by guest-blogger Andrew White
When interpreting a biblical text or narrative, it is critical to analyze within the totality of the whole. We cannot mine-quote for what we want and expect to move forward with any certainty. This type of intellectual dishonesty rarely works in any scenario. For example, if the only scene I watched from Victor Flemming’s 1939 classic, The Wizard of Oz was that of the tornado, I would believe the classic film was about a natural disaster that devastated a small family farm in Kansas. If the only line I read from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet was that of Act 2, Scene 2, where Romeo says, “But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun”, I would believe the tragedy was a wonderful love story and nothing more. The context within the whole is critical.
I knew someone who made this very mistake with salvation. He asserted that salvation was based on works. The text he chose was Matthew 25:31-46. A parable, famously known as the “Sheep and the Goats” tells of a time when all humanity, past, present, and future will be divided before the throne based on what they did or did not do with their lives.
When
speaking to those who did what was required of them, the Son of Man (25:31)
says to them,
‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ (34b – 36)
When
speaking to those who did not do what was required of them, he says,
‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ (41b - 43)
Verse
46 concludes the parable by saying, “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life”.
If this were the only scripture on the subject, my friend would be correct in his assertion that salvation is based on works. Those who acted in kindness, humility, and charity were clearly rewarded. Those who did not were punished. However, within the context of the whole, I believe Matthew 25: 31-46 shows how the “fruit” of a pre-existing salvation presents itself in a true believer's life. Those who had no salvation demonstrated it with a lack of fruit (see also James 2:22, Mark 11:12-14).
Within the context of the whole, salvation is given by grace to those who come to Christ in repentant faith. When writing on the subject, John Piper notes the first demand of Jesus’ public ministry was, “Repent.” Piper says “(Jesus) spoke this command indiscriminately to all who would listen. It was a call for radical inward change toward God and man.”1
Repentance
is seen as a prerequisite for salvation in several passages, including Acts
2:38, Acts 3:19, and 1 John 1:9, where the apostle wrote
‘But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness’.
When attempting to gain an understanding of the biblical narrative of worship, I believe much of the church in North America has unknowingly (or knowingly) quote-mined verses that line up with individual desires or church methodologies. This has resulted in a belief that there is a differentiation between Christian living (Which I will refer to as "action") and the act of Worship (Which I will refer to as "adoration”).
I
make this accusation for two reasons. First, because of the language many in
the current culture use when speaking of worship. Second, because I once subscribed
to such methodologies myself.
On the former, we often speak of music and singing within faith circles as "Times of worship”. We call those who lead in singing “Worship Leaders”. The Christian music genre, one of the fastest growing in the world2, has added “Praise and Worship” as a genre within the genre, and its popularity is growing at a breakneck speed.
On the subject, Kelsey Kramer McGinnis in Christianity Today says that in the 90’s, “Praise and Worship” was considered either a subgenre of CCM or a body of music marketed primarily to churches. McGinnis says that today (the praise and worship genre) is distinct within Christian music, and the mainstream music industry. Worship albums have a category at the Dove Awards (the Christian version of the Grammy’s), Spotify has multiple curated playlists devoted to the genre, and like most genres, contemporary worship music has a small group of influential stars (from Elevation, Bethel, Hillsong, Passion and more) reliably producing its most popular hits3.
To the latter, I’ll explain my own disconnect with a sports analogy.
Let’s say my daughter is picked to play for her high school varsity basketball team. After weeks of practice, she hits the court, excited to put her skills to the test. As the game goes on, she scores her first basket. But her focus isn’t on the cheering crowds. Her focus is on her coach. She looks to see if he saw her score. This is not a picture
of direct adoration but of action. She expresses no direct adoration for her
coach through direct interaction at this moment. Instead, she is hoping her actions line up with
his expectations.
In the same way, I once believed that when we lived out our lives according to the scriptures this was not worship but obedient, biblically sound living. Yes, we look for God's approval, but because there is no direct interaction there is no direct adoration.
The
analogy continues when the final buzzer goes. I see my daughter give her coach
a high-five, and I can hear her words of praise.
“Did you see me, coach? I got a basket and owe it all to you. You’re the best coach ever. Thank you for everything”.
A switch has occurred. This is no longer action but adoration. She is no longer on the court playing as she's been coached but addressing her coach with adoration, respect, and gratitude. There is direct interaction and direct adoration.
I
believed we could see examples of this differentiation in the Old and New Testaments.
Once leaving Egypt, the Israelites were given laws to obey and actions they
were to take. There would be blessings for obedience and consequences for
disobedience (Deut 28: 2-19, 45-48). The
laws themselves (Exodus 20: 1-17 etc.) focused on action while times of sacrifice
and ceremony were direct times for adoration (Exodus 15:20-21,19:3-22,
20:22-24).
Much
of the Old Testament continues in this way. We can see distinct times for
adoration with David (2 Samuel 6:14-22), prophets such as Elijah (1 Kings
18:20-40) and even in the New Testament with Jesus. Jesus went to the temple
(Luke 4:16a) and called
it a house of prayer (Matthew 21:12-13). Jesus went away alone to pray (Luke
6:12) and removed his disciples to break bread with them (Matthew 26:17-30).
The adoration of God was intentional and interactive.
However,
when considering the totality of scripture, several passages demonstrate that
adoration and action are not separate entities but are joined together. Adoration
is the fuel for action, and action is used to express adoration. While there
are many passages I could cite, two passages that connected the two were John
4:24 and Romans 12:1-2.
First,
John 4:24. “For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth”.
Commentator Matthew Henry, when discussing the subject, cross-references Philippians 3:33: “For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised”.
Circumcision
is seen in the Old Testament as a chosen method of setting a person or people
group apart for God. Abraham went through the process, as did his entire
household (Genesis 17:10-13), eventually followed by the nation of Israel
(Joshua 5:2-8).
Henry writes that to worship in spirit means, “We must depend upon God's Spirit for strength and assistance, laying our souls under his influences and operations; we must devote our spirits to, and employ
them in, the service of God.”
Henry adds that "in spirit" refers to the new nature or that which is in opposition to the flesh. Additionally, the instructions “In truth" speak to acts of sincerity. To worship in truth means one should worship according to the whole counsel of God’s word, especially in light of New Testament revelation. It means one should come to God in truth, not in pretence or a mere display of spirituality. In short, worship is from within and from a place that wishes to honour God through thoughts, words, and deeds. 4 (Italics
mine)
The
second passage is Romans 12:1-2.
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Paul says that what is "holy and pleasing to God" is a body offered as a living sacrifice. In the Old Testament, the offering sacrificed by the priest was slaughtered in the presence of God. It was transferred over to God with all rights and titles. In short, the sacrifice became God's property. The words “A living sacrifice” also indicates there is a spiritual life of the soul involved. Christ living in the soul by faith makes the body a living sacrifice.5
When we die to ourselves and live for Christ, we become the property of God and therefore give up, without condition, any will and desire that is not His (Matthew 16:24, Galatians 2:20, Colossians 1:15-20). The act of worship, therefore includes forgoing our rights, privileges, and titles. We dedicate ourselves as God's property, to use as he sees fit. To "live a life of worship" is the appropriate and only response to the mercy God has already given to us. Once again, action is fueled by adoration and adoration is seen in action.
This
means the act of intentionally forgoing corporate worship, as some are in the
habit of doing (Hebrews 10:25a) is as preposterous as deliberately
failing to live how Christ would have us live. Again, let us not fall into the
trappings of interpreting the scriptures by one or two passages, but within the
context of the whole. Setting aside for a moment that church attendance is
commanded in scripture (Acts 2:44, Hebrews 10:24-25,1 Timothy 4:13), the acts
of playing music, singing, praying, breaking of bread, teaching, etc. are
opportunities to use actions as a way to express adoration for the Lord. Should
that not cause excitement over the ability and opportunity to attend?
Bethel Gospel Chapel teaching Elder Randy Bushey echoes this in a December 29th, 2024, message from his “Christmas According to Luke” series. Luke 2:21–40 recounts how Jesus is presented at the Temple by his earthly parents. It is here we meet Simeon, and then Anna. Simeon was a man who was both righteous and devout. Luke says he was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah (Luke 2:25). Anna was a prophet, further on in years and a widow. However, she never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. (Luke 2:36-37). Both are exemplary demonstrations of lives fueled by adoration and expressions of that adoration when their lives encounter the Christ child (Luke 2:28–32, 38).
When asked, “What can we learn from Simeon and Anna in living our lives as disciples of Christ?” Bushey adds, “These two people reflected the glory of God by their character, by their spiritual perception, and by their worship. If worship is to recognize an object of maximal worth… then (life) as a follower of Christ holistically needs to be lived in recognition of his ultimate, transcendent worthiness".6
This
means any opportunity to express worship in thought, word or deed should be top priority in the life of a believer. Be it through singing, prayer, the teaching of God's word, the breaking of bread, or demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit in our everyday lives, choosing to love the Lord with heart, soul, and mind and our neighbour as ourselves (Matt 22:37-40).
Dr Calum Macfarlane, Associate Professor of History and Interdisciplinary Studies at Briercrest College and Seminary notes that knowledge alone, as many understand knowledge, is not enough. Macfarlane points out “Knowledge itself is not an accumulation of facts, but a
response to the world around us which is rooted in the character of God
himself and lived out in the imitation of
Jesus Christ”7 (Italics
mine)
This means that the opportunity for worship begins afresh in every moment. This moment and every moment that follows for the rest of eternity is an opportunity for a Christ follower to ask God that action be fueled by adoration, and that adoration be seen in action. Not only for what Christ has already done for us but for who God is and will continue to be throughout all eternity. Let us waste no opportunity, for one day the Master will return demanding an account for every moment entrusted to us (Matthew 25:14-30). Let us offer both actions fueled by adoration and adoration through our actions so that we may one day hear the words spoken by Jesus, “‘Well done, good and faithful servant”.
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Footnotes.
1.
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/thoughts-on-jesuss-demand-to-repent
2.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/christian-music-genre/
3.
https://www.christianitytoday.com/2023/11/worship-music-sounds-same-hillsong-bethel-christian-genre/
4.
https://www.christianity.com/bible/commentary/matthew-henry-complete/john/4
5.
https://www.christianity.com/bible/commentary/matthew-henry-complete/romans/12
6.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qk6K4TtKpao
7.
https://www.briercrestcollege.ca/faculty/profile/?ID=CalumMacfarlane
8.
All biblical references via biblegateway.com/site-map/versions/New-Living-Translation-NLT-Bible
~ graphic by SM4.org
