A Christian Worldview from Silicon Valley

It’s nearing Halloween, and I always think of the Charlie Brown special where everyone is excited about getting candy, and Charlie Brown says, “I got a rock.”

Rocks get a bad rap, but they aren’t all bad!  Consider this scripture:

When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 
”Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

So okay, maybe rocks are still considered bottom of the heap.  But are we better than a rock?

Lots of folks are quiet at church.  Maybe it’s personal preference, maybe it’s what they consider proper decorum for church.  Silence is golden, that sort of thing… But NOT when we’re praising God!  Worship is not a spectator sport!

Praising God is a good thing to do, most importantly because God is worthy!  For ourselves, focusing on God in praise helps us have a deeper knowledge and appreciation of who God is.  Praising God with other Christians helps us to articulate that praise, and appreciate God from multiple points of view.  Getting comfortable talking about God with other Christians makes it easier to talk about God with non-Christians.  And what do we think we’ll be doing in heaven, anyway?

What’s stopping you from crying out?

How is it that, if you build a circle of glass, and add some ice and hockey players on the other side, getting up close to that glass is so desirable it can cost more  $100?  Or instead if you add some water, sea otters, and toss them a few fish, getting up close to that glass will cause families to queue up 30 minutes early?

On the other hand, if you try to pen in an angry bull with a man and a red cape, or if you set a large hoop aflame and jump a car through it, people don’t want to be close at all but stand at a distance with rapt attention from our tense excitement.

But in church, there isn’t a wall of glass separating us from something so exciting to be so close.  And there’s certainly nothing worthy of fearful respect that requires a safety distance.

Really?

Some may argue that there is a difference between entertainment and worship, and I totally agree.  Still, shouldn’t worshipping God generate excitement and fear greater than our man-made creations?

The God of the universe has sacrificed His one and only Son so that He can be near us.  What a little sacrifice is it for us to be “near” to Him?  On the other hand, the Creator is the only One who commands the heavens and earth — certainly power to be fearful, and in awe of.  Anyone in their right mind would give that kind of power a little space.

Maybe God’s too common.  Things that are common in this world (like sand) are worth little.

Maybe God’s too invisible.  What’s the point of being “near” something you can’t see?

Maybe God’s too loving.  With arms as wide open and as big as God’s, who could be afraid?

But isn’t that the point?  He loves us so much, He wants us to be near Him so deeply, and He’s fearfully and wonderfully powerful.  God is all these things, and So Much More.  How much more need we be convinced that God is All?  Better yet, God IS.

When’s the last time you really sacrificed yourself to be near Him?

Last night my husband and I were blessed to see the Billy Joel/Elton John Face 2 Face concert in San Jose.  It was awesome being in the same space as those two rock and roll legends sharing the same stage (and dueling pianos, no less!).

There’s a reason people aspire to be rock stars.  Who else gets the adoration they do?

But all that rock star worship is but a pale reflection of what heaven will be like.  God of course, being Who He is, is worthy of some serious worship.

So why aren’t our church services as worshipful as rock concerts?  I think not being face to face has something to do with it.

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known (1 Cor 13:12).”

Imagine being in the same space, “face to face with my Redeemer, Jesus Christ, who loves me so.”

What do you think about being face to face with Jesus?

This morning Lewis’  sermon was titled “Worship or Warship?”

Sorry, but that’s all it took to get my mind a wandering.

I tried to pay attention. Really, I did. But, what I thought about was just how much a warship is similar to worship.

I have been in the church for many years. I have also spent time on several warships, destroyers, frigates, aircraft carriers, to name a few. I also served on the staff of a Destroyer Squadron as intelligence officer. I could tell you some secrets, but then I’d have to kill you.

I don’t want to stretch this analogy until it breaks, but, let me share some of the many similarities I find between a warship and worship. (more…)