Are You Living Out An Angelic Response?

In my last post, I gave three, quick, simple points from the following verses:

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. But he said to me, "Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book. Worship God." Rev 22:8-9 NASU

Today, I would like to focus a bit more on how points two and three can apply to us as Music Ministers or ministers in general.

When we are most successful we are at our most prone to wander. The apostle John has just received what may arguably be the greatest vision in all of history. He was ending his journey on an amazingly incredible spiritual high (even though he was a imprisoned)….And he immediately turned the messenger into an idol. I have found that it’s not as often when I am in a lean season that I struggle against sin as much as when I am in a time of abundance and success.

Look at most instances of great men of God and their greatest failures in the scriptures. I think of David with Bathsheba. I think of Moses striking the rock twice. I think of Paul and Barnabas’ division. They almost always occurred after God had prospered those men and/or fulfilled a promise. When you see a dreams or ideas come to pass—beware! You may be at your most vulnerable.

When we are most successful we will be idolized by others.

We are getting ready to present our Shoals Christmas Praise. The True Church Conference is just around the corner. We will spend many hours in prayer leading up to those events. I spend much more time in prayer after those events. Why? Because so many are faithful in praising God for this man’s role in those events that I find myself making an idol out of myself and my ministry and accomplishments that I need much more grace to walk in humility (if I have ever been able to do so!). I need even more reminders from God’s word that I am just an “unprofitable servant” and can take no joy in myself alone—only in the power of God at work in me.

It’s easy to start believing the hype about yourself after you’ve just pulled off that big event. It seems to fit right into that “idol-factory” heart of ours when so many are slapping us on the back and praising our effectiveness while the echoes of the congregational applause is still ringing in our ears. Does that mean that all of that positive feedback is true? It may—but sometimes it doesn’t….

Please don’t misunderstand….I’m not saying that everyone who give commending words are idolaters! God forbid! They are actually speaking in obedience (Phil 2:3, 4; Eph. 4:29). They are being obedient when praising God for your ministry. However, don’t be surprised if you run into some who are ready to see you as a “contact” and as their source of pleasure rather than the God that you are (hopefully) serving.

It’s sometimes difficult to discern who is and who is not making an idol out of you. That would, perhaps, be an entirely different entry. However, you should be constantly striving to discern your own heart regardless. Take the angel as one of your models. Remind folks that you are their fellow-servant. Speak words that deflect glory to Christ. Thank brothers and sisters who say kind words and then praise God in your heart for being in more debt to grace!

And finally, as the angel summated, worship God at every turn!

Fantastic Music Machine

This incredible machine was built as a collaborative effort between the Robert M. Trammell Music Conservatory and the Sharon Wick School of Engineering at the University of Iowa. Amazingly, 97% of the machines components came from John Deere Industries and Irrigation Equipment of Bancroft, Iowa, yes farm equipment! It took the team a combined 13,029 hours of set-up, alignment, calibration, and tuning before filming this video. It is now on display in the Matthew Gerhard Alumni Hall at the University and is already slated to be donated to the Smithsonian.

New info: Snopes says that the video is false....(Thanks Stephen!)

Prone To Wander

I have been studying and meditating on a passage of scripture this week that was read by one of our elders in our choir room this last Sunday morning. (We read scripture there before we review the Sunday morning choir special as an additional means to prepare ourselves to lead the music.) He was reading the last chapter in the scriptures, Revelation 22 and one particular part really pierced my heart and got me to thinking.

Here are the verses:

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. But he said to me, "Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book. Worship God." Rev 22:8-9 NASU

Here we have two mighty figures: an angel and an apostle. If we were to meet either one of them right now, we would be amazed and in awe of their stature, their importance, and their power. If you don’t think that you would, you are only deceiving yourself for either of these two figures is far more important than the most famous and important person you have seen or will ever see in contemporary culture.

This angel might have had enough power given to him to destroy most cities (or even worlds—forgive my musing)….He, for a very long time, is one who sees God in His majesty and glory. He is one who showed many amazing revelations to John the Beloved. And John did what you or I would probably have done. He made an idol out of the angel.

This angel could have, at best, ignored John’s sinful reaction to him. The angel could have, at worst, accepted such idolatrous worship. What was the angel’s reaction? He rebuked and corrected the apostle. He humbled himself and explained his position of grace in God.

Why would God include this seemingly insignificant moment in scripture? First of all, it shows that the scriptures are written by God Himself. If it were written by John, he would not have included his sin in the account. Secondly, it shows that we are all prone to idolatry. If the apostle John could sin immediately after receiving such an amazing revelation how quickly are we to do the same? Thirdly, it shows proper humility modeled by the angel. He calls himself a servant. He deflects any glory that John tried to direct his way back to God.

In my next entry, I would like to deal with practical applications in my ministry and personal life (and yours) from these two verses.

2009 Shoals Christmas Praise

Here's my formal invitation to join us for this year's Christmas program at Grace Life Church of the Shoals. We will present the program on Sunday evening, December 13 at 6:15 pm in the New Auditorium. You now can't say that you weren't invited! (Please forgive the double-negative!)

O Sovereign Grace

Here is our latest Grace Life Music creation. It is sung by our pastor's wife, Pam Noblit. I took verses from an Isaac Watts' hymn (thanks Bro. Matt!) and composed a new tune for it. I also, by God's grace, wrote a refrain to go with it. You can download the lead sheet here for FREE!.
Here are the words:

O SOVEREIGN GRACE

How sad our state by nature is our sin how deep it stains

And satan binds our captive minds fast in his slavish chains

But there’s a Voice of sovereign grace sounds from the sacred Word

Lo ye despairing sinners come and trust upon the Lord

My soul obeys th’Almighty call and runs to this relief

I would believe Thy promise Lord O help my unbelief

To the dear fountain of Thy blood Incarnate God, I fly

Here let my wash my spotted soul from crimes of deepest dye

O sovereign grace that came to me

Won through His death upon a tree

I will forever sing of Thee

I praise the King, the Lord of sovereign grace

Stretch out Thine Arm victorious King my reigning sins subdue

Drive that old dragon from his seat with all his hellish crew

A guilty, weak, and helpless worm on Thy kind Arms I fall

Be Thou my strength and righteousness my Savior All in all

Verses by Isaac Watts

Refrain and Music by Thomas G. Clay

© 2009 GraceAnne Music

Using Psalms Most Effectively

In my last series of entries, I tried to deal with a very important couple of verses in 1 Cor. 14 that dealt with a church’s relationship with unbelievers who are in attendance for corporate worship. I almost included what I’m going to deal with today in that series but thought it better to make it it’s own focus. And what theme is that?

It has to do with taking phrases and worship ideas out of the Psalms and divorcing them from the context in which they were given.

In my last entry I quoted the lyrics of a song by Lincoln Brewster and Paul Baloche called “Today Is The Day” that uses Psalm 118:24 as the primary text of the refrain:

This is the day which the LORD has made;

Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

They have done well in selecting scripture as the basis for the refrain. However, it is also very important that in including God’s word that we handle it “rightly” (2 Tim. 2:15). What do I mean? Well, with the song in question, the Psalm text is partnered with thoughts that are more about what I’m going to do for God rather than about what God has already done for me.

But if we look at more of the 118^th Psalm, we see that the context of verse 24 is in regards to the centrality of Christ and our redemption being built upon Him.

Ps 118:19-24

Open to me the gates of righteousness;

I shall enter through them, I shall give thanks to the LORD.

20 This is the gate of the LORD;

The righteous will enter through it.

21 I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me,

And You have become my salvation.

22 The stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief corner stone.

23 This is the LORD'S doing;

It is marvelous in our eyes.

24 This is the day which the LORD has made;

Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

NASU Bold mine

Can you see the context? It changes when you read verse 24 in the flow of the previous verses, doesn’t it? You can see that “This is the day” is the day of the new covenant, the day of the propagation of the gospel! It is not primarily dealing with God’s common grace and my commitment to Christ. It is looking at God’s accomplishments.

What’s the big deal? Isn’t it alright to go ahead and sing excerpts from the Psalms anyway? I would answer “it might”. But you might be short-changing your congregation at best and misleading them at worst. If you are a minister then you are a handler of God’s word and will have to answer to God for it.

Brother Music Minister, please take this task very seriously.

I hope to look at more examples of Psalm texts in songs that are taken out of context in future entries.

All Things Are Lawful....

Here’s another entry that deals with some issues I have with many new worship songs. Please don’t misunderstand….I love new music. We do new music at Grace Life Church all the time. This is not about the age of the song with which I’m dealing in this particular entry. It’s about what is currently happening in too many churches’ song services.

Let’s look at the lyrics of a song that’s pretty new to the church world:

“Today Is The Day”

I’m casting my cares aside

I’m leaving my past behind

I’m setting my heart and mind on you, Jesus

I’m reaching my hand to Yours

Believing there’s so much more

Knowing that all You have in store for me is good

Today is the day You have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

Today is the day You have made

I will rejoice and be glad in it

And I won’t worry about tomorrow

I’m trusting in what You say

Today is the day

I’m putting my fears aside

I’m leaving my doubts behind

I’m giving my hopes and dreams to You, Jesus

I will stand upon Your truth

All my days I’ll live for You

Written by Lincoln Brewster and Paul Baloche

© 2008 Integrity’s Praise! Music BMI

Is there anything unscriptural in this song? I don’t believe so. I think that I could agree with everything that it says. I think that every believer should have the desires expressed in the lyrics. So what’s the problem? The Apostle Paul in his wonderful first letter to the Corinthians said the following (primarily dealing with a legalistic and lawless mindset):

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. 1 Cor 6:12

Why do I refer to this verse? Because it certainly applies to the use of songs like the one above. (Let me say that I deeply respect Brewster and Baloche and have used their music in the past and have been edified by it.) In other words, there is nothing unlawful about “Today is the Day”. But there is also little that is profitable in this song. Let me be more specific:

The overwhelming focus is on the worshiper. Look at all of the “I’s” in the lyrics. There is some reference to what God has done in the phrase “Today is the day You have made” but other than that, it’s all about the one who is singing the song, not about the One Who gives the song. The gospel is not about what we will do but what Christ has done.

God is not impressed with what we can do. That is one of the most overwhelming themes of this good news of the gospel. Our accomplishments are “as filthy rags”. Our achievements leave us lost and undone. Our works get us nowhere with God. Paul asks the church at Galatia the following:

So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Gal 3:5

Ok, I know the songwriters are not trying to sound “works-based”. I know they are speaking in the realm of sanctification and discipleship and not in the area of regeneration. I get that. What I am wondering is this: Are we more successful in sanctification by focusing on sanctification or by looking to the finished work of Christ? Which leads me to my next point….

The key to victory in sanctification is NOT thru positive affirmation. It is through doing and through acting by faith that we grow in sanctification, not through saying we will do. James says:

But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? James 2:18-20

James’ audience was prone to think that their life of faith was more about “talking” about faith and making faith an intellectual exercise than actually living it out. I am, and we are, today, still just as prone to do the same.

I think of a character, Stuart Smalley (played by Al Franken in the picture above) from back-in-the-day on Saturday Night Live (forgive the allusion). How foolish he made the positive affirmation movement look! But yet we see that same belief system at work in church services way too often.

Did that foolish character on SNL saying that affirmation make it true? Does singing lyrics about my good intentions help them come to pass? Is there a chance that I might be led into a false sense of sanctification just by singing about what I would like to see happen that I don’t actually do what I’m singing about? Just because a song’s lyrics are “permissible” or “lawful” does it mean that there isn’t a better choice of lyrics that a church should be singing? Are church leaders too easily satisfied with their choices in lyrical content?

After Paul had challenged the brothers in Galatia to stop trusting in their own obedience as meritorious he then closes out his letter with the following statement:

But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Gal 6:14-15

Brother Music Minister, please pursue the most profitable way in your song selections that boast only in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ!