Are We Having Fun Yet?

by Ken Thomas

It was recently reported that a prominent brother had expressed the need for excitement in worship, perhaps even though instrumental music. Interestingly, that segment of the restoration movement that uses the instrument has not grown, so obviously it is going to take more than that to draw a crowd. (Would an orchestra do better?)
"Worship" is a word that implies the homage of God - the attitude and activity which recognizes the "worth" of God. If God has designated what honors him, and we decide to do what pleases us, we make ourselves into gods. If we worship the creature more than the Creator, we join those that were given up by God ( Romans 1:25). If our only goal is to please men, we will not service Christ ( Galatians 1:10).

Spiritual "excitement" will come to our services when we develop the sense of being in the awesome presence the reverend Creator who sustains our existence. When we envision ourselves as in the throne-room of God, we will not look for the entertainment of carnal activities.
Sadly, the reasoning of some brethren resembles that of the preacher that tried to justify running up the aisles and jumping over pews in his church. He told me that the "Spirit quickened his body" ( Romans 8:11), and refused to see that the passage he cited referred to the resurrection. What the scripture meant did not seem to matter to him. How sad.

• Preparing for Worship - Dec 10, 2006
• Worship and Time Management - Dec 03, 2006
• Genuine Worship - Jul 09, 2006
• Worship - Apr 09, 2006
• Is All of Life Worship? - Jan 22, 2006