Lately I've been thinking. I've been thinking that thinking is probably a good habit to get into if I'm going to be doing a degree. I've also been thinking about more profound theological stuff, which I will get on to. However, right now I'm thinking that the word thinking has lost all meaning and looks like it is spelt completely wrong.
Anyway, my theological (theo - God, ology - study of) thought was about worship. More specifically it was about corporate worship. You see as Christians, we worship God as a response to what he has done for us. Individually we worship God by following him and obeying him, which while hard to do, is easy enough to understand. The bible is clear on the subject, so the issue of individual worship is clear in my mind.
However, what isn't so clear is what happens when Christians come together to worship. Do we come together to share in fellowship and learn about God, and by doing so worship Him? Or do we come together to also explicitly worship him through singing songs? Or are these songs for our benefit or for Gods? Do they have to actually speak about God? Do they have to have words?
In 1 Corinthians 14:26 Paul, speaks about how that everything done when Christians meet together should build up the Christians spiritually, and later on he speaks of how everything should be done orderly. By which he doesn't mean strictly time-tabled and rigid, but more, it shouldn't be anarchical. I guess this means that certain things are out, but does it mean that songs that don't teach us anything of God shouldn't be sung?
Anyway, I had a very good talk to Helen about all this, and she was far more sensible that me, in that she agreed with me that I was probably over analysing it all, and told me that we sing songs because singing songs is a way of expressing love for something. Which made me realise that I was being a bit stupid about it all, and that I should get on with worshipping God in times of coming-together-with-other-christian-ness properly, rather than thinking about how I could rationalise this all theologically.
Anyway, In conclusion, I'm going to sing more songs, and try to concentrate on God whilst doing so. I'm also going to buy myself a nice shiny book on Worship when I get the chance.
And if you've read this far, even though you don't know what I'm talking about, here's a big word you can use in conversation, Eschatalogical.
Of perhaps more use, is this. badger badger badger mushroom mushroom badger badger SNAKE
(8)silence
(t) Helen!
man, i just opened that stupid badger link on my first day at work!! and yes, the speakers on my computer ARE on (loud!!) Doh!
Haha, but it made you laugh didn't it though! Work needs more badgers! Badgers and mushrooms, Badgers, Mushrooms and Snakes!
I haven't laughed so hard for ages!!! It is sooooooooooo funny!!
Hey Mark, haven't been here lately and just saw your post about worship. Actually you aren't alone when you wonder about worship. I have listened to many theories and had many debates (debates are dumb, nobody ever changes their mind) and have even had some questions myself.
There are some people who beleive that some music (mostly upbeat music with a "rock" beat) goes against the body's natural flow and causes feelings that aren't real and shouldn't be used in worship. I think this is crazy. Music, as all things that we are blessed with, is a gift from God. It is a wonderful tool that we use to praise him. I think that when we come together to worship, the songs we sing should be about Him. Songs without words are also an excellent way to let people relax, think about His blessing to us, and to praise Him. I don't think that music that isn't about him, secular music, should be involved in our worshipping. The focus during this time is completely for Him. But I wasn't sure if you meant it that way. Secular music outside of worship is fine. We are supposed to worship God in all we do. If we are listening to secular music, simply praise God for blessing us with the music.
On the flipside, Helen is right. Don't over-analyze something that has worked in your life. Whatever helps you worship God, do it. When it comes to groups, however, make sure that your worshiping doesn't take away from other's experience. This is a problem that I have with bands that lead worship(not bands that are simply performing) and are up on stage as the center of attention. To me, they are taking away the focus of worship. Now worship isn't completely on God, but people are watching the band "perform" (I use that term loosely).
In short, you will find different views of group worship. I feel that as long as it leads people in worship and doesn't take away from that, it is fine.
I hope I didn't ramble on too much. It's just a lot of people have the same question. Just don't let it get in your way of worshipping the Lord. Oh yeah, the badger thing was weird.
Is this a debate?
No
I think you're over analysing the over-analysis!
Mmmm, this blogging business looks quite hilarious. Or is that just Mark? Sorry, I mean Sparticus. I though of posing as someone like Professor Drifel from the University of Llanfair PG, but there's probably a law against it and social services will be round before you can say Windows XP. As for worship, what is "secular music?". And what does God think of repeating things 16 times over? Seriously, I thought I might learn something about what Sparticus is actually doing in Ipswich, given that it's only a stone's throw from here. Why haven't you posted anything recently? Are you working too hard? Maybe you did have the virus. Did you know that our church youth worker, Peter Ciechan (pronounced See-chin)is also doing your course, although he's in his 2nd year?
A Snake a Snake, Ohhhhhh, it's a Snake.........
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David
badgers are cool.