The Essence of WorshipWritten by Terry Dashner
Faith Fellowship Church…PO Box 1586…Broken Arrow, OK 74013…Pastor Terry Dashner“Essence of Worship” Is there a difference in form of worship and essence? Yes, as a matter of fact, many churches today are struggling with proper form of worship. So widespread is this problem that many churches have divided into two services on Sunday mornings. In one service form of worship is traditional music. Only hymns, piano, and organ are used while in other service only contemporary music is used. One service is youthful, dressed down, loud, and “rock-and-rollish” music bursts. In other, well you guessed it. The music is softer, older, and church hymnals are used to reflect on words while they are being sung. I want to speak to you today about essence of worship. The essence of worship is imperative for “true” worship in church, or any place you worship God. Jesus predicted demise of worship form when He spoke to Samaritan woman at well in John chapter four. You may remember scripture, “Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship Father…an hour is coming, and now is, when true worshipers will worship Father in spirit and truth; for such people Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:21; and 23-24 NASB). The New Testament reveals a stunning silence about outward forms of corporate worship and a radical intensification of worship as an inner, Godward experience of heart. The silence about outward forms is obvious in fact that gathered life of church is never called “worship” in New Testament. Moreover, main Old Testament word for worship is virtually absent from New Testament letters. Its usage clusters in Gospels (26 times) and in Book of Revelation (21 times). But in Epistles of Paul it occurs only once, namely, in I Corinthians 14:25 where unbeliever falls down at power of prophecy and confesses God is in assembly. It doesn’t occur at all in letters of Peter, James, or John.
| | Holy TerrorWritten by Gary Whittaker
Perhaps inspired by their recent success in influencing outcome of American Presidential elections, Catholic Church have looked Northward. Looking past an unjust war against non-tithing members of World Community, Catholic Church helped King George II get enough votes based on his fact that his visions were more in line with that of Pope's and his handlers in regards to same-sex marriage, and other long-standing bigotry still accepted in this millennium. Hearing that Canadian governing party is now open to passing a Bill that would legalize same-sex marriage, Church has begun to gather mob and light torches to go against anyone who would oppose their version of sanctity of marriage. Paul Martin, Canada's Prime Minister, has already started doing political backslide in diverting ownership of this issue from his Party to People, saying that he wants to set up a National Poll on issue. Imagine a Poll done in 1905, or 1965 asking of Black Americans should be given same rights as White Americans. This is not a debate of which is better, "Tastes Great or Less Filling?" this is about Human Rights; right of a person not to fall subject to opinions and values of his neighbors, right of a person to live according to their own values as long as it does not inflict harm against someone else. The Americans never asked of Iraqi people wanted to be free of Saddam. Gay North Americans don't need to ask Pope for right to be granted same privileges as their heterosexual brothers and sisters. Canadians should be wary of how Catholic Church will approach this issue should it gain momentum. They have backing of King George II and a history of obedience from Canadians to American interests. The best thing you can do is to write to your political representative and voice your support of same-sex marriage. Not gay? Who cares! Jesus didn't. Make no mistake about it. When Jesus confronted people who tried to impose their traditional religious values and punish a woman for her adulteress ways, Jesus stood up for her and said, "Let he who is without sin cast first stone". So, how can we as a people follow a religious organization that would deny rights of 2 people that want to commit together, yet not protect rights of children abused by members of their own organization. The Pope has nothing to say when it comes to men of cloth imposing their manhood on children who look up to them, but seeks to deny love. Jesus' greatest gift to us was love. He died for love and to open forgiveness for all, yet Popes throughout history have made others die from lack of it.
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