Ramblings on images in worship, but not in a catholicy or lutherany way, but in an Americany way

**Perhaps I should begin with a personal disclaimer. I do not have explicit experience in churches that use images of Christ in worship. I have never been in a worship service that made a focus of a picture or Christ, at least not that I can recall. I do not know that it is all that common in evangelical churches in America.**

Colossians 1:15 "He is the image of the invisible god, the firstborn of all creation." 

Now what I am familiar with is images being used in what may be considered a suggestive fashion. Not an outright "Here is this picture of Jesus for our worship." but in more background way. My memory calls up the overhead projectors showing the lyrics to the songs, and in the background of the text is a faded, almost silhouette of Christ on the cross. Or the faded out arms wide open style picture.

As I said, i don't think this is used as and in your face "this image is for worship" kind of thing. I think most of the time whoever picks these just doesn't have any thoughts as to why this isn't a good idea, or as to why it is wrong.

Enough with the ramblings, here is my point.

If Christ is the image of the invisible God, and keeping in mind the second commandment;

Exodus 20:4-6 "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments."

Is it wise to even use these types of images? Are they just harmless background pieces? Or are the a violation of what God has said.

And one last thing to consider. Is it forgotten that Christ is risen, or that when two or three are gathered in His name, that He is in the midst of them? If this is true, of what use are the images? If He is among His people, why the images? Not only are they unnecessary, but offensive.

The one I started to write

I had a draft of this post saved that I forgot about.
Actually I had opened a blank page to write a new post. That was as far as I got. And I am not sure why I opened it. I may have been preparing to post a review/critique of a sermon or sermon series I had heard. That is probably it. At the time I opened this blank page that is what I was doing in my spare time. But, with all these kids, spare time has become a sparse thing.

So here is a short post, and not on that subject.

What a wonderful thing it is to have a common hymnal. The mission work we had been worshiping at here in our hometown closed its doors. We have been making the drive to the church that had initially planted that work. What a blessing it has been to not have a new music source to try to jump into rhythm with. And it was a great surprise to our children, "Wait, they know this song too!?"

Get you one.


Or wait for the new Psalter-Hymnal to come out. I'm excited. The General Assembly Report says it is coming.
Regarding the Trinity Psalter Hymnal, Mr. Olinger stated that the Committee is hopeful that the volume will appear between November 2017 and March 2018. Once everything is in place, they will offer pre-publication discounts of $3 per volume in case lots of 20.

A recommendation

This sermon was delivered today in our worship service. May it bring you to a worshipful remembrance of our Lord and His sovereignty, as well as repentance from unfaithfulness.

Cake

Maybe a place where the church has fallen short is in talking about the love of God too much.

Hear me out.

When I have seen or heard people make accusations against God, it is that how could a loving God do x,y, or z (allow rape, disease, disaster and so on). They conclude that the loving God the church talks about so much, isn't all that loving. When confronted, many Christians seem to be at a loss for how to answer. 

Everyone can spout that God is love, because that is true, but what about His wrath? Why do I mention His wrath, because of His holiness. If we neglect His holiness, we neglect His wrath, and if we neglect His wrath, His love doesn't make sense. We can't make sense of the sin in the world, of the fall, of the need of a savior, of our own inability to do good.

I am saying that the church has a weak understanding of the love of God because that is all that they hear about. That's like only eating cake. Sure it is sweet, but it isn't a balanced diet.

Giving out bullets with our name on it

Hey, we do stupid stuff sometimes. We say one thing and then do another. What am I talking about though? Well, I am talking about the church. At the very least I am talking about the church in America. I'm talking about the church catholic in America (little "c" catholic, not big "C" as in Roman Catholic). I'm talking about the people who make up the church catholic in America. The ones who publish crap. The ones who buy that crap. The ones who seem to think that faith is strictly personal, that each individuals experience is what matters. I'm talking about weak-sauce theology, the abundance of "open handed" issues and a reduction of "core issues." I'm talking about the reduction of everything to some "personal faith journey" that apparently everyone in the world is on.

How is this giving out bullets with our name on it? We have this gift from God, that has been reduced to a child's play thing, for adults. We have something that we use incorrectly if at all. We have something that the enemies of God try to use against us to defeat us, to make us run. (Did he just say enemies of God? That is so judgmental, they are just at a different spot in their Faith Journey.)

What is it? Where is this ammo can that we are neglecting, that the enemies of God pull from and trying to load in their slingshot? 

It is the Word of God. 

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

-Hebrews 4:12 ESV

The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

-John 12:48 ESV

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

-Romans 15:4 ESV

We have more access to the word of God than those before us have had. Yet more and more it is  mutilated by the church catholic. It is not a whole volume with a purpose, it has been reduced to a collection of 66 sections of proverbs and principles. Interestingly enough I have yet to see a mass selling book, or calendar quote, or video sermon series, or small group study series on this:

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. 

-Psalm 14:1

Or

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools,...

-Romans 1:18-22

But hey, we use the word of God....as a proof text mine for bullet point teaching. One liners, that you       can draw out a six week series on volunteering for nursery or refreshment ministry. Let's be real here, Paul obviously wrote his letters with the intention of reading each one over the course of a few meetings. Big fan of cliff hangers, you know, to draw in the curious the next week.

But I am getting off track. How are we giving this to our enemies? By not taking it ourselves! By not hearing the word of God, by not heeding the word of God! By worrying that God may offend his enemies!

For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.

-2 Corinthians 2:15-16

By being afraid of offending our enemies by using the word of God as it is, we leave ourselves open to our enemies. We run and cower or stand as one held a gunpoint, with our hands in the air. But we are being held up by those with bullets loaded in a slingshot! It is not theirs to use. They cannot understand how it works. Not that we have some special skill or secret knowledge, but we have been redeemed by Christ! 

So to summarize. We arm our enemies when we put down what we have been given. So when we take up the word of God, and the enemies of God take up His word, we are not to fret. They cannot use it as they intend to, because they use it as it is not intended to be used. So we may act courageously, knowing that God is sovereign. It should mean something to say you are a Christian. It doesn't mean that you act as a doormat. It means more than having some "faith journey". It means more than publishing or purchasing crappy books or articles on happiness or being gentle and tolerant of what is actually blasphemy. It is actually loving your neighbor but warning them of wickedness, by telling them that Christ has died to redeem sinners. It is worshiping God, hearing His word, and knowing that Christ is King.

Well I follow.....

Be aware of your motivations when studying theology. The study of theology is, I believe, a good thing and should be done by all to some extent. But not for the sake of having a consistent theology in itself. No, the purpose of consistent theology is to bring us before the throne of the Lord, in praise, humility and thanksgiving. Theology for the sake of itself will not save you anymore than being sincere while sacrificing to Moloch would save you.

While seeking the truth, while studying theology, be aware of becoming lukewarm. Pray that the Lord would keep you from your pride, from becoming unkind, unloving. Do not spend so much time becoming followers only of your favorite theologian, so much so that if anyone disagrees with him "HERETIC" is your shout. We must all seek Christ, and He has forgiven the sins of His people. Even the sins of incorrect theology. 

Disclaimer, I am a reformed christian and agree with the historic reformed confessions as well as the historical creeds of the early church. So please do not think I am saying that correct doctrine and theology doesn't matter.

Atmosphere of worship

Is there any problem with “creating an atmosphere” in the sunday worship service? Does it inadvertently cause a reliance of personal feeling or experience?

When lighting, sound or atmospheric effects are used in a worship service, it is theft of true worship. What happens when the lights malfunction or the sound effects are ill-timed? What about when the fog machine sputters and stops working, or kicks into overdrive and produces too much fog? It can be a distraction to the worshipers. It distracts them from the feelings that those very same effects brought them into.

Does this mean that we ought to be better equipped, better trained for our special effects? No! Even with better equipment or training it is distracting to the worship. Even when it is not a distraction to the congregation, it is still a distraction to the one tasked with keeping it in working order.

It is true that some must work and fulfill their tasks for that worship service to be conducted. The Word must be preached, so he who preaches it works. Baptisms are performed and communion is conducted and there are tasks to be done to make these things happen orderly. But, the work of “creating an atmosphere” is not one of those tasks. That is the work of God.

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. Matthew 18:20

When we take it upon ourselves to “create an atmosphere”, are we not saying that we must ‘do this’ so that God may ‘do that’? As if He cannot be amongst us without such effects, therefore it is necessary for us to do these things?

Or do we admit that these things are not necessary, but we do them to help Him? As if there is something we can add.

Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. Leviticus 10:1

Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22

Or do we do it because it helps us feel something? Do we trust our own feelings so much more than the words that say “where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them”?