If worship transforms us into kinder, more loving people, then why do we fight over worship? Paul Basden
In the early 14th century, Pope Clement the V wrote that "many ministers of the Church,” in addition to neglecting their prayers in favor of sports like falconry and fox hunting, "do not fear to dance licentiously in the church cemeteries, and at times sing silly songs." To correct what was becoming an accepted practice, he decreed that the liturgy should be "devoutly chanted" in all Cathedrals and churches. Once again what was sang and how it was sung was mandated. The singing moved away from hymns and songs to ‘devout chants.’
John Wycliffe (1328-1384) was interested in the common person being able to understand and participate in every part of what was happening in the church world. His life ambition was to provide the Scriptures so that the common person could understand them and apply them. Regarding the singing or chanting that was common in the church, Wycliffe complained: “No one can hear the words, and all the others are dumb and watch them like fools.” The singing had again moved back to chanting by professionals. The average person was a spectator and not a participant. The sound had taken over the message. Instead of God as the ‘Audience of One,’ the congregation had become the audience.
At the Council of Trent (1545-1563), church leaders met to address the problem of the difficult and extremely varied music that was being sung throughout the church world. At the Council of Trent the first official manual giving basic instruction in music and singing was formulated. It was decided that the music for worship must be within reasonable scope. The complexity of the music had to be at a level that did not keep the congregation from participating. The emphasis was moving back towards the participation of the congregation.
Martin Luther composed a number of hymns in the 16th century. Many of the hymns he wrote borrowed their melodies from popular tavern drinking songs of that period. As a young student, Luther earned money to pay his school fees by singing in the streets of Eisenach. Luther played the lute and sang. Music and singing was an important part of his life.
One of the three main tenants of Martin Luther’s Reformation was the restoration of congregational singing. The Reformation Movement defied the tradition of the Roman Catholic Church that only ‘professionals’ were allowed to sing worship songs in public.
The controversy around music continued! Stay tuned for Part 5.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Music, Instruments, Worship and Singing – How about this history? Part 3
If worship transforms us into kinder, more loving people, then why do we fight over worship? Paul Basden
Until the AD 300s almost all church music consisted of psalms chanted. A ‘cantor’ or leader would sing or chant a line and then the congregation would repeat the line. From Solomon’s Temple in 950 BC to the cathedrals of the 1300s music was handled by trained ‘professionals.’ The average person could only participate in the music and singing part of worship service by responding to the cantor. One of the dilemmas birthed in this practice was that the importance was put on the sound and the tone of the music and not on the message or on the involvement of everyone in worship.
In the 4th century, St. Augustine complained that sometimes music in church seems "directed to the sound rather than the sense" of the faith, in which case he "would prefer to hear no singing at all." Augustine was bothered that the music had become more about personal taste, likes and dislikes and quality then about the conveyance of truth. The ‘truth’ was there in the songs but it was buried under the highlighting of the cantor and the vocal gymnastics.
In the 9th Century Pope Leo IV discovered that the most important monastery in the region had quit singing the Gregorian Chants because the Abbot disliked the music. He sent orders to the Abbot: “We command under sentence of excommunication that, in the singing and readings in your churches, you carry them out in no other way than that which Pope St. Gregory handed down, and we hold that you cultivate and sing this tradition [Gregorian Chants] always.”
With the development of polyphonic singing (music in which two or more strands sound simultaneously), a new problem arose. Singers were improvising and singing their own songs during church services. They were no longer following the ‘handed down’ music. In the 12th century, the Bishop of Chartres complained that much singing in church is "full of ostentation." "Such is the facility of running up and down the scale," he wrote, "the ears lose their power of judging." He called on singers to return to tradition.
The controversy around music continued! Stay tuned for Part 4.
Until the AD 300s almost all church music consisted of psalms chanted. A ‘cantor’ or leader would sing or chant a line and then the congregation would repeat the line. From Solomon’s Temple in 950 BC to the cathedrals of the 1300s music was handled by trained ‘professionals.’ The average person could only participate in the music and singing part of worship service by responding to the cantor. One of the dilemmas birthed in this practice was that the importance was put on the sound and the tone of the music and not on the message or on the involvement of everyone in worship.
In the 4th century, St. Augustine complained that sometimes music in church seems "directed to the sound rather than the sense" of the faith, in which case he "would prefer to hear no singing at all." Augustine was bothered that the music had become more about personal taste, likes and dislikes and quality then about the conveyance of truth. The ‘truth’ was there in the songs but it was buried under the highlighting of the cantor and the vocal gymnastics.
In the 9th Century Pope Leo IV discovered that the most important monastery in the region had quit singing the Gregorian Chants because the Abbot disliked the music. He sent orders to the Abbot: “We command under sentence of excommunication that, in the singing and readings in your churches, you carry them out in no other way than that which Pope St. Gregory handed down, and we hold that you cultivate and sing this tradition [Gregorian Chants] always.”
With the development of polyphonic singing (music in which two or more strands sound simultaneously), a new problem arose. Singers were improvising and singing their own songs during church services. They were no longer following the ‘handed down’ music. In the 12th century, the Bishop of Chartres complained that much singing in church is "full of ostentation." "Such is the facility of running up and down the scale," he wrote, "the ears lose their power of judging." He called on singers to return to tradition.
The controversy around music continued! Stay tuned for Part 4.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Music, Instruments, Worship and Singing – How about this history? [Part 2]
If worship transforms us into kinder, more loving people, then why do we fight over worship? Paul Basden
The history surrounding music, instruments, singing and ‘worship’ in the church is very intriguing. There are many facets involved in the ever changing world of music, instruments, singing and worship. Some of the history is disappointing and disheartening. Some of the history is incredibly inspiring and challenging. It can never be said that the history of music, song, singing and ‘worship’ in the church has been boring.
The use of musical instruments also has a rich history. The first record of musical instruments is found in Genesis 4:21. “His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute.” Musical instruments have an integral part of the worship of God’s people. Even a cursory reading of the book of Psalms reveals an assortment of instruments used in worship.
The history of instruments is not only rich but at times has been controversial. In 200 AD musical instruments were abandoned and banned in church settings. Church leaders felt that instrumentation distracted the mind from thoughts of God and turned the worshipper towards the ‘self.’ Other church leaders saw the use of musical instrument as “debauchery and immorality.” The stringed instrument called a ‘lyre’ was seen as ‘pagan’ and associated with prostitution.
For the next 500 years worship was 'a cappella.' 'A cappella' is an interesting term. It is Italian for ‘in the manner of the church’ or ‘in the manner of the chapel.’ The way of the church until the 8th century was to sing without musical instruments. Instruments were not used regularly by the church until the 8th century.
The controversy around music continued!
Stay tuned for Part 3.
The history surrounding music, instruments, singing and ‘worship’ in the church is very intriguing. There are many facets involved in the ever changing world of music, instruments, singing and worship. Some of the history is disappointing and disheartening. Some of the history is incredibly inspiring and challenging. It can never be said that the history of music, song, singing and ‘worship’ in the church has been boring.
The use of musical instruments also has a rich history. The first record of musical instruments is found in Genesis 4:21. “His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute.” Musical instruments have an integral part of the worship of God’s people. Even a cursory reading of the book of Psalms reveals an assortment of instruments used in worship.
The history of instruments is not only rich but at times has been controversial. In 200 AD musical instruments were abandoned and banned in church settings. Church leaders felt that instrumentation distracted the mind from thoughts of God and turned the worshipper towards the ‘self.’ Other church leaders saw the use of musical instrument as “debauchery and immorality.” The stringed instrument called a ‘lyre’ was seen as ‘pagan’ and associated with prostitution.
For the next 500 years worship was 'a cappella.' 'A cappella' is an interesting term. It is Italian for ‘in the manner of the church’ or ‘in the manner of the chapel.’ The way of the church until the 8th century was to sing without musical instruments. Instruments were not used regularly by the church until the 8th century.
The controversy around music continued!
Stay tuned for Part 3.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Music, Instruments, Worship and Singing – How about this history? [Part 1 of 10]
“If worship transforms us into kinder, more loving people, then why do we fight over worship?” Paul Basden
The history surrounding music, instruments, singing and ‘worship’ in the church is very intriguing. There are many facets involved in the ever changing world of music, instruments, singing and worship. Some of the history is disappointing and disheartening; some is incredibly inspiring and challenging. It can never be said that the history of music, song, singing and ‘worship’ in the church has been boring.
Over the last 200 years various segments of the church has sought out opportunities to sing Christian music in secular settings as a form of outreach. This has not always been the practice of the church.
The first documented case of controversy about worship or church music comes from the 1st century. Pope St. Clement discovered that in various regions church musicians were singing psalms from the Christian liturgy at pagan festivals. These psalms were being sung in public, non-sacred settings and most likely the singers were profiting from the music. The Pope found this practice scandalous and intervened, forbidding the practice. His fear was that Christian musicians would appear as "wandering minstrels, singing tellers of tales of high adventure, who perform their art for a mouthful of bread."
In the early centuries of the church, Christians sang together as a type of mass choir. The music or words were never written out, but simply transmitted audibly and orally. There were no hymnals, song sheets, overheads or PowerPoint. All the songs were memorized by the average person.
As the centuries progressed though, the lyrics of the songs began to be sung in Latin by a chosen few. The average person did not speak, read or understand Latin and therefore was unable to join in the singing and was relegated to being a spectator.
How’s that for a little spicy history on the discussion of various forms of worship?
Stay tuned for … more of the story.
Matt
The history surrounding music, instruments, singing and ‘worship’ in the church is very intriguing. There are many facets involved in the ever changing world of music, instruments, singing and worship. Some of the history is disappointing and disheartening; some is incredibly inspiring and challenging. It can never be said that the history of music, song, singing and ‘worship’ in the church has been boring.
Over the last 200 years various segments of the church has sought out opportunities to sing Christian music in secular settings as a form of outreach. This has not always been the practice of the church.
The first documented case of controversy about worship or church music comes from the 1st century. Pope St. Clement discovered that in various regions church musicians were singing psalms from the Christian liturgy at pagan festivals. These psalms were being sung in public, non-sacred settings and most likely the singers were profiting from the music. The Pope found this practice scandalous and intervened, forbidding the practice. His fear was that Christian musicians would appear as "wandering minstrels, singing tellers of tales of high adventure, who perform their art for a mouthful of bread."
In the early centuries of the church, Christians sang together as a type of mass choir. The music or words were never written out, but simply transmitted audibly and orally. There were no hymnals, song sheets, overheads or PowerPoint. All the songs were memorized by the average person.
As the centuries progressed though, the lyrics of the songs began to be sung in Latin by a chosen few. The average person did not speak, read or understand Latin and therefore was unable to join in the singing and was relegated to being a spectator.
How’s that for a little spicy history on the discussion of various forms of worship?
Stay tuned for … more of the story.
Matt
Monday, October 31, 2011
True Worshippers
The Apostle John records the event of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus asks her to draw water for him. This begins a dialogue about water, living water, the Messiah and what correct worship consists of. The woman asks about the place and the manner of worship. Jesus answers her not about the place and manner but about the heart of worship.
… true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24 NLT)
The idea that there are those who worship in ‘spirit and in truth’ exposes the reality that there are those who worship but not in ‘sprit and in truth.’ The ‘Father is looking for those who would worship Him in that way’ because there are those who would NOT worship in that way.
Thousands of years ago, King David declared: "How great You are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like You. We have never even heard of another God like You! (2 Samuel 7:22 NLT)
That is worship in ‘spirit and truth.’ That is the kind of worship that the Father is looking for. Worship in ‘spirit and truth’ is worship that recognizes, affirms, proclaims and surrenders to the bigness of God. Worship in ‘spirit and truth’ is worship that recognizes, affirms, proclaims and lives in the reality of the smallness of man.
Bible teacher Louie Giglio puts worship in ‘spirit and truth’ in perspective with this statement:
God is looking for men and women who are willing to be small because they know how big he is---and understand who they are not!
Harry Fosdick writes: God is not a cosmic bellboy for whom we can press a button to get things done.
God is not a ‘cosmic bellboy.’ There is no one like Him. There is no one so awesome, so immense, so potent, so imaginative, so magnificent and so all encompassing. There is no one so caring, so involved, so loving and so sacrificing as the One who came to this earth to free mankind from the plague of sin, shame and death.
Father, teach us to worship in ‘spirit and truth.’ Amen
… true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24 NLT)
The idea that there are those who worship in ‘spirit and in truth’ exposes the reality that there are those who worship but not in ‘sprit and in truth.’ The ‘Father is looking for those who would worship Him in that way’ because there are those who would NOT worship in that way.
Thousands of years ago, King David declared: "How great You are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like You. We have never even heard of another God like You! (2 Samuel 7:22 NLT)
That is worship in ‘spirit and truth.’ That is the kind of worship that the Father is looking for. Worship in ‘spirit and truth’ is worship that recognizes, affirms, proclaims and surrenders to the bigness of God. Worship in ‘spirit and truth’ is worship that recognizes, affirms, proclaims and lives in the reality of the smallness of man.
Bible teacher Louie Giglio puts worship in ‘spirit and truth’ in perspective with this statement:
God is looking for men and women who are willing to be small because they know how big he is---and understand who they are not!
Harry Fosdick writes: God is not a cosmic bellboy for whom we can press a button to get things done.
God is not a ‘cosmic bellboy.’ There is no one like Him. There is no one so awesome, so immense, so potent, so imaginative, so magnificent and so all encompassing. There is no one so caring, so involved, so loving and so sacrificing as the One who came to this earth to free mankind from the plague of sin, shame and death.
Father, teach us to worship in ‘spirit and truth.’ Amen
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Spiritual Cholesterol
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. (Proverbs 4:23 NLT)
We have been constantly reminded over the last decade about cholesterol. There are warnings about cholesterol numbers and getting cholesterol checked at physical time. We've heard about diet; the foods that raise cholesterol and foods that lower it. We have heard volumes about how exercise can lower the numbers.
When too much 'bad' cholesterol is circulating in the blood stream, it can clog the arteries and lead to significant impact, and ultimately lead to heart disease. There are no symptoms of high cholesterol, only symptoms caused by the damage it is doing to the body.
There are common emotional reactions that, if left unchecked, will act spiritually just like cholesterol and damage a person's spiritual circulatory system. Fear, sorrow, anger, hurt, worry are some of the common emotions that each of us experience. Theses emotions have beneficial uses. Life could be difficult and at times confusing without them.
When there is too much of these emotions, there can be clogging of the spiritual arteries. Too much of each of these can actually bring about emotional paralysis.
Solomon's advice to 'guard your heart above all else' was not about cholesterol. His admonition was about spiritual cholesterol. It was about guarding against emotions run amuck. His warning was about fear that becomes chronic, sorrow that becomes depression, unchecked anger that becomes rage, hurts that without forgiveness become bitterness, and worry that can become paranoia.
The fruit of the Holy Spirit is 'high cholesterol' medicine. The Holy Spirit wants to grow love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control in us. These fruits combat high 'spiritual cholesterol.'
Holy Spirit, grow your fruit in us. Combat the high spiritual cholesterol in us that clogs our spiritual circulatory system. Amen.
We have been constantly reminded over the last decade about cholesterol. There are warnings about cholesterol numbers and getting cholesterol checked at physical time. We've heard about diet; the foods that raise cholesterol and foods that lower it. We have heard volumes about how exercise can lower the numbers.
When too much 'bad' cholesterol is circulating in the blood stream, it can clog the arteries and lead to significant impact, and ultimately lead to heart disease. There are no symptoms of high cholesterol, only symptoms caused by the damage it is doing to the body.
There are common emotional reactions that, if left unchecked, will act spiritually just like cholesterol and damage a person's spiritual circulatory system. Fear, sorrow, anger, hurt, worry are some of the common emotions that each of us experience. Theses emotions have beneficial uses. Life could be difficult and at times confusing without them.
When there is too much of these emotions, there can be clogging of the spiritual arteries. Too much of each of these can actually bring about emotional paralysis.
Solomon's advice to 'guard your heart above all else' was not about cholesterol. His admonition was about spiritual cholesterol. It was about guarding against emotions run amuck. His warning was about fear that becomes chronic, sorrow that becomes depression, unchecked anger that becomes rage, hurts that without forgiveness become bitterness, and worry that can become paranoia.
The fruit of the Holy Spirit is 'high cholesterol' medicine. The Holy Spirit wants to grow love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control in us. These fruits combat high 'spiritual cholesterol.'
Holy Spirit, grow your fruit in us. Combat the high spiritual cholesterol in us that clogs our spiritual circulatory system. Amen.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Guard the constructive. Guard against the destructive.
People often think of the past as a less complicated, simpler way of life. Schedules were much less complicated, if they even existed at all. Economy was built on needs and bartering, not wants. Transportation was so simple, and yet difficult, at the same time. Moving around was so difficult that people for the most part simply didn’t travel. Technology as we know it - radio, TV, Internet and iEverything - just didn’t exist.
Almost 3000 years ago King Solomon wrote: Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23 GW) Guard your heart from what? Not TV. Not the News. Not movies, Internet or iThings. None of that existed. So what was a person to guard from ‘more than anything else?’
Solomon was coaching his son to guard his heart from things that are much more rudimentary. He was coaching his son to guard his attitudes and thoughts. Attitudes and thoughts become driving forces in a person’s life. Attitudes and thoughts, over time either become constructive or destructive. They either build a person or they destroy a person. They either build relationships or they destroy relationships.
He was coaching people to guard against greed, lust, bitterness, anger, jealousy, cynicism and criticism. These attitudes become the driving force in life. He was also coaching people to guard integrity, honesty, humility, kindness, forgiveness, and gratefulness. Guard the constructive. Guard against the destructive.
Paul talked about attitudes in what is called ‘The Love Chapter.’ Here are the attitudes he writes about - Love is: kind, patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude, isn't selfish, quick tempered, doesn't keep a record of wrongs that others do, love rejoices in the truth, is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. (1 Cor.13:4ff)
What constructive attitude do you need to guard today? What destructive attitude do you need to guard against today?
Almost 3000 years ago King Solomon wrote: Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23 GW) Guard your heart from what? Not TV. Not the News. Not movies, Internet or iThings. None of that existed. So what was a person to guard from ‘more than anything else?’
Solomon was coaching his son to guard his heart from things that are much more rudimentary. He was coaching his son to guard his attitudes and thoughts. Attitudes and thoughts become driving forces in a person’s life. Attitudes and thoughts, over time either become constructive or destructive. They either build a person or they destroy a person. They either build relationships or they destroy relationships.
He was coaching people to guard against greed, lust, bitterness, anger, jealousy, cynicism and criticism. These attitudes become the driving force in life. He was also coaching people to guard integrity, honesty, humility, kindness, forgiveness, and gratefulness. Guard the constructive. Guard against the destructive.
Paul talked about attitudes in what is called ‘The Love Chapter.’ Here are the attitudes he writes about - Love is: kind, patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude, isn't selfish, quick tempered, doesn't keep a record of wrongs that others do, love rejoices in the truth, is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. (1 Cor.13:4ff)
What constructive attitude do you need to guard today? What destructive attitude do you need to guard against today?
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Guard Your Heart
More is known about the human heart today than during any other time period in history. There may be more that has been discovered about the heart in the last 50 years than was known in all of the other centuries combined!
Doctors and researchers know how the heart functions, what clogs the heart up, what medicines can be used to help a heart that is beating irregularly, how to hook up a pacemaker that keeps the heart beating at the correct rate, how to install an internal defibrillator to restart the heart instantly when something goes wrong, how to do by-pass surgery and heart transplants. Is there anything that medical science can’t do for the human heart? Yes!
All of the procedures mentioned above have complications and side effects. Most of the procedures require constant monitoring, tweaking and follow-up. They are not permanent solutions. Transplant recipients are relegated to a life on immunosuppressive drugs to keep their body from rejecting the transplant.
Wouldn’t it be nice if a person’s spiritual, emotional and psychological heart could be fixed in the same way? Life would be so different if we could take a pill, have a bypass or have a transplant. If solving ‘heart problems’ happened that simply, we would never have to ‘guard our hearts.’
Solomon wrote: Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. (Proverbs 4:23 NLT)
The Message Bible says it this way: Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts.
How many times have we heard that we need to watch what we eat, watch our salt intake, exercise, etc? All of these have a direct impact on the heart. Medical Science would say: Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life!
Guard your heart above all else! Guard what your heart thinks about, the assumptions it makes, what is allowed access, what your heart feels, judgments that are made, worries, perceptions, etc. The list could literally go on and on. Guard your heart above all else – your life depends on it!
Doctors and researchers know how the heart functions, what clogs the heart up, what medicines can be used to help a heart that is beating irregularly, how to hook up a pacemaker that keeps the heart beating at the correct rate, how to install an internal defibrillator to restart the heart instantly when something goes wrong, how to do by-pass surgery and heart transplants. Is there anything that medical science can’t do for the human heart? Yes!
All of the procedures mentioned above have complications and side effects. Most of the procedures require constant monitoring, tweaking and follow-up. They are not permanent solutions. Transplant recipients are relegated to a life on immunosuppressive drugs to keep their body from rejecting the transplant.
Wouldn’t it be nice if a person’s spiritual, emotional and psychological heart could be fixed in the same way? Life would be so different if we could take a pill, have a bypass or have a transplant. If solving ‘heart problems’ happened that simply, we would never have to ‘guard our hearts.’
Solomon wrote: Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. (Proverbs 4:23 NLT)
The Message Bible says it this way: Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts.
How many times have we heard that we need to watch what we eat, watch our salt intake, exercise, etc? All of these have a direct impact on the heart. Medical Science would say: Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life!
Guard your heart above all else! Guard what your heart thinks about, the assumptions it makes, what is allowed access, what your heart feels, judgments that are made, worries, perceptions, etc. The list could literally go on and on. Guard your heart above all else – your life depends on it!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Wise People Put Into Practice Jesus' Words
If people were asked: Do you want to be wise? Most people would say something like: Of course! Who doesn't want to be wise?
Almost no one would choose to be a fool or live foolishly. Foolishness is not a desired quality. Jesus taught about wise and foolish people. He said, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24, 25 NIV)
Everyone who hears these words and puts them into practice is like a wise man. Wise in this situation is not just hearing the words – you must ‘put them into practice.'
Everyone who hears His words and doesn't 'put them into practice' is like 'the foolish man who built his house on sand.'
The wisdom isn't in the hearing or knowing, the wisdom is in the 'putting into practice.' The problem is, as people, we are pretty good about hearing but we are not so good about 'putting into practice.'
Right from the very beginning of the human race Adam and Eve heard BUT they couldn't 'put into practice.' People have been following the path just like the foolish man.
Jesus, teach us to be people who hear AND who 'put into practice.' Amen
Almost no one would choose to be a fool or live foolishly. Foolishness is not a desired quality. Jesus taught about wise and foolish people. He said, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24, 25 NIV)
Everyone who hears these words and puts them into practice is like a wise man. Wise in this situation is not just hearing the words – you must ‘put them into practice.'
Everyone who hears His words and doesn't 'put them into practice' is like 'the foolish man who built his house on sand.'
The wisdom isn't in the hearing or knowing, the wisdom is in the 'putting into practice.' The problem is, as people, we are pretty good about hearing but we are not so good about 'putting into practice.'
Right from the very beginning of the human race Adam and Eve heard BUT they couldn't 'put into practice.' People have been following the path just like the foolish man.
Jesus, teach us to be people who hear AND who 'put into practice.' Amen
Friday, September 23, 2011
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
I was recently reading an interview of the author of the Message Bible, Eugene Peterson. In the interview he was asked questions about living the Christian life. One of his answers was very profound.
He described the Christian life as “a long obedience.” He has also described following Jesus as “a long obedience in the same direction.” That is a great explanation and description of what it means to follow Jesus.
‘A long obedience in the same direction.’ Following Jesus is not a one time commitment. It is not raising my hand and responding to a prayer at a church service, concert or Christian event. Following Jesus is a way of life. It is an obedient way of life. It is a minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, month by month and year by year obedience in the same direction.
Three hundred years ago Philip Dormer Stanhope, the 4th Earl of Chesterfield, wrote about giving care to the minutes of life and not just the years of life. He wrote: “I recommend you to take care of the minutes, for the hours will take care of themselves.” Minute by minute obedience in the same direction.
A few years ago Mother Teresa wrote similar words regarding giving care to the small things in life. She said:
“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” Faithfulness in the small things of life in the same direction.
It is easier to say and to talk about than to live! As we each seek to navigate living as followers of Jesus in a very conflicted and complicated world, it is difficult to continue to keep these ideas in mind and to practice.
In the middle of the confusion and frustration that seems to be part of the package of life, some throw up their arms and conclude that how life is lived really doesn’t matter. The conclusion is that sincerity is what really matters in life. Sincerity takes care of everything else in life. You just have to be sincere.
Sincerity plays a part but it is only a part. Following Jesus is ‘a long obedience in the same direction’ and ‘taking care of minutes’ and ‘faithfulness in the small things.’
He described the Christian life as “a long obedience.” He has also described following Jesus as “a long obedience in the same direction.” That is a great explanation and description of what it means to follow Jesus.
‘A long obedience in the same direction.’ Following Jesus is not a one time commitment. It is not raising my hand and responding to a prayer at a church service, concert or Christian event. Following Jesus is a way of life. It is an obedient way of life. It is a minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, month by month and year by year obedience in the same direction.
Three hundred years ago Philip Dormer Stanhope, the 4th Earl of Chesterfield, wrote about giving care to the minutes of life and not just the years of life. He wrote: “I recommend you to take care of the minutes, for the hours will take care of themselves.” Minute by minute obedience in the same direction.
A few years ago Mother Teresa wrote similar words regarding giving care to the small things in life. She said:
“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” Faithfulness in the small things of life in the same direction.
It is easier to say and to talk about than to live! As we each seek to navigate living as followers of Jesus in a very conflicted and complicated world, it is difficult to continue to keep these ideas in mind and to practice.
In the middle of the confusion and frustration that seems to be part of the package of life, some throw up their arms and conclude that how life is lived really doesn’t matter. The conclusion is that sincerity is what really matters in life. Sincerity takes care of everything else in life. You just have to be sincere.
Sincerity plays a part but it is only a part. Following Jesus is ‘a long obedience in the same direction’ and ‘taking care of minutes’ and ‘faithfulness in the small things.’
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