One of the major themes of Acts is the building and advancing of the kingdom through the conversion of souls. I've counted at least 23 church growth texts in the 24 chapters of Acts. I think Luke wants us to get it and feel it.
The early church was filled with joy because it was part of the expanding kingdom of God. People were getting saved, getting changed, getting transformed, leaving Satan's realm and entering God's (Acts 26:16-18). No wonder the church was alive with joy!
I have often said that in a local church's life there may well be no joy greater than a baptism. Baptisms represent the ongoing life-transforming, kingdom-expanding work of God's grace in the gospel. And believers can never tire of being a part of such spreading grace.
If you want joy to increase, think about your conversion in a fresh way, engage in evangelism to lead others to grace, actively reflect with wonder over every new believer that comes through the doors of your church, and do your best never to miss a baptism. These are fuel for the fires of your joy.
Be very, very happy, just as heaven is, every time a sinner repents.
Tim, Thank you for your labors on our behalf. This series on joy has been a catalyst to much thought and consideration on the the subject of joy, as expressed in worship. I have held back interaction in this blog as I have found myself moving in new and unfamiliar territory. Thanks for being a good undershepherd and moving us into "newer and greener pastures". This is truely a blessing to be challenged by the Word. Having said that, I have several ruminations which I shall express in the form of observations. My hope is to get more confirmation or challenge after I set them out.
ReplyDeleteObservation 1: I could almost get the impression that worship is viewed as something that occurs between 10AM and 10:45AM Sunday morning, as we express truth about God and our experience in song.
I notice a Pauline perspective which is echoed rightly by John Calvin, that what we say Sunday morning is far less important than what we do and who we are the rest of the week. That is to say, worship has to do with our being and doing all week long.
As we read the names of God in both Hebrew and Greek, YHWH and Eimi or I AM, are both present, active, indicative, state of being verbs. He says to us "be ye holy as I am holy". I think we lose the concept of holiness in the mix. God is described in Systematic Theology as Wholly Other or separate from created being. As the "source" of being, we worship God more in our apprehension of our derived being, as opposed to a rebellious attempt to act as an independant "being". So the heart of worship is living in the reality that all that we do as redeemed human "beings" is derived from our Source of being, The Living God, who calls Himself, "present, active indicative state of being actor". That is God is the Prime Mover or Actor upon the created order.
Sunday morning has much do do with saying (singing) and hearing. I know you would agree with this. My point is that "Joy" should be a vital part of everyday worship. Our life is worship. (Rom.12)Our thoughts are worship, our secular callings are worship. Joy should be a vital and real part of this at least as much as it is expressed between 10AM and 10:45 AM Sunday.
Observation 2: As I went back and read about David's dance, I was struck that this was not something he did in corporate worship but in his role as king. In a sense, one could say that David danced at work and not at church. Here, joy is expressed in national life. I know that Israel typified the church. This expression of joy should not be "reserved" just for corporate worship.
Observation 3:
Sunday's blog about the woman who was washing the Lord's feet with her tears and drying them with her hair. (hope I'm not confusing two passages). Her joy was visibly seen in humble tears.
To summarize, joy can be visably seen in expressions usually reserved for sorrow. Worship is something that occurs "all the time" in the minutia of everyday life.(changing diapers, pulling weeds, exercise, work, conversation etc.) Worship is a "state of being" as much as an activity. Passionate expression is a vital part of normal redeemed "being". We should not be embarrased by the "fruit" of our derived being, which is among many other things, Joy in our redeemer and in our "being redeemed".
My ruminations. All imput welcome.
JR
good thoughts, jr, on joy being part of all life. i think that TM (and the rest of us) would agree that the Sunday worship celebration is the cap, or the climax of a week of worship in life and enjoyment of God.
ReplyDeletei think that i'd disagree with your reading of david's dance. in both passages, the celebration that is being held is, from everything i can see, a worship celebration - it has many of the hallmarks of worship services of the day (sacrifice, music, singing, prayer, the proximity of the ark).
you certainly can (and you should) make the point that joy should be present in everyday professional life as well as in the context of the gathered assembly. not sure, though, that you can draw that conclusion from those passages.
at least....i don't think you can.
On your first observation John, I would agree wholeheartedly that all of life is worship, and that any "worship" offered on Sundays that is not an overflow of worship throughout the week--both the worship of a vibrant devotional life and the worship of offering to God everything we do for His glory--is critically deficient worship.
ReplyDeleteI would not say that what we do or "say on Sunday is far less important than any other day of the week". What I would say is that what we do on Sunday becomes fraudulent in certain respects if it doesn't match what we do the rest of the week.
And yes--a thousand times "Amen" to the thought that our lives and worship throughout the week should be full of the same joy that marks our Sunday worship!
Connecting to your third observation I'd say that yes, our being should be one of total and constant worship and joy--sometimes overflowing in passionate expression...
As for observation re David's worship I'd agree with TW that this is a congregational worship experience as many participated. It should be noted too that it took place on the holiest and most fearful spot on earth, the place where God's glory dwelt, where the ark of the covenant was!
David danced in the very immediate presence of God!!
I agree with your conclusion under that observation: worship should be going on wherever we are and whatever we're doing. It should not be "reserved" just for Sundays.
But let me say this too, lest in making that point we miss another in all the legitimate nuances we're considering. While passionate joyful worship should go on on not just on Sundays, it should go on, on Sundays. To paraphrase a thought I heard somewhere: impassioned joyful worship is surely more than a Sunday experience, but let us be sure to keep in mind that it cannot be less!
Thanks everyone for your fine and enjoyable interaction. Grace to all.
Tim
Thanks to both Tims for your thoughts. Iron sharpens iron. I feel a little sharper this morning.
ReplyDeleteJR