Tag Archives: Worship

Icon or Idol

Lent

March 9, 2021

Scripture Reading: Numbers 21:4-9
From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.’ Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, ‘We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.’ So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.’ So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.

What is the difference between icons and idols? What is the difference between a fiery serpent on a pole and a golden calf at the foot of a mountain? Reading stories from the Bible involves reading between the lines because the references made are not a part of our culture. My first response to the above scripture was to skip it. I committed when I started these devotions to deal with the scriptures in the lectionary because I have grown weary of people homing in on some favorite scriptures and ignoring the rest of the Bible. So, there is a caveat to my comments on this scripture. Some of this is consists of writing the musings in my head.

First, what do we make of that poisonous serpent set on a pole? The poisonous serpent is the translation of the Hebrew word saraph *. That word should sound familiar as it is used elsewhere in scripture in the form of seraphim connoting heavenly beings, which are characterized as possession light as with fire. Thus, the fiery snakes. The scripture above indicates that the person lives if they merely look at the fiery snake on the pole. I wonder if it is an indication that the hot bronze snake was used to cauterize the bite, thus stopping the poison’s spread. Such cauterization must be done very quickly. Therefore, placing the bronze snake on a pole makes it readily available to all that need it. Its mere presence would be a source of comfort for the people who recognize it as a source of healing or a means to salvation. Such an explanation is from my practical side. All things are possible through God, and the bronze snake may have been a constant reminder to the Israelites that God continuously surrounds us with God’s love.

Second, the golden calf was built after the people had given up on Moses returning. They went in search of another god to save them. Therein lies the difference between an icon and an idol. Icons remind us of God’s presence and characteristics; idols replace God as the center of our worship.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for helping us better understand our relationship with you through the art of icons. Forgive us when we set you aside for the false promises of idols. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8314.htm

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

God and Worship

Kingdom Building

August 5, 2019

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 1:1 10-20

Hear the word of the Lord,
   you rulers of Sodom!
Listen to the teaching of our God,
   you people of Gomorrah!
What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?
   says the Lord;
I have had enough of burnt-offerings of rams
   and the fat of fed beasts;
I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
   or of lambs, or of goats.
 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
   remove the evil of your doings
   from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
   learn to do good;
seek justice,
   rescue the oppressed,
defend the orphan,
   plead for the widow. –Isaiah 10:10-12, 16-17

The recent thoughts and prayers discussion in the USA regarding mass shootings has led people of faith to consider our prayer lives and the purpose of prayer. Prayer is meaningful in many ways but ultimately it draws us closer to God aligning ourselves with God so that our actions better reflect God in our lives. Today’s scripture charges us to consider the purpose of our worship. Is our worship designed to express our love for God or to entertain ourselves? Is our worship not only a time to reconnect with God as an individual, but as a community of faith at one with God? Finally, is our worship a source of inclusion or exclusion of all of God’s children? Do we worship to prove our privilege status apart from others or to gain spiritual nourishment to work toward being one with all God’s diverse children?

Isaiah speaking the words God gave him chastises God’s people for evil-inspired self-righteous, privileged worship and challenges us to remove the evil of our doings by seeking justice for the very people we scorn. While we no longer compete for who can bring the finest bull to the altar, we may be guilty of worshipping our opinion of ourselves as compared to the status of others.

Our worship must be a time of soul searching as we spiritually wash ourselves as individuals and communities of faith and see ourselves as God sees us. What evil are we fostering by either omission or commission, what good are we doing, are we making the difference in this world God has called us to make, are we seeking justice for all, rescuing the oppressed, defending orphans, pleading for widows or their equivalent in our world today?

Prayer: Lord, help us see injustice as you see it and guide us in bringing our world to your justice and righteousness. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Pure Wisdom

Eastertide

May 9, 2019

Scripture Reading: Revelation 7:9-17

After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
‘Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!’
And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing,
‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor
and power and might
be to our God for ever and ever! Amen.’ –Revelation 7:9-12

I realized as I read the above scripture that I have developed a jaded opinion of public demonstrations of adulation. How do we discern idols in our world today? Are some of our cherished religious beliefs separating us from the God of love? Do we worship what we prefer rather than the Holy One? How do we discern the Holy?

As a child I, along with most of my peers, participated in an Easter pageant in my home town. Our introduction to acting came in raising palm leaves in the re-creation of the triumphal entry and calling out Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord*. In these my pre-abstraction days, I knew exactly who I worshipped and to whom I belong. I knew that Jesus loved me and all the other children of the world and that I was called to be a sunbeam for him. The world I grew into as I developed higher levels of understanding did not match the sacred naivete of my childhood. On TV, I saw young black youth being escorted to school by police while angry white people shouting hate toward them. A little later I experience my friends being drafted to fight in a war that made no sense. The ones who suffered scorn from that confusion were the soldiers not the decision makers. At some point greed and lust for power became the primary focus of American life not rule of the people by the people for the people. The God of Love was vanquished to the a back of the shelf.

I now understand better what Jesus meant when he said in Matthew 18:3, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’  Jesus is describing the point in life when we understand faith’s naivete as pure wisdom transcending all the knowledge of all the ages of our lives.

Prayer: Lord, help us claim as pure wisdom faith’s naivete. Amen.

*Taken from Matthew 23:39 most likely as a quote from Psalm 118:26

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Honoring God with our Lives

Living in the Spirit
September 1, 2018

Scripture Reading: Mark 7:1—2, 5-8; 14-15, 21-23

Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. . . .  So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, ‘Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?’ He said to them, ‘Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,
“This people honors me with their lips,
 in vain do they worship me,
   teaching human precepts as doctrines.”
You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.’ –Mark 7:1-2, 5-8

For health reasons, I think hand washing is a good habit. I’m just saying. I do not think hand washing substitutes for having a pure heart and a right spirit* and I think that is what Jesus is addressing in the above scripture. Ritual hand washing was a part of worship in first-century Jewish practices.

I grew up on a farm and attended a very small-town school and church. Appropriate attire for attending my church involved wearing your best, cleanest, and most decent clothing. If you were the local banker, you might have worn a suit. The preacher wore a suit. Farmers often wore their cleanest, newest bib overalls. My dad usually changed into Khakis, although he also wore them a lot on the tractor. It was probably the result of serving in the army during World War II when he discovered Khakis. The women always wore dresses usually cotton, starched and ironed to perfection. Women also wore hats. The men did too but their hats came off the minute they entered the church. Being the best, we can be as we honor, and worship God is a good thing. Making sure that our attitudes and actions are aligned with God’s will is our ultimate goal and I am sure is a source of great joy for God meaning more than either washing our hands or what we wear.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me when I am more concerned about outward appearances and impression I may make on others. Help me live in ways that are sources of great joy for you. Amen.

*See Psalm 51:10

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Sing a New Song

Advent
December 20, 2017

Scripture Reading: Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26

 I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever;
   with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.
I declare that your steadfast love is established forever;
   your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens. Psalm 89:1-2

I rose from my chair to do my steps just as a commercial playing Jingle Bells began. Walking to happy familiar music lightened my step and brightened my day.  My dad played the guitar and sang almost every day of my childhood. I went to sleep to music many nights. I find myself singing familiar hymns as I am praying. They just seem to fit at times. I do think I will sing of Gods steadfast love forever.

Tell it on the Mountain* is our choral call to service at Christmas. Not only are we to tell Christ’s story from the mountain tops but also over the hills and everywhere. We do that not only with our words but with our lives as examples. I am now caught up in the busyness of the season, and sometimes, if we let it, that busyness can crowd out the joy we experience in welcoming Immanuel, God with us in human form.

Intentionality is a word I now add to my worship lexicon. It applies to all aspects of our lives with Christ. Building worship into my everyday life is key to maintaining my relationship with God. Singing the old familiar songs gladdens the heart. Singing a new song brightens the future.

Refrain:
Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus Christ is born.

 While shepherds kept their watching
O’er silent flocks by night,
Behold, throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light.

 The shepherds feared and trembled,
When lo! above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed the Savior’s birth.

 Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born,
And God sent us salvation
That blessed Christmas morn.

Prayer: Immanuel, write on our hearts a new song of love as the message we can proclaim to future generations. Amen.

*http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Go_Tell_It_on_the_Mountain/

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Worship from the Heart

Lift up your heartsLiving in the Spirit
August 1, 2016

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 1:1, 10-20

Hear the word of the Lord,
   you rulers of Sodom!
Listen to the teaching of our God,
   you people of Gomorrah!
What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?
   says the Lord;
I have had enough of burnt-offerings of rams
   and the fat of fed beasts;
I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
   or of lambs, or of goats. –Isaiah 1:10-11

The word “worship” is defined as both a transitive and an intransitive verb. A transitive verb requires a direct object, and intransitive verb does not. What was the object of the sacrifices made by the Israelites? Isaiah intimates that God is not experiencing the Israelites worship as being directed at God because it does not acknowledge what is meaningful to God.

The sacrificial offerings required in the Israelite’s worship were extensive. Some, designed to atone for one’s sins to God, interpreted an individual’s offering as being meaningful to God resulting in cleansing from sins. Other sacrifices brought thanksgiving to God based on a progressive system where someone with more wealth offered a bullock and someone with a lower income, a lamb. Mary and Joseph offered two pigeons in a purification ritual shortly after Jesus’ birth.

While it might be easy to set aside what might be considered outdated, archaic customs, the lesson for us is important even though the acts of worship may be different. If our relationship with God based only on external rituals have no relationship to our inward commitment, it loses all meaning in its transmission to God.

Prayer: Lord, let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you*. Amen.

 

*Adapted from Psalm 19:14

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

Worship

adorationEastertide
April 8, 2016

Scripture Reading: Revelation 5:11-14

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing,
‘To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might
for ever and ever!’
And the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the elders fell down and worshipped.
–Revelation 5:13-14

What do we mean when we say we “Go to worship” or “attend worship”? We have made a noun out of a verb form although the word used is the same. The synonyms for worship are venerate and adore.

Veneration is a feeling of respect mingled with awe excited by the dignity, wisdom, or superiority of a person, by sacredness of character, by consecrated state, or by hallowed association*. Veneration is a noun formed from the verb to venerate.

Adoration is worship given to God alone**. Adoration is a noun formed from the verb to adore.

The Greek word used here in Revelation literally means to kiss the ground when prostrating before a superior***. The Greek word is a verb.

So what difference does it make whether we perceive worship as a noun or a verb? While our cultural customs may differ from those practiced in the first century, the example here from Revelation is a description of action not of a person, place, or thing as we learned a noun was in elementary school. Worship of God is our intentional recognition of God as the core of our faith, the one and only core of our faith to which we extend our reverence not only in praise and adoration from the depths of our souls but also in the dedication of every aspect of our lives to service that honors God.

Prayer: Lord, we bow our heads, lift up our arms, close our eyes, sing, dance, pray to let you know how much you mean to us. Let our praise of you be a source of energy for our service to you. Amen.

*http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/veneration
**http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/Adoration
***http://biblehub.com/greek/4352.htm

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

Getting in Shape Spiritually

Mind Body Spirit fitnessLent
February 14, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 4:1-13

Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, ‘To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is written,
“Worship the Lord your God,
   and serve only him.”’ –Luke 4:5-7

Worship and serve are two active verbs requiring action not lip service. Yet lip service is what I am hearing a lot of lately. I think it would be really hard to be faithful to a commitment to Jesus Christ when one is on the front page of the paper as a politician or sports figure or other celebrity. Some of them are made idols themselves by others. This is particularly true in this season of campaigning where one’s faith becomes a  card used to win voters.

One doesn’t have to be well known to become caught in this struggle. We all deal with putting God first in our lives. We sometimes reduce God to a being that supports our own viewpoints, thus creating God in our desired image. We, too, can serve God to our own interest. Believing our church activities might look good on a resume’.

Like athletes we need to hone our skills at being God followers before we step onto the playing court or field. We must be so in tune with God that our worship and service is the right automatic response because many times in the game of life we do not have time to ponder situations. Lent is a time designed to prepare us for the game of life with all its challenges. We must devote time in study and prayer getting ourselves in the best spiritual shape possible.

Prayer: Lord, walk with me throughout Lent as I strive to improve my readiness for service to you. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

Sacraments

Holy SpiritEpiphany
January 7, 2016

Scripture Reading: Acts 8:14-17

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

One of the amazingly understated phenomenon of this scripture is the uneventful reporting of the need for apostles to visit the folks in Samaria. The Jews and the Samaritans had not seen eye-to-eye for many years. They were the unclean to each other. We know that Jesus was opened to the Samaritans as he used a Samaritan as a shining example of his way in one of his parables. (Luke 10: 25-37) He also asked a Samaritan woman for a drink of water. (John 4:4–26) Talking to an unrelated woman was bad enough, but a Samaritan. Teachers never really know what sticks until it plays out in real life.

The need for the trip itself may have been as much about reassuring the Samaritans of their welcome into the Body of Christ as it was about making sure they had received the right messages or actions. Or it could have meant that the apostles wanted to check out the new members themselves. My mother was one of the most devoted Christians I have ever known but she was ultimately baptized three times. Sprinkled at birth as an infant in the Methodist church, the Christian Church required that she be baptized again because at that time they only recognized immersion. Eventually, she and my dad joined another group that didn’t recognize any other baptism. My Mom probably consented to do this because she thought it would be of benefit to my Dad or the witnesses or both. I think she was confident in her relationship with God throughout her life.

We still struggle with the proper trappings of church. I do think sacraments are important. Humans seem to have a need to memorialize major life changes and situations. We must remember in these public acts of faith; it is our private relationship with God that really matters.

Prayer: Lord, as we celebrate you in our worship and in our sacraments, touch our hearts with the warmth of your love and renew us once again to our service for you. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.