In Search Of Worship – Sanctity

Stain Glass Basel Cathedral

'Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.' Isaiah 6:5.

The prophet Isaiah saw the Lord God Almighty seated on a throne, high and exalted. A train of angels attended the Lord, worshiping and calling to one another, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." At the sight of the majesty and grandeur in encountering God, Isaiah shuddered and uttered, "Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." Isaiah 6:5. Isaiah recognised the sanctity of the moment. 

The Rev (Dr) Ben Witherington at the Singapore Aldersgate Convention (Ref 1) observed that an encounter with God in true worship simultaneously and paradoxically widens and narrows the gap between God and us. Worship happens when we realise the distance and distinction between the creator and the creation. This revelation smacked in Isaiah's face as he exclaimed, "Woe is me. I am a man of unclean lips yet I see the Lord." "Such encounter will make clear that God is God and we are so not god" said Dr Witherington, "and worship happens when the creature realizes he is not the creator and bows down to the One who is." 

Is this happening in our worship services? Today, our attitude to worship is to treat it as a consumer's product. The modern worship services are in danger of becoming more and more a show for man, directed to man, with man-pleasing songs, entertaining musical performances and speeches which tickle the ears of listeners. We come to church to consume, not to worship. It is all about ourselves, we need to be inspired, we need to learn, we need to feel good, we need to enjoy the singing, we need to enjoy the music. We approached worship as a consumer but we failed to be consumed by the presence of God. 

We have failed to recognise the sanctity of the moment, the hour that is hallowed and sacred. Perhaps this maybe the reason we are forced to reboot, to reconsider our worship at this time of restrictions due to the pandemic.

The 2020 Easter Season was perhaps the least celebratory we have witnessed for many decades. In his sermon on Palm Sunday, Bishop Emeritus Robert Solomon shared that while we cannot enjoy the whole festivity of Palm Sunday, "I suspect it has forced us not just to join a crowd but to experience the Lord Jesus Christ riding into our hearts. The limitation we have today does not stop us from worshipping. lifting our hearts in praise of Jesus. It is as if the Lord has chosen to ride into our hearts so that we can focus our hearts on Jesus." (Ref 2)

These words from the Bishop inspired our niece-in-law, Angela Goh, to write the lyrics and music of this lovely, inspiring song, 'Hosanna.'

I sing Hosanna when at home

I sing Hosanna though alone

No palm to palm greeting we give

Confined to home so we can live

I sing Hosanna from the heart

From friends and family far apart

Uncertain times, when fears arise

Look at the world, God hears our cries

Hosanna, we lift our voice in praise

Hosanna, our prayers to you we raise

In trials, give us joy

This sickness, you destroy

Hosanna, we lift our voice in praise

Hosanna, our hearts to you we raise

Set our hearts ablaze

Hosanna till the end of our days

We sing Hosanna in one accord

From home to home to our Lord

United together, one spirit, strong

Distanced, not forlorn

We sing Hosanna loud and proud

Spirit united, we are a crowd

Bless the Lord oh my soul

Hosanna we extol 

Angela understood that congregational worship has been replaced by personal worship, at least for these times. And it does not matter where and how we worship, so long as we do this with reverence; as Angie said, "from the heart." In personal worship we will meet with God and it will do us well to know that God is to be met and listened to, not sat down and talked to. Here God communes with man and we become overwhelmed by the sheer presence of God. 'Let us be thankful and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.' Hebrew 12:28-29. We can sing 'Hosanna.'

Lionel

Ref 1 Methodist Message 110(7) Jul 08

Ref 2: The Methodist Message June 2020

In Search of Worship - Seek

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who loved him.' 1 Cor 2:9

  

The movie August Rush tells the story of a boy who grew up in an orphanage. A Irish guitarist and a sheltered young cellist had a chance encounter one magical night above New York's Washington Square but were soon torn apart leaving in their wake an infant, Evan Taylor. The movie has a captivating opening sequence of the young boy moving around in a corn field, en-rapt it seems, by enchanting music. Despite taunting by the other boys in the orphanage, Evan aka August Rush believes the music will lead him to his parents from whom he was separated from birth. Eventually, led by the music and his prodigious musical talent, a fairy tale re-unification with his parents occurred for August. It is a heart-wrenching movie, well worth the watching. August's tagline at the end of the movie, "The music is all around us, all you have to do is look" reminds of 'Seek and You will find.'

There is another quest, the Quest for God, which Calvin Miller wrote in his book 'Into the Depths of God' (Ref 1). A reviewer wrote, "Drawing upon the Word of God and a rich treasury of spiritual insight, ancient and modern, Calvin Miller makes the familiar phrase, 'the deeper life' means something personal to the searching contemporary Christian." The expanded title of the book reads:

'Into the Depths of God

Where Eyes see the Invisible

Ears hear the Inaudible and

Mind conceive the Inconceivable.'

Both searches, the uncanny impulsive search of August Rush and the intellectual quest of Calvin Miller are real and valid because they are searches by the soul. Like August, we should believe that there is music all around us, all we have to do is listen and see; this time the music will lead us to God.

There is a hymn "This is my Father's World" written by Maltbie Babcock. He would take strolls along the Niagara Falls to savor the overlook's scenic view, telling his wife that he was "going out to see the Father's world."

This is my Father's world,

And to my listening ears

All nature sings, and round me rings

The music of the spheres.

This is my Father's world:

I rest me in the thought

Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas--

His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father's world:

The birds their carols raise,

The morning light, the lily white,

Declare their Maker's praise.

This is my Father's world:

He shines in all that's fair;

In the rustling grass, I hear Him pass,

He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father's world:

O let me ne'er forget

That though the wrong seems oft so strong,

God is the Ruler yet.

This is my Father's world:

Why should my heart be sad?

The Lord is King: let the heavens ring!

God reigns; let earth be glad! 

I remember the first time I saw the Niagara Falls. I was so overcome by the sight and the rush of falling waters; I wept. I realised that in weeping I was worshiping God and this hymn came to mind. As tears came down my cheeks, the refrain, "This is my Father's world. All nature sings and round me rings the music of the spheres" resounded in my ears.

King David exclaimed "He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God" Psalms 40:3.

We do not have to go far to worship God. Put a song in your heart, come out of your shell into God's creation for all of creation join together in offering God's praise.

Lionel  

Ref 1: Calvin Miller, Into the Depths of God Bethany House, 2000.

In Search Of Worship - Simplicity

James (5 months) and Ah Kong

' Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.' Matthew 18:3

I used to sing the praise song, “I love you Lord” to my grandson James every night before he slept. James is 12 years old now, then he was 5 months old. Like every 5 month old, James will fight sleep but when he listened to this song, he would stop crying, become calm and would soon be ready for bed. It is a simple four line tune: 

“I love You Lord and I lift my voice to worship you. 
O my soul rejoice! 
Take joy my King in what you hear. 
May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ears.” 

James just loved to hear this song repeated to him over and over again. In the singing I imagined we were praising God together, grandfather and grandson.

Worshiping God with a five month old in tow does not trivialise the act of worship. True worship is hard to find. If one could capture the right inspirational moment, an unfettered time, one should take the opportunity to worship. Make it simple. It is quite natural to worship with James in hand, for this baby is indeed a blessing from God; a clear and present evidence of God’s creative power and of His goodness.

Falzarego Pass, The Dolomites

In the same way if you happen to chance on a very simple church when you are hiking up some mountains go inside to pray and worship. Do not miss the opportunity to seize one sublime moment of simple worship. No need to be intellectual, nothing to be complicated about; even better if worship can be impulsive.

Once, when Jesus was in the temple in Jerusalem, the little children were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David," The priest and scribes were indignant at the commotion and they complained, "do you hear what these children are saying?" meaning to accuse him of instigating the children to blasphemy, "Yes," Jesus replied, "have you never read, "from the lips of children and infants, You have perfected praise?" (Matt 21:16 and Psalms 8:2). Perfect praise exudes from pure simplicity. Babies, by their very lives are testaments to God’s bountiful grace.

In contrast, there is much that is contrived and showy when adults worship. Words that come out forced can be hypocritical. Catchy tunes are sung repeatedly without thought to the adequacy and appropriateness of the lyrics. The Rev (Dr) Ben Witherington, Asbury Theological Seminary speaking in Singapore at the Aldersgate Convention in May 2008 asked the question, “Who is doing the worshiping? Who is the beneficiary?"

Speaking about congregational worship Dr Witherington (Ref 1) said, “We often hear people say I don’t go to that worship service because I don’t get anything out of it. But who is supposed to be doing the worshiping here? If it is the congregation, then the primary question should be where can I go to best give praise and worship to God, not where I can go to get the most out of it. Any experience that put us on God’s level is not worship. It is inappropriate and even shocking familiarity; indeed it can even be called idolatry. God condescends and remains God, we do not ascend and become as gods. Worship happens when the creature realizes he is not the creator and bows down to the One who is.”

In speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus told her that where one worships, what styles one would use do not really matter. He told her one day, the true worshiper will be worshiping in spirit and in truth. No hypocrisy. God is more concerned with the attitude of the heart than the melody of the song; the motive of the people than the performance.

A poor Methodist woman (Ref 2), probably a labourer in the work houses or a farmer’s wife in 18th century Britain wrote, "I do not know when I have had happier times in my soul than when I have been sitting at work with nothing before me but a candle and a white cloth, and hearing no sound but the sound of my own breath, with God in my soul and heaven in my eye. I rejoice in being exactly what I am – a creature capable of loving God and who, as long as God lives, must be happy. I get up and look for a while out of the window and gaze at the moon and stars, the work of an almighty hand. I think of the grandeur of the universe, and then sit down, and think myself one of the happiest beings in it."

When we worship, it is not fulfilling an obligation, it is a human delight. Come back to 'The Heart of Worship.'

Lionel

1 Methodist Message 110(7) Jul 08
2 Mary Tileston, ed. Daily Strength for Daily Needs

In Search Of Worship - Stillness

Photo taken at Scotney Castle, Kent 23 June 2005
'Be Still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.' Psalms 46:10

Just as the still waters around Scotney Castle reflect the castle so perfectly, one can reflect properly only when one is still. When we look within and still ourselves; we can know our God. Psalm 46:10 states "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." 

When we worship, come into the right frame of mind and atmosphere for worship. In that contemplative mood, seize the opportunity to worship the Lord. So often our 'busi-ness' detracts and subtracts from intimate moments of our thoughts and feelings. If we can release ourselves from the noisy distractions around us, we can come into a time of worship.

There is a fascinating book entitled Small Graces which I would recommend to you all. The book helps me to reflect and understand life. One snippet should entice you -"We dream our lives in grand gestures, but we live our lives in small moments." 

From our first rising at the dawn, to our last conscious thoughts at night, our lives are spent in tasks that absorb our attention and keep us from contemplating the bigger issues of life. Why are we here? What is love? Does God exist? What lives behind the veil of death? These are questions that make us human. But their answers, and even their contemplation, seem far beyond the ordinary realms in which we live our days

Kent Nerburn is a sculptor, writer and theologian. One reviewer wrote "one of the clearest, most exquisite books I have read in a long time. I believe it will become a classic." Share with you, one passage from this book "The silence is profound this morning. It is not portentous; there seems to be nothing in the waiting. It is a gentle silence, liquid and pastel, a shimmering on still water. It is good to listen to the silence that surrounds each day. In the same way that music is made alive by the silence that surrounds the notes, a day comes alive by the silence that surrounds our actions. And the dawn is the time when silence reveals herself most clearly." 

For a very long time most of the world's churches will not be allowed to worship together. No more the loud singing, no shouts of praises not even the ability to sit together as a congregation to worship. We need to redefine our worship when we cannot meet in congregations. We are now alone before God when we worship. There we will bow in silence.  

There is a song 'Be Still My Soul' (Click on title of song). What does this say about being still and knowing God?

Be still my soul the Lord is on thy side

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain

Leave to thy God to order and provide

In every change He faithful will remain

Be still my soul thy best, thy heavenly friend

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end

Be still, my soul, thy God doth undertake

To guide the future as He has the past

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake

All now mysterious shall be bright at last

Be still, my soul, the waves and winds still know

His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below

Lionel

A Wicked Problem

"In those days when your pray, I will listen.If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you" Jeremiah 29:12-13

A wicked problem is defined as 'a problem that is difficult or impossible to solve because of incomplete, contradictory and changing requirements that are often difficult to recognise. It refers to a problem that cannot be fixed, where there is no single solution to the problem. The adjective 'wicked' denotes resistance to resolution rather than evil.' Ref 1

These days of the Covid-19 virus pandemic are unprecedented times. More than 187 countries and governments are navigating through life threatening and economy devastating realities. Recently the World Health Organisation stated that the virus will not go away; the whole world has to live with it and come out with work around solutions to save lives and livelihood. It has become a 'Thorn in the Flesh' for many a country and government. 

What about us personally? There are times when we will face with intractable problems. Some will face failures in business, others have family quarrels, some are out of work for a long time and still others have illnesses without cures. These wicked problems weigh heavily on our hearts and spirits. There appears to be no end in sight.

The Bible acknowledges that in this life, we will have problems. Old testament history tell of the struggles of the Israelite in times of famine, living in deserts and wilderness, oppressed by conquerors. But they remained God's people and God never left them. Oddly the Bible tells us to learn to live through these difficult times. James in his epistle said, "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance have a chance to grow."  James 1: 2-3

Peter said, "These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold - though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and honour on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world." 1 Peter 1:7

So, we are to endure suffering with cheerfulness, take it with a sense of humour and carry on with life. Aristotle observed, "Suffering becomes beautiful when anyone bears great calamities with cheerfulness not through insensibility but through greatness of mind." Aristotle also said, 'It is during our darkest moment that we must focus on the light' 

Indeed we are encouraged by Psalms 27:1 'The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?'

YouVersion published a 7 days devotional entitled Good News: Encouragement for a World in Crisis. It has this advice for us: When we remember who God is and what He's done, we'll be more likely to walk with hope when things are threatening to overwhelm us. What we fill ourselves up with everyday is important. 

• When we fill our minds with the truth from God's Word, we'll become so acquainted with it that when we're faced with something that isn't true, we'll know

• When we worship God through song or praise Him while looking at His creation, it'll build our spirits and lift our focus from the daily trials we face

• When we walk through life with like-minded followers of Jesus, there's built in encouragement for us in our experiences with them (Ref 2)  

Isaiah 40:31 'But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not be weary they will walk and not faint.' God says 'Walk with Me.'

Lionel

Ref 1: Wikipedia
Ref 2: YouVersion Good News:Encouragement for a World in Crisis