Why Truth (In Love) Matters: Part I

As someone who loves to listen to music, the either over-simplification of “worship” music, or the utterly over-exposed entertainment and drama-factor of it left me either empty and cold or anxious and over-stimulated to come crashing down on Monday morning due to the ordinariness of life.

I felt most alive when throwing myself recklessly into the apparently un-spiritual pursuits of running, hiking and inline-skating.

In my early-twenties it came as something of a blessed epiphany to finally sit under Truth, Love and Grace-filled teaching on the real nature of worship in 2002 onward from Darin Hufford, when he was pasturing in one of America’s largest mini-cities…er…an Assemblies of God Mega-Church.

The first century perspective on worship is made pretty clear in Paul’s opus of Romans: “With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity” (Romans 12:1, 2).

If Paul were around today his perspective would probably be rather confronting to the current culture of “worship” amongst the American’s that bother to turn up to a congregation service. Like Paul, our perspective is that ALL of life, even the most mundane aspects of our everyday existence can be an act of worship. For me, it was a burst of sunshine to finally realize that taking my dog Howie on a walk, smiling at the grocery clerk can be a vital expression of the Kingdom here on Earth.

I think at times we’re guilty of mythologizing the early Christians who were in direct contact with our Master.

When you read the Gospels and Acts with an investigative eye a picture quite different to evangelical tradition emerges. The disciples really were a rag-tag mob – one of them a mercenary! Perhaps, the reason Jesus seems to spend more time with Peter, James and John is because they were actually in need of the most taming.

Jesus didn’t recruit from the ranks of “ministry,” the Religious right of His day represented by the Pharisees. The vast majority of the core group of Jesus’ mission band were really successful businessmen. They didn’t drop what they were doing to enter “full time ministry.” There’s no doubt they appointed managers to their affairs and regularly returned to see how things were going and to participate in their business.

One may believe the reading of Jesus’ call to the disciples to follow Him completely literally. She might believe word for word that Jesus suddenly turned up on the banks of Lake Galilee one day, out of the blue, to the group of successful businessmen, upturned their boats and asked them to follow Him.

Another may believe that it makes far better sense that Jesus may have earned His reputation with the men by being the tradesman employed to make the repairs to their fishing fleet, and that he would win their respect through His conduct and workmanship.

Could be either! Which one, I may never know this side of Heaven.

The reality of life for the average Christian is that most of the hours of our week is spent earning a wage. One of the great disservices imposed on the latter part of human history by organized so-called Christianity has been the creation of a great divide between the professional clergy (those in “full time ministry”) and a largely disengaged laity, the ministered to “congregation.”

Sadly, it seems that for most people in a congregation their participation in the Kingdom life is largely limited to throwing a few tired hours at a program of entertainment that is organized on their behalf by the professionals who have come to rely on the collection plate for their survival.

It is little wonder that the receivers are looking for more a more meaningful and intimate Relationship with Father Son Holy Spirit outside “church” walls. Meanwhile, the professionals are “burning out” at increasing rates.

In the end, the most important part of my coming to Christ, learning more about Him, and getting to know Him intimately did not take place in the lecture room. When the rubber hits the road it’s not what we “know” about Christ’s teachings that counts. What counts is if and how we apply His teachings in practicality.

Head knowledge is virtually useless unless it makes that vital 12-inch transition to the heart. Where we move beyond nodding ascent to principles and decide to seriously apply them into every aspect of life.

To be continued…

What are your thoughts so far of this?