In the preface of his fine volume, The Pursuit of God, A.W. Tozer reflects on what he calls “the only real harbinger of hope” detectable anywhere on the religious horizon—that there are increasing numbers of Christians whose religious lives are marked by a growing hunger after God Himself. Desperate for spiritual realities, they refuse to be put off with words, or be content with “correct interpretations of truth.” They’re thirsty for God and will not be satisfied until they’ve drunk deep at the fountain of living water.
Nowhere is this more clearly manifested than in the area of worship. According to Worship Institute’s LaMar Boschman, “Meaningful and empowered worship is the heart cry of Christians in every denomination. Worshippers want to connect with God in a sincere way. Consequently, Christian worship is experiencing a significant metamorphosis that challenges our traditions and touches us afresh.”
Thankfully, the Church of God (Seventh Day) is no exception to what Tozer and Boschman describe. The lives of many among us are marked by a growing hunger after God, and our vision of a Vibrant 21st Century Church includes worship, which is being given high priority in many congregations. Worship is evolving in CoG7.
Worship is a beautiful thing, but because worshippers are imperfect, it can be the source of renewal and connecting with God, and it can be the source of tension and controversy. Worship must therefore be guided and nurtured, its biblical meaning taught, and the desire to become true worshippers encouraged.
I’m therefore pleased to announce that the theme of the 2013–2015 Biennium is The Worshipping Church. Over the next two years we will focus on worship, exploring its biblical meaning, and teaching its priority and significance in our relationship with God. The goal is to engage the whole church through various initiatives, the publication of worship materials and resources, and a Worship Conference, an exciting event to be hosted in various locations throughout the US and Canada (similar to the recent Conference Tour).
We were created for the purpose of worship, for God’s pleasure: “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11, KJV). Sadly, that purpose was obstructed by sin as man “exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the creator” (Romans 1:25). That’s why worship is the grand object of our redemption—that we would “show forth the praises of Him who called us out of darkness (1 Peter 2:9), which we will do unceasingly throughout eternity (see Revelation 5:8–14).
Meanwhile, the Christian life is rehearsal for the worship of eternity; evangelism is getting people signed up for the choir! This perspective changes the way we understand worship, making it more than something we do on Sabbaths. It’s no longer about technique, personality nor culture. It becomes a lifestyle, the offering up of all that we are to God: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1, NIV). Worship is first and foremost about God, for His benefit, not ours; for His glory, not our personal preference.
So please join me on this exciting journey back to the heart of worship, defined by Archbishop Temple in this way: “Worship is the submission of our nature to God, the quickening of the conscience by His holiness, the nourishment of the mind with His truth, the purifying of the imagination with His beauty, the opening of the heart to His love, and the surrender of the will to His purpose. All these gathered up in adoration is the greatest of human expressions of which we are capable.” Doing so, may we truly become a worshipping church.
Whaid G. Rose
