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In previous discussions about admonishing others, we’ve talked about two important issues. If we’re going to love someone thoroughly, we must be willing to admonish if necessary. On the other hand, we must be careful how we do it. But what if we are on the receiving end? Here are some ground rules. Be approachable. Give permission to people close to you to speak the truth in love. (Eph. 4:15) Close friends should feel the freedom to come and talk to us. Realize that admonishment doesn’t usually feel good, but it is good for us. (Heb. 12:11) Even though people who admonish us may not do it just right, we should be open to what they have to say. (Heb. 12:10) How should we respond to someone who admonishes us? These practical suggestions have worked for me. Listen attentively to what the person is saying and how the Holy Spirit may be nudging you. Paraphrase or summarize the admonishment to verbally clarify the concerns. This ensures that both parties are on the same page. Affirm the person’s concern for the issue and thank him for being willing to discuss it. In a non-defensive manner, discuss the issue. Ask for clarification or examples. It may be necessary to politely disagree. There are usually two sides to every story! Receive the truth. Even though the content or delivery may not be 100 percent accurate, we should be willing to learn from what is said. Respond graciously to the admonition. For example… If agreement is not 100 percent, “Thank you for taking time to visit with me. I always want to be open to what you and others want to say to me. I promise to prayerfully consider what you have said.” If there is conviction, “Thank you for taking time to visit with me. What you have shared makes sense and I receive what you say. Pray with me and for me that I will be open to God’s work in my life. Don’t try to deflect the focus to someone else or onto another issue. If we are confronted about a sin issue and we are indeed wrong, to simply acknowledge the wrong is insufficient. We need to ask forgiveness. End the session with prayer. When someone correctly admonishes us, we should esteem him, not resent him. Show this respect by thanking God in prayer and reconnecting with the person in order to reaffirm the relationship. As we have discussed the issue of admonishing others, it may come across as a big deal that requires formal preparation. While a formal meeting may be required in certain circumstances, admonishing others in a more relaxed, casual setting is often the atmosphere for this kind of communication. For me, the most important requirement is love for the other person. Don McMinn, Ph.D. (with Kimberly Spring) Executive Director of theiPlace.org The 11th Commandment: Experiencing the One Anothers of Scripture

A Barna research report this week revealed that 58% of American Christians don’t believe the Holy Spirit exists. “Fifty-eight percent strongly or somewhat agreed with the statement that the Holy Spirit is ‘a symbol of God’s power or presence but is not a living entity.’”[1] Interestingly, the same survey revealed that about 60% of American Christians do not believe Satan exists. I suppose you could argue that if you think Satan doesn’t exist then what do you need the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit for? We can also argue that it doesn’t matter if you believe Satan exists or not. Without the Holy Spirit you are traveling up temptation’s raging river without a paddle—or a boat for that matter. I’ve long thought that the problem many people have with understanding Who the Holy Spirit is, and His role, can be boiled down to our description of Him. The Bible always describes God’s character in human terms we can understand from our already pre-existing relationships. Two examples: When we call God, “Father,” we can understand that because we associate the term, “Father,” with that which is already familiar. We know what a father is and what his role is. The same can be true when we call Jesus the “Son of God.” We already have in our minds what a son is and what his relationship to his father is. These anthropomorphic descriptions of God’s nature, in part, aid our understanding of who God is. But when we come to the descriptive term, “Holy Spirit,” we encounter a problem. It’s not like the term “Holy Spirit” is similar to “mother,” or “Father,” or “Son.” We have trouble wrapping our minds around how it works. We wonder exactly how the Spirit of God is related to God when we can’t picture him in anthropomorphic terms we already understand. The Holy Spirit is God, but He’s not the Father and He’s not the Son, and He’s not described with anthropomorphic terms. So how does that work exactly? The Bible tells us quite clearly that the Holy Spirit is a person, with attributes of personality, and He is deity, co-equal with the Father and the Son. But the term, “Holy Spirit,” seems impersonal as opposed to titles like Father and Son. Maybe it’s because we think of the term “Spirit” like an essence instead of a person. Yet we forget that when we die our spirit enters God’s presence. I.E., we enter God’s presence. The spirit is us. So why don’t we take that thinking and apply it to God in the sense of personhood and personality? The Holy Spirit is God. It’s troubling enough when a majority doesn’t believe in the Evil One. You can’t defend yourself against an enemy you don’t believe exists. But when you regulate the Holy Spirit to nonexistence in your belief system then you’ve wiped away the only source of power you have for defeating the enemy’s schemes. American Christianity is in a mess of trouble when it doesn’t recognize the existence of an essential member of the Godhead. Most U.S. Christians Don’t Believe Satan, Holy Spirit Exist, Christianpost.com, April 13, 2009.

God is concerned with our worship. It is not something He considers to be optional in our daily life and practice. In fact, the Father seeks those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. (John 4) I find it amazing that God would seek our worship, but just as a father desires the love of his children, so the Lord desires our worship. God created us for His pleasure (Rev. 4:11), and He paid the costliest ransom to rescue us from sin so that we might spend eternity in awesome adoration of God. Some think that Christ came to save us from bad habits, to keep us from going to hell or to prepare for us an eternal place in heaven. While these are all true, the ultimate purpose of Christ’s death was to return us to worship. Jesus reiterated this without hesitation in Matthew 22:36-38. When asked which is the great commandment in the law, He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (RSV) Notice that Jesus did not say you shall serve the Lord our God – we must place worship above serving. We do new believers a grave injustice when we immediately make workers out of them, involving them in all sorts of Christian service. First, we need to coach these believers in the art of worship, and then they can become workers. An even greater tragedy exists in the case of many saints who have been saved for years but have seldom, if ever, entered into true worship. We must be cognizant and obedient to the supreme priority God has given us. Loving the Lord by loving others is not sufficient. We must love Him directly. Having established our love for Him, we can then “feed the sheep.” It was God who made the first move in creating us, and the second move in redeeming us. He made us as much like himself as He could. We are fashioned in His image in order that we might worship Him. As Christians, our plans are only successful to the degree that they correspond with God’s will for our life. Why not get in on His ultimate aim for mankind? Be a worshiper of God! Don McMinn, Ph.D. (with Kimberly Spring) Executive Director of theiPlace.org Entering His Presence: Experiencing the joy of true worship

What do we need to know about the mind of the God-seeker? Are all men actively looking for a Supreme Being? Why or why not? What is it in the mind and heart of man that causes him to seek God? Recently I’ve been enjoying the book,Christianity on the Offense: Responding to the Spiritual Beliefs of Seekers, by Dan Story. It’s always good to learn something about the competition, so to speak, and I occasionally read such books to keep me up to date on worldview issues. The pages I read today, however, got me thinking not about the worldviews of today, but the worldviews of tomorrow—apropos to the change of calendar coming in just hours. It’s interesting to me to trace how different worldviews like Naturalism, Modernism, Buddhism, and competing religions have all contributed to one another over the centuries. These worldviews often borrow points from one another, specifically the Western worldviews have been borrowing from the Eastern, thus becoming their worldview cousins. Christianity is different in that when someone tries to integrate other religious philosophies into its framework it becomes something wholly different—something other than orthodox. As one example, we see a lot of this in Mongolia as many young Christians, not fully understanding the unique nature of Christianity, attempt to bring in some of the beliefs and practices of Buddhism and Animism in the name of preserving culture. This practice of syncretism ends up creating something other than a biblically-based Christian expression. It was also strongly condemned by Peter (II Peter 2:17-22) and Jesus (Revelation 2:12-29). The study of apologetics is always a study of the past, even the recent past. That makes sense. The past is immutable. We can study the history of religious and philosophical thought and the impact on societies to see how those ideas shaped societies. But wouldn’t it be interesting, and perhaps even more advantageous for us to see where these views might lead us to in the future? How’s that for a New Year’s thought? Let’s approach it this way: Who among Christian leaders of the 17th and 18th century that battled the influence of the enlightenment would have guessed that it would eventually pave the way for Darwinism, Secular Humanism, then a Post-Modernist view? Applying this speculation to today, what kind of worldviews will the Christian Church have to do battle with tomorrow? When we read the scriptures about the coming End Times we are faced with a stark reality about the future—it may be as equally immutable as the past. Prophetic scripture reveals that things are going to get bad for those with a Christian worldview. Even the most casual read from Matthew 24-25 and the book of Revelation reveal a ballooning anti-Christian fervor. Can we deny that we experience it today from the courtrooms of America to the prisons of China? The Apostle Paul warned Timothy about this very thing, paving the way for us to prepare for battle in the future. “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars, seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron…” (I Timothy 4:1-2) “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power…evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (II Timothy 3:1-5,13). Just as the past is immutable, so too it may be that the future revealed to us in these and other passages, is equally immutable. God has already revealed to us, in advance, that we will be faced with opposition to the Christian worldview with increasing frequency and fervor. Since the scripture reveals it then we know it will come to pass (Romans 4:17). So how will we deal with this immutable future of trouble? That’s a question we should consider as we enter the last year of this decade. Paul provided more than a warning of what was to come, he also provided a solution. “You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them…you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (II Timothy 3:14-17). I love it. When revealing what believers face in a future time Paul simply goes back to the old standards. Like a plaid-suited used car salesman on a cheap TV commercial he shouts, “Yesterday’s technology today!” Except what Paul is selling is the real deal. It’s power is truth. It’s potential unending. It never goes out of style or become irrelevant. At all times there are always signs before us pointing to what the future may hold. The signs of our recent economic crisis were in place in 90s. So too there are warning signs before the Christian about what to expect in the future. The road we are on is designed to take us to that future. How we will deal with it when we get there should be of great concern along the way. The road may twist and turn but the rules of the road are unchanged.

Share 0 I believe it was Roger Barrier who I first heard point out that there are basically no functional families in the Bible. That is absolutely the truth. And to see how deep the dysfunction can run it only takes a glance at Genesis 29 and 30. These two chapters tell the story of Jacob’s marriage to Leah and Rachel. Just look at the dysfunction which abounds: 1) Laban (Jacob’s uncle) milks Jacob for a month of his service (Gen 29:14, 15). 2) Laban twists the situation to make himself look generous and puts Jacob in the awkward place of requesting payment (Gen 29:15). 3) Jacob loves (lusts after?) Rachel because of her physical appearance (Gen 29:17). 4) Jacob pays a very high dowry (7 years of service) for Rachel (Gen 29:20). 5) Laban and Leah deceive Jacob by giving Leah to Jacob in marriage (Gen 29:23). 6) Laban puts Leah in an unfair situation by marrying her to a man who doesn’t love her (Gen 29:23). 7) By acquiescing to tradition (Gen 29:26) and his greed (wanting Jacob to serve him longer), Laban treats Rachel unfairly by making her wait and by making her share her husband with her sister. 8) Even after being married to Leah for 7 years, Jacob still shows preferential treatment toward Rachel (Gen 29:30). 9) Leah’s understanding of love is so distorted she believes that having children will win her Jacob’s love. In doing this, Leah also shows herself a poor mother – her children are objects she uses to gain the affections of Jacob (Gen 29:32, 34). 10) Rachel believes her worth is tied to her ability to bear children (Gen 30:1). 11) Rachel demands that Jacob fix a situation only God can fix (Gen 30:1). 12) Jacob responds in anger to Rachel and makes a judgment about her only God can make (Gen 30:2). 13) Jacob commits adultery. Rachel, then Leah use their servants for their own gain and are complicit in Jacob committing adultery (Gen 30:3-10). 14) Leah bribes Rachel in order to have sex with Jacob and Jacob is complicit (Gen 30:16). And it goes on and on. What an utter mess. Any dysfunction one could imagine inhabits this family. And yet somehow it is the sons of these two women and this man who become the twelve tribes of Israel. It is this family that God so deeply cares for that he has one of the sons sent to Egypt in order to protect them from a famine they never could have predicted and were defenseless against. Have hope! I don’t doubt you empathize with all too many of the sin patterns in Jacob’s family. I don’t doubt that your heart bears the wounds of such patterns and it is all you can do not to pass them on in your own family. But our God is a choosing God, a God who calls us to be his holy people even out of such circumstances. Our God is a loving god, a God who loves despite our dysfunction and who is creating a new functional family through the power of the death and resurrection of his own Son.

When we think about what we owe others, usually money, favors and other tangible support come to mind. But our Lord says it is that and more. “Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” (Rom 13:7) The latter may be more difficult to apply consistently, but we can respect and honor one another in various ways. I Respect You Before we make decisions that will affect the lives of others, we should ask for their opinions and seriously consider the input. I remember “informing” my wife once that we were called to another church and would be relocating. That was wrong and hurtful because as a matter of respect I should have asked for her opinion since the move affected her as well. The more important the decision is, the more necessary it is to solicit input. We may not always be obligated to abide by the opinions of others, but especially in marriage we should hesitate to continue unless we are in total agreement. In the context of church leadership, pastors need to seek input related to decisions that will affect many lives. Just announcing major initiatives is disrespectful to others involved. We should also respect the things others feel strongly about. I am not known for neatness, but when I share space with others who are more fastidious, I make an effort not to annoy them with my clutter. Finally, we should respect what belongs to others — their privacy, property and time. For instance, my being late robs others of a precious commodity – time. If I borrow something, I will take care of it and return it as promised. I Recognize and Affirm Who You Are Before we can truly honor someone, we must know him intimately in order to discover that person’s gifts. When we recognize, acknowledge and affirm people’s talents, we can help facilitate using these resources for their own self-fulfillment and for the glory of God. One of our most important jobs as parents is to help our children discover their gifts. When we strive to understand the unique contribution each person can make and then help them reach their potential, we honor them. Jesus suffered the opposite effect in his hometown because the people of Nazareth did not recognize Jesus for who He was – the Son of God. (Matt.13:57) Consequently, Jesus was not able to do many miracles there. On the other hand, when Paul was shipwrecked on the island of Malta, the people honored him and many healings occurred. (Acts 28:9-10) We need to take the initiative to recognize and facilitate the gifts of others. This key principle reinforces the idea that the “one anothers” are best given than taken. A friend of mine was frustrated because his gift of teaching was being neglected by the church. He could have exerted himself and demanded a position, but there is no honor in aggressively taking a position of honor. Rather, it was incumbent upon the leadership of the church to recognize and direct his talents. I Submit to Your Authority The topic of submission has become a hot button in our generation because of two misunderstandings. First, those in authority have misunderstood their roles when they fail to recognize that the Bible commands mutual submission. (Eph. 5:21) The misunderstanding results in overbearing, egotistical, narrow-minded, self-serving, domineering leaders. Furthermore, those under authority often don’t realize that God has indeed established levels of authority and that He will often work His sovereign will through them. Followers in this category can be rebellious, insolent, oppositional, reluctant and challenging. Despite the imbalance that often exists, the Bible makes it clear that we are to honor (respect) those who are in authority over us. (Romans 13:1-7) I Value and Esteem You When we honor someone, we should explore and express another dimension – an emotional one, an issue of the heart. We should honor people because of the great value they have as human beings, not out of duty and obligation. We don’t want to be like the young boy who was made to sit in the corner as punishment who grumbled, “I may be sitting down on the outside, but I’m standing up on the inside.” We should take pleasure as we honor others. I Will Give You Special Consideration and Proper Recognition Christ especially challenges us to give weaker members more honor than stronger ones. (1 Cor. 12:23) While serving as an interim worship leader, I remember how our choir members went out of their way to honor a mentally challenged young man who also sang in the choir. They graciously accepted him in every way, even when he sang too loudly or off key. The young man was not neglected. Eventually, our habit becomes that of intentionally preferring others to ourselves, giving them the advantage. As we honor one another, we will not be neglected either. Don McMinn, Ph.D. (with Kimberly Spring) Executive Director of theiPlace.org The 11th Commandment: More Insights into the One Anothers of Scripture

In the Old Testament, Samuel declares that he would be sinning against the Lord if he fails to pray for the Israelites. (1 Sam. 12:23) The value of praying for others is a familiar Christian call to action, but how can we do so effectively, giving the practice more than cursory lip service? First of all, we need to develop relationships founded on a deep level of care, vulnerability and trust. Praying for one another will become natural and effective when our relationships are in a safe place. One of the best ways to encourage others to be vulnerable about their needs is to be open about our own. Vulnerability must be reciprocal. Also, our friendships should be based on a secure confidentiality. We should be confident that whatever we share will not be repeated to others, and it will not affect our love for each other. When these prerequisites have been met, we can offer powerful prayers for each other. Consider these practical guidelines. Keep a prayer journal to make sure prayers are being offered and so that answers to prayer give God His glory. (2 Peter 3:1) Don’t be afraid to pray for people on the spot. (Acts 20:36) Praying with one another is as important as praying for each other. Even though we continue to pray for our friend’s need, praying with them immediately or on the telephone is an emotional and psychological blessing. Encourage people to share their needs and prayer requests, and share your own. (1 Thes. 5:25) This requires humility on our part and underscores the interdependence of the body of Christ. Let people know you are praying for them. (2 Thes. 1:11) Besides blessing the people you pray for, it may encourage them to seek God themselves. Whenever possible, pray about specific areas of concern, avoiding generalities. (Philem. 1:6) Designate a specific time and place to pray for others. (Luke 6:12) With some discipline, we can hold ourselves accountable to our promises to others. While it is helpful to maintain a daily ritual of prayer, we can also acknowledge God’s cues throughout the day to pray for a person. Realize that praying for others requires time, effort and emotional commitment. (Col. 4:12) Wrestling in prayer for others is a strenuous spiritual exercise. Pray as long as it takes. (1 Col. 1:9) We may be called on to pray for someone a long time until God reveals His answer. God doesn’t give up on the unsaved spouse, child or friend, prolonged illness or misfortune. Neither should we. Minister in other areas as they become apparent. As we pray for others, act on cues to offer hospitality, comfort, encouragement, etc. For instance, we may be prompted to spend more time with the person or provide practical assistance, like child care or resume writing. Even if we are paying attention to the previous guidelines, I have some personal issues that bother me when I hear people praying for others. You may disagree with me, but it is worth clearing the air. When we pray for others, does it sound like we are talking to God or to the person(s) we are praying for? If at some point in the prayer we start preaching to the person we are praying for, we should remember we are speaking to God. Are we using trite, overused phrases like “Bless the hands of the physicians as they operate?” What the Bible calls vain repetitions become prayer clichés that lose their meaning from overuse. Do we use an “ecclesiastical voice” and King James English? Some people adopt a prayer voice that seems showy and ostentatious, lacking sincerity. Are our prayers simple and focused? These intercessory prayers can be accomplished is just a few minutes focusing solely on the expressed need. Longer is not necessarily better. When we pray for others, Christ is not asking us to do something that He has not and is not doing for us. Who is on your prayer list today? Don McMinn, Ph.D. (with Kimberly Spring) Executive Director of theiPlace.org The 11th Commandment: More Insights into the One Anothers of Scripture

Here I am toe-tapping again, my silent protest to waiting. My body weight shifts every few minutes as I check my watch and tap some more. I can feel the stress engulf me like a balloon pumped with air until the surface is taut. When we wait for others, it is all about us. How we are inconvenienced, how far behind our schedule is falling, how time is wasted. But in God’s eyes, we are called to abandon our own pace, agenda, abilities, strengths and desires in order to yield to others. It is a practical and challenging manifestation of preferring one another. In our struggle to wait for one another (1 Cor. 11:33), we encounter an ugly vice called impatience, a close relative of selfishness. We are sorely tempted with impatience when faced with delay. We just don’t want to slow down. However, the godly approach is patience, a virtue that helps define what love is. (1 Cor. 13:4) Patience is also a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22) and should be evenly applied. Furthermore, we cannot pick and choose with whom we will be patient. (1 Thes. 5:14) Clearly, we all have weaknesses that at some point cause others to wait for us. We may be called on to wait for others physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. We all function at different levels depending on our speed, capacity, physical limitations and endurance. Some people are slow and deliberate, others fast and decisive, often just a function of how God made us. Some of us multi-task with ease. Others enjoy focusing on a single project in great depth. We can be limited by physical challenges including age, handicaps, sickness and just our general physical capabilities. This applies to our capacity for endurance as well. For some of us, a business trip can be exhausting; for others, it is just another work day. Emotional struggles involving hurts and fears can also affect our efficiency. After a hurtful divorce, a person may be reticent to pursue another close relationship. A child who is afraid of the dark may need us to stay with him, postponing our own agenda. In general, personality types can affect who waits on whom. People who are more aggressive, extroverted and adventurous may be called upon to wait for those who are shy, reticent and cautious. Mentally we wait for each based on both our mental capacity and our strengths and weaknesses. We are born with different intelligences that affect our ability to reason, memorize and learn. In certain areas we may excel while we struggle in other areas. I may have to wait for you to complete mathematical tasks, while you show me patience trying to read a map. Spiritually we differ as well. We all experience different levels of spiritual zeal, passion and even faith. (Rom. 12:3; 14:1) When others sin, we may also be called upon to wait for repentance and changed behavior. Consider the patience of God relative to our waywardness. “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) Regardless of our strengths and weaknesses, we are all indispensable in God’s eyes.(1 Cor. 12:22) As we learn to accept this truth, it becomes apparent that how we respond to the weaker members is very important to God and an indication of how the love of God is being poured out through our lives. “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.” (Rom 15:1) Don McMinn, Ph.D. (with Kimberly Spring) Executive Director of theiPlace.org The 11th Commandment: More Insights into the One Anothers of Scripture

In the last two blog posts I talked about dysfunctional families: first in Palestine, and then in America. Let’s get to the good news. Let’s talk a bit about the functional family. To do so, let’s set the stage of how the early church thought about the issue of family. In the early church, the issue of family was a huge deal for several reasons: First, in ancient Near Eastern society, individual identity was largely subsumed by familial identity. Where we place a high value on our individual worth, ancient Near Easterners (along with most of those in the history of the world, actually) would have derived their primary worth from their extended family. Second, the family was a hugely significant because many of those in the early church had been cast out of their families because of their decision to join this emerging group of Christ-followers. Those from Jewish families would have been cast out as following a false Messiah, as being tritheists, and for subverting the Jewish religious order. Romans who followed Christ would have been cast out of their families for being part of a religious group that was branded as being disruptive, traitorous, and even cannibalistic. It was no small thing for this group new believers, many of whom had been rejected by their own families, to understand the new family they belonged to. In Ephesians 3, Paul describes this surprising family: “This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel… For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being…” We often talk about the Body of Christ in church today. And that indeed is a Scriptural metaphor, and an important one, for understanding our identity in Christ and in relation to other believers. But we don’t often hear about the new family we have been given: a family made out of every ethnicity, all with one true Father. Our true family is the family of God. We have been given a new last name – we are sons and daughters of God. That was a great hope to the first century believer. I think it’s a great hope in this day and age as well. A day and age where families are breaking down in very real ways. A day and age where very few people find their homes to be safe places. It’s also a great call for the church. We’re called not just to be a group or a club or a gathering… we’re called to be a family. That doesn’t mean we won’t have in-house problems, but it does mean that those problems happen between brothers and sisters of one Father. It means that our churches should be places of refuge and safety. Places of honesty. Places where ‘kitchen conversations’ happen, not just foyer conversations. Places where we can confront in love and be confronted in love. Is your church this kind of place? Why not? How are you standing in the way of it being that kind of place? Praise to the Father for naming us his own. May he bless you, my brother and my sister, and may he build up his family in local churches in every corner of the globe.

“He whose walk is blameless will minister to me” (Psalm 101:6). God is not just seeing worship. He’s seeking worshipers (John 4). Otherwise, we could just listen to praise music on our iPods, put it on continuous play, and be done with it. God would be appeased and we could do our own thing. But it’s not that simple. God is looking for worshipers – people. And, of course, He’s more interested in the condition of our hearts than the position of our hands and in the choices of our volition than in the beauty of our voices. Yes, God enjoys our singing, clapping, and kneeling, but it does no good to bend the knee before God if we have not first bent our hearts. A pastor who serves in the Midwest had a dream. He had been praying about the spiritual worship of his church. He received a very cogent answer which showed the difference between going through the motions of worship and really getting in touch with God. “I was sitting in my usual place – in the church auditorium, on the platform in the chancel area. The organist was playing the prelude to an empty auditorium. Soon, the back doors of the auditorium swung open and my parishioners began to enter the auditorium. From a distance, everyone looked normal – the ladies were wearing their stylish clothes, and the men were dressed in pin-striped suits, heavy-starched shirts, and designer ties. Everyone looked happy, as usual, and there was the normal exchange of courtesies. When asked ‘How are you doing?’ everyone responses, as usual, ‘Just fine, and how are you?’ “But as they came closer, I noticed that something was wrong. Their skin was emaciated and drawn, their bodies were weak and feeble. It looked like all the vitality and nutrients had been sucked from their bodies. The sanctuary was soon filled with well-dressed, mannerly people with decrepit bodies. “The worship service began and everyone proceeded to work through the order of worship – singing the hymns and choruses, prating when called upon, giving when the plates were passed, reciting the responsive readings – everything, as usual. “I asked the Lord the meaning of this peculiar dream. The Lord said, ‘I am letting you see the spiritual condition of the people. Instead of seeing their outward appearance, you are observing the condition of their spirits. On the outside, they are prepared to play church, but on the inside, they are not ready for worship. Those who worship Me must worship Me in spirit and in truth.'” It is important that we prepare for worship. What we do during corporate worship, regardless of what form our liturgy takes, is irrelevant if we have not adequately and properly prepared for the worship experience. Many cymbals are crashed, hands raised, chords tuned, poems eloquently spoken, and memorized prayers recited in the name of worship, but they are received as dissonance and muddled syllables by the Almighty if our spirits are not right. “The acceptability of any act of worship is determined by the acceptability of the worshiper.” – Ron Dunn

What is worship? Who can experience it? Do we only worship on Sunday mornings? Do only musicians worship? What does it feel like? How do I become a worshiper of God? Some subjects are so broad that they defy definition. St. Augustine once lamented, “What, then, is time? If no one asked of me, I know; if I wish to explain to him who asks, I know not.” If Augustine thought time was hard to explain, what shall we do with the topic of worship? Fortunately, it’s not necessary to know everything about worship before we can enjoy it, but the more we do know, the better our worship will be. Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to love relationships. Let’s begin by defining what the word “worship” actually means in English and what it means in Hebrew and Greek, the languages in which the Bible was written. The English word “worship” comes from the Anglo-Saxon word “weorthscipe” which denotes one who is worthy of honor and reverence. When we worship God. we are declaring to Him His worth; confessing to Him that He is worthy. In Revelation 4, the twenty-four elders worship the Lord by confessing that He is worthy to receive glory, honor, and power. The Hebrew word for worship is “shaha” It means to “how low” or to “prostrate oneself.” Worship involves our bowing low before the Lord, not only physically, but in our hearts. When a Hebrew came into God’s presence, he would bow low; his posture demonstrated his reverential fear of God. The Greek work for worship is “proskuneo”, which literally means to “kiss the hand of one who is revered” or to “do obeisance to another”. If a member of the early church were to have an audience with Jesus, he would get close enough to kiss His hand. Notice that the New Testament concept of worship involved closeness and intimacy. The God who was unapproachable under the old covenant may be approached with boldness in the new covenant, and without the slightest fear of being shunned. Worship is the expression of a love relationship. Worship presupposes a relationship, which correctly implies that those who do not have a personal relationship with God cannot and will not worship Him. Worship also requires open, public expression; concealed love is to be questioned. It’s like the husband who winked at his wife – in the dark, he knew what he did but nobody else did. And worship occurs in a love relationship, not an association prompted by commerce, politics, or convenience. It is amazing that the same person we acknowledge as God, is also our Savior, and even friend. But as the hymn-writer wrote, “I stand amazed in the presence…,” and I suppose we’ll never lose the wonder of His love and fellowship. Perhaps the most intriguing, persistent, philosophical question in Christendom has been, “What is the chief end of man?” The best answer was given in the catechism “To glorify God to to enjoy Him forever.” Let’s learn how to worship!

As we seek to be obedient, the blessings of honoring one another pour out into the body of Christ. It really is the key to proper functioning. (1 Cor. 12:12, 27) Just like our physical bodies work best when all the various parts are functioning properly, the spiritual body of Christ is at its best when each member is doing his part. Honoring one another is a critical part of making this happen. Honoring is also the key to maintaining unity among the body. (1 Cor. 12:24-25) Kingdom work cannot happen amid strife and division. As a minister at a local church, I must be at peace with my fellow staff members and church members. If the pastor is angry with the worship pastor, who can’t stand the youth pastor, who is upset at the children’s pastor, the church will not function as it should, regardless of how “good” everyone tries to act. Assimilation is a buzzword in the church growth/health area that suggests when someone joins a church, two things need to happen in the first four months. First, the new member needs to become relationally connected to at least 3-4 people. Second, the new member needs to become involved in a ministry in which she can use her unique gifts, talents and skills. Honoring one another is a key element in becoming involved in ministry. God has created each of us uniquely, and He has a distinctive mission for us to accomplish. Every person must discover what he was created to do and do it. A teacher must teach, a painter must paint, an organizer must organize. We will not be completely fulfilled until we discover our destiny and live with it. In spite of our best intentions, any form of selfishness can sabotage our gift of honoring others. · Territorialism – I like my turf and don’t want anyone else on it. · Impact on my value and worth – If I honor you, that may diminish the attention and honor I receive. · Preoccupation with self – I am so focused on me, I am unable to focus on you. · Jealousy – What if I honor you in an area in which we are both involved and it turns out that you are better at it than I? · Insecurity – If I honor the strengths of other people, I might expose my own inadequacies. · Fear of unmet needs – Who will honor me? Think of some practical ways to honor others, pray to be delivered from selfishness and thank God for His blessings. Don McMinn, Ph.D. (with Kimberly Spring) Executive Director of theiPlace.org The 11th Commandment: More Insights into the One Anothers of Scripture