there are often songs that are wrong which must be corrected or removed. Can you tell the difference? You should. You and your family, especially children, are more likely to remember the songs that are sung than the sermons that are preached and the classes that are taught. Maybe one of the classes that needs to be taught is what makes good music for the worship service? Perhaps a sermon, or two, on good songs and bad and the difference between the two?

So what will you remember from today’s service?

has occured to me.  Do you have Jesus in your heart?  Again, rhetorical, only one possible answer but not the one the questioners have in mind.  Do I have Jesus in my my heart?  Of course not.  No one does. Where is Jesus if he is not in my heart?
Lets check the manual.

Acts 2:33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.

Well then what do we have?

1 Cor 2:12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. or perhaps 1 Cor 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? And of course the references go on (Rom 8:9, Rom 8:11, Eph 2:22, 2 Tim 1:14, etc.).

So what’s the problem? The problem is we do not know, nor seem to care to know, this God we claim to love, adore and worship. The concept of God, trinity, is too hard, too theological, too churchy. Can’t I just love God? No, not if you don’t know who he is. Go to a party with your wife, introduce her: “Hi, this is my wife Martha.” Followup: “Her sister Mary is in my heart, she’s who I live for and is the center of my life.” Then duck! And this pales in comparison to the real thing.

Matt 12:32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

Do you know who you are worshipping? And what are you doing to deepen that knowledge?

hear a silly question?  Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus?  Normally I’d call it a rhetorical question since it has only one answer but people asking the question don’t realize that.  What is the answer? Obviously, yes.    Atheist, Methodist, Buddhist, Nihilist, Muslim, Mormon, everyone has a personal relationship with Jesus.  What is in question is the status of the relationship.  Is Jesus redeemer or judge? Does his righteousness and sacrifice cover you or condemn you?  Have your horrific crimes against God been absolved or is your punishment pending?  And yes, just as everyone has a personal relationship; everyone stands guilty of terrible crimes.  So are you on death row or have you been pardoned?  There are only two choices.

Cash and carry, a great policy but we stand in need of that for which we have insufficient money.  What do we do?  Obviously we need it lent to us but in truth we will never have what it takes to purchase that which we need.  What to do? How do we resolve this dilemma?

We can’t.  What we need is a right standing in front of Holy God.  We can never attain it nor obtain it by our means.  It must be lent to us.  Christ has lent us his righteousness.  Now we are clothed in righteousness, free from fear and condemnation because of his obedience and sacrifice.  For this season of Lent, focus on what has been lent to you and what cost.

The season of Lent is upon us! Hurry! Hurry!

Isn’t that our problem here?  Isn’t it always the season of lent in America?  We live in lent houses (mortage, or two), lent cars (lease or loan?), and we pay our ordinary expenses with lent money (credit cards anyone?).  Why, because its hurry, hurry, I’ve got to have it now.    How much of our current distress is caused by this never ending season of lent?  Why this lack of satisfaction?

Something things are meant, however, to be lent and it is good (but you’ll have to wait).