I was online today, and I read in a Christian forum about a person who felt guilty for not worshipping with his hands lifted up, but too self conscious to do it. Most people told him not to worry about it, one person rather piously said that scripture commanded we dance and clap and stomp and etc. Eventually I'm sure the whole conversation will go down the drain, but before it does, it will come down to Charismatics on one side and Quiet people on the other. They will accuse each other of not caring what God thinks.
Personally, I'm usually rather quiet, but would have sporadic boughts of being hyper if it were all left up to me. I'd be neither charismatic, nor liturgical. That's just my personal wiring. But...while I disagree with what the Charismatic poster was saying was necessary to worship God, I do see that she/he did have the right attitude of belief about it. That is...worship isn't about what WE want. It's about what GOD wants.
God has laid out some commands about how He is to be worshipped, He has also said that He does not want to be worshipped according to the dictates of pagan culture. (Deut. 4:15-20; 12:32; Matt. 4:9-10; 15:9; Acts 17:23-25; Exod. 20:4-6, John 4:23-24; Col. 2:18-23). He is to be worshipped with the Whole Being, in Spirit and Truth. (Rom. 1:20; Psa. 19:1-4a; 50:6; 86:8-10; 89:5-7; 95:1-6; 97:6; 104:1-35; 145:9-12; Acts 14:17; Deut. 6:4-5).
So how do you know what God wants. First you cover what God commands. Then you find what God describes in scripture as precident. Those things tell us how to worship. All other elements which are added are man-made and against the notion of worshipping according to God's desires. What you end up with depends some upon how you see the relationship between the OT and NT. Some folks who are exclusive psalmodists who sing psalms without any musical instruments see a severe breech between the NT and OT, and since some things from the OT were not mentioned in the new, therefore they should not be done. For this person, the charismatic elements of dancing and playing tamborine in the pews would definately be out. Other people see more of a continuity between the two, Changing in NT worship only that which was changed by the NT. For these people, the question of dancing, raising hands, clapping and playing the tamborine in the pews is more a question of WHEN as opposed to WHETHER this was to occur. Because we do see it mentioned in scripture in the OT.
I'm going not go into the elements of worship per se, as we need first to clear up the relationship between the two testaments. I find it rather odd that the non instrument playing exclusive psalmodists are usually covenantal believers who, in other questions of doctrine, see a much more connected relationship between the church and Israel. If Israel and the CHurch are in reality one body, and only the things from the Old Covenant which are cancelled by the New are completely done away with, how is it we automatically say that OT worship is not to be considered? They may be correct, however, it is not consistent with the method of interpretation for other topics of interest. Why would there be such a stark disharmony?
Personally, I'm of the belief that the Old and New Covenants are different manefestations of the same relationship between God and man. It's like having a lease. In fact I find that rather timely an analogy actually, as my current lease is expiring. Our property was bought by other people and we have been given a "new lease" to sign. Basically this new lease is a list of changes from the old one. So, when I decide whether or not to paint the place, I see nothing in the new lease, so I look at the old one to see if there is anything there. I see nothing and assume it is ok. Conversely the old lease prohibited animals not in cages and aquariums. Thus I could not have a dog. The new lease prohibits dogs over 12 pounds. Now, if I wanted, I would be free to have a small (quite small) dog.
I see the two testaments the same way. There is nothing in the new about dying hair, and nothing in the old, thus there is freedom. In the new I see a set of food prohibitions which is quite different from what is in the old, thus I rely on the new one instead. I see nothing commanding a tithe in the new, but I see the principle in the old and believe I am obligated to do so. I believe I must be consistent in all things and thus, to adequately determine what God wants in worship, one must determine what is commanded in each. What is mentioned in the old, if it is not negated in the new, must then be seen as still in effect. Things in the old, such as sacrifices, which are done away with must be left out. Things in the new must be done whether mentioned in the old or not.
At the moment this does not answer whether one must dance, raise hands, play tamborine, clap or any other such thing. It also does not answer if the method of worship is liturgical or more casual. It merely tells us how we are to decide the answers to these issues.
Thus scratched Lady Raven at
11:48 AM
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Name: Raven Shadowwinds From::Gaston, South Carolina, United States
I'm a 40ish mother of two; wanna-be historian, webdesigner, thinker of deep thoughts, and gothic princess. I am a perplexing and arcane person, creative writer, artist and photographer. I’m a voracious reader of anything Celtic, Norse, Confederate, Reformation, Renaissance, Medieval, World War two, political, philosophical or theological subject matter, as well as vampires, werewolves and other “darker” gothic themes. I’m an amateur historian, philosopher and theologian. I’m a confederate constitutional libertarian. I like antiquity goth, romanti-goth and period-goth styles mostly, though my hair has punk tendencies. In music I prefer celtic, renn, medieval, gregorian chant, ethereal darkwave, gothic rock, punk, melodic metal, medieval metal, hair bands, dark ambient, new age. I drink Coca-Cola, Chai Latte or British style tea.
Legalism is a sin, one cannot bind the conscience of another believer without direct scriptural compulsion to do so. Where there is no commandment or restriction there is liberty. Twisting scripture and
misinterpreting it to take away the liberty of a believer is legalism.
No culture can honestly claim to be Christian unless it has been ordered by and initiated by God. All cultures have been polluted by sin as all men are sinners. The Body of Christ should remember this...When attempting a conversation with a member of another culture...in that conversation, there will be two sinful cultures and two people who have a sin problem. This does not change whether the conversation is in deepest africa, or the goth club down the road.
**Warning** the below linked blog rolls contain sites which may not be acceptable or Christian. I have placed them here to increase traffic to my blog and possibly expose unbelievers to the truth. Click out at your own risk!!
