This past Sunday, Ethan dropped some big-time truth bombs on us. He talked about the reality of living in the critical tension of Biblical Community. The illustration of the snapping rubber band really connected us to the reality of the need to find a balance. If you haven't seen the sermon yet, please check it out on our YouTube channel.
There is an aspect of living in this tension that has been ringing in my heart for a little while. Another verse that has come up in this series is Romans 12:1 - “Therefore, brothers, in light of God’s mercy, offer up your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship.” We are called to offer up our whole selves on the alter of worship to God. What I have been wondering though, is how often do we sacrifice our worship on the alter of preference?
For decades the church has been warring over worship styles, but I have to imagine this is not God’s design for the church. In Colossians 3:16, the apostle Paul instructs the church to “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts” (NIV). In this context, the purpose of the singing, and art and style (songs, hymns, and spiritual songs) of the church was “one anothering, one another” as Ethan put it this last Sunday. I wonder if the western church used corporate worship as a time to build up one another, if the preference wars would fizzle…What do you think?