There are many things on my mind this morning that I feel the need to discuss. And, instead of going my original route, I am changing directions, slightly. I am writing and editing this on my phone, so please bare with me.
I am extremely unhappy with President Trump's recommendations for Chief Justice, Brett Kavanaugh have been handled. Quite frankly, the proceeding are being made into a disgusting circus by many people in the Senate and in the media (plenty of shame to be shared by all). But, what are the facts?
In talking with my wife, I have learned that the woman who "made the accusations" against Kavanaugh had originally written a letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein's office expressing memories from decades ago concerning an event that happened, but she was not sure of all of the details. Mrs. Ford neither was wanting to go public, nor was she making criminal accusations. And, instead of Feinstein talking privately with Mrs. Ford and/or just giving the letter to the FBI, before the public proceeding, and let them investigate to confirm or deny that something had happened. Instead, she tosses it out, during the public hearings, and starts dragging everybody in the mud. Dragging Mrs. Ford and Kavanaugh both in the mud.
Now, as a reminder, I have been a Military Police Officer (MP) for just over 10 years. My training has been on the importance of thoroughly investigating a person's accusations concerning a crime, taking witness statements and evaluating physical evidence, to determine if: a) was a crime actually committed?, and b) What does the physical evidence show?
A few years ago, I was the investigating officer for a traffic accident that happened on a military base during a deployment. The initial evidence only indicated that some of the guards had heard a vehicle collision and that a concrete barrier had been damaged, as well as moved a significant difference. No vehicle was specifically seen hitting the barrier, just the evidence that it had been hit.
Only because I knew the color of the vehicle and the approximate location of the vehicle damage did I have much to go on. And, that evidence proved to be very helpful. Only one vehicle on the base matched the color and location of the damage. But, with further investigating, many interviews, and many hours analyzing the facts, I tetermjnedtwo things. One particular Soldier was confirmed to be the driver during the accident. I also discovered and documented how his Chain of Command had (unintentionally) set him up for failure. Because the evidence and my investigator's notes where handed over the the Unit for any disciplinary proceedings, I do not know what the results were. The big thing to take away is that I learned a lot simply by examining the physical evidence, talking with the various witnesses, sorted through the facts, opinions, and speculations, and came to very specific conclusions.
In a case of sexual harassment, especially an event that happened decades ago, determining all of the facts is very, very difficult. Unfortunately, it can often come down to a "he said, she said" situation without any supporting documentation or physical evidence. So, without credible witnesses, independly interviewed, can support the accuser, there is not a whole lot that can be done legally.
Now, I do agree with my wife that a harassment 'crime' had been committed, though possibly it was done unintentionally because someone had been under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, and made worse decisions than what he many normally had made. However, all of the evidence that I have heard discussed does not support the accusations.
To be honest, I think that the greatest victim right now is not Kavanaugh, but Ford. Why? Mrs. Ford had written her Senator, Feinstein, about some concerns about Kavanaugh that she had. But, these concerns were solely based on her memories that she wasn't sure of. She knew something had happened to here whole in college that negatively impacted her emotionally and, I would argue also spiritually. But, she couldn't remember many details. And, again, this was before the public hearing. From a Law Enforcement perspective, I believe that Feinstein was grossly negligent with how she and her office has handled it. Unfortunately, some Senators and many in the media, are grossly, grossly mishandling the situation.
Think about it this way... How would you like it if you shared some concerns about someone else in private, in confidentiality, especially something you were not 100% sure on, and then that person used your confidential and private information for their personal agenda? Myself? I would be absolutely furious! I would probably go so far as taking that person to court for breach of confidentiality, unethical behavior, slander, and possibly other charges. And, I would at least consider similar charges against specific people in the media, too, for aiding and abetting, if I felt that the evidence and overall situation warranted it.
As a Law Enforcement professional, I would be legally responsible for investigating any accusation concerning a person wellbeing (like child abuse, rape, murder, self-harm, etc.). Such situations would require me to determine in n, through interviews and examining physical evidence, to determine if a crime has (or very likely will) take place, the actual seriousness, and what I can do according to current laws, status as, regulations, etc. Has that actually happened in this situation? Personally, from what I know, I seriously doubt it.
Showing posts with label law. Show all posts
Showing posts with label law. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Monday, July 25, 2016
Just Some Thoughts
Good evening... At least, it is evening for me while I am writing this blog entry. And, just to warn you, I am dping so on my phone. So, it will probably not be as pretty as it usually is. I hope you don't mind too much.
These last few weeks have been pretty long for me and our family. I have had several flare-ups with back, so that has made things even more challenging. My family also adopted another dog. A puppy, really. So, that brings another set of challenges to the mix.
My work with the Department of Corrections continues. Still see quite a mix of people who are sticking to change and those who are allowing their hearts to become even more hardened. It is both encouraging and depressing. On one hand, I see people seeking to better themselves and to find healing in their lives. But with others, they allow their fear and anger to fester and grow. They are physically alive, but emotionally and spiritully dead, consumed by bitterness.
Think g about this reminded me of an intestine incident that happened. I had to escorts a lawyer so that he could get a signiture. This particles inmate continued to ask questions, make comments, etc, for a good 20 minutes. The attorny finally was finished and we were able to leave.
During our walk back to the front entrance the attorney started apologin for the long, dragged out session that he had. I let him know that I appreciated the apology, but I was just doing my job. After over 8 years, I was used to things like that.
Our conversation eventually drifted to the topic of ethics concerning prison terms, how inmates are treated after being released from prison, etc. I shared with him that one of my favirile seminary classes had been on ethics. This really seemed to perk his interest.
Because of his interest, I told the attorney about an interesting book that I had done a paper on. In this paper, I examined the overall plot from a condensed, abridged view, and one from a well informed perspectives. The attorney really liked that approach and, as he left, stated that he was going to look for that book.
Looking back, I know that was a "God thing." That is, it was a very unique situation that God had set up so that He could touch someone's life through me. An otherwise irritating series of events that morning became a place of encouragement and blessing.
Isn't it amazing how God can take a situation that is negative and turn it into something good? Even though I have experienced it many times, God still surprises me with those experiences.
That has gotten me thinking about current events. There have been numerous terrorust attacks in Europe, brazen attacks on Law Enforcement Officers who are doing their jobs, etc. It is easy to start feeling depressed and hopeless just watching or reading about them. Especially in our information saturated world. But, the Bible Study that I led this evening was an encourager.
In both 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Paul directly addresses Christ''s second coming. Though persecution will grow, Crust will come again. No matter what we may experience, no matter how high of a cost, Christ will one day take us home.
That is the hope that we have. That God came into our world to not just redeem us, but to bring ourselves for His blessing. We will always ge
These last few weeks have been pretty long for me and our family. I have had several flare-ups with back, so that has made things even more challenging. My family also adopted another dog. A puppy, really. So, that brings another set of challenges to the mix.
My work with the Department of Corrections continues. Still see quite a mix of people who are sticking to change and those who are allowing their hearts to become even more hardened. It is both encouraging and depressing. On one hand, I see people seeking to better themselves and to find healing in their lives. But with others, they allow their fear and anger to fester and grow. They are physically alive, but emotionally and spiritully dead, consumed by bitterness.
Think g about this reminded me of an intestine incident that happened. I had to escorts a lawyer so that he could get a signiture. This particles inmate continued to ask questions, make comments, etc, for a good 20 minutes. The attorny finally was finished and we were able to leave.
During our walk back to the front entrance the attorney started apologin for the long, dragged out session that he had. I let him know that I appreciated the apology, but I was just doing my job. After over 8 years, I was used to things like that.
Our conversation eventually drifted to the topic of ethics concerning prison terms, how inmates are treated after being released from prison, etc. I shared with him that one of my favirile seminary classes had been on ethics. This really seemed to perk his interest.
Because of his interest, I told the attorney about an interesting book that I had done a paper on. In this paper, I examined the overall plot from a condensed, abridged view, and one from a well informed perspectives. The attorney really liked that approach and, as he left, stated that he was going to look for that book.
Looking back, I know that was a "God thing." That is, it was a very unique situation that God had set up so that He could touch someone's life through me. An otherwise irritating series of events that morning became a place of encouragement and blessing.
Isn't it amazing how God can take a situation that is negative and turn it into something good? Even though I have experienced it many times, God still surprises me with those experiences.
That has gotten me thinking about current events. There have been numerous terrorust attacks in Europe, brazen attacks on Law Enforcement Officers who are doing their jobs, etc. It is easy to start feeling depressed and hopeless just watching or reading about them. Especially in our information saturated world. But, the Bible Study that I led this evening was an encourager.
In both 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Paul directly addresses Christ''s second coming. Though persecution will grow, Crust will come again. No matter what we may experience, no matter how high of a cost, Christ will one day take us home.
That is the hope that we have. That God came into our world to not just redeem us, but to bring ourselves for His blessing. We will always ge
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Why "Law and Grace"?
There are probably a number of you out there who are wondering, "Where on earth did you get the idea of 'law and grace' for theme of your blog?" That is a good question. It is actually a reflection of who I am as a person and the kind of training that I have gone through over the years. Yes, it is quite a paradox. But, then again, when you read Scripture, God seems to be quite a paradox, too. That is, He is Holy and Righteous and cannot look upon sin. However, God is also loving and forgiving and became a Man, Jesus, the Christ, and took our place on the cross.
Some people train for one kind of job and continue doing that as their career. I am not talking about summer jobs as a kid or one's first job as a teenager. I am talking more towards that of adults. While in college, people will train with a particular field in mind, like accounting, business management, languages, etc. After graduation, they will typically pursue that as their career. Though their work may vary over the years, their particular career field does not vary much. However, that is becoming less and less the case it seems. A lot of people may train to become an elementary school teacher but then they find work on an assembly line and that becomes their career. Or, they may major in business management but then, because of the job market, find work as a cook and that becomes their career. Others might join the military right out of high school and have one profession there. But, after retiring from the military, they get a college or masters degree in something very different and work that for the rest of their lives.
While in college, I gave my life to Christ and, about 6 months later, I felt God calling me to go to seminary and pursue a career in ministry. Although I initially resisted that idea, God won the argument and I began the process of searching for a seminary to attend. I graduated from Centre College in 1996 with a BA in German Studies and started my ministry training at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (LPTS) that following summer.
During my time there, one of the things that was emphasized to me was the importance of ministering to a person's felt needs. At least, that is where you start ministering. For example, lets say I am ministering to a family whose pregnancy had ended in a stillborn. Due to their understanding of church and faith, they wanted their child baptized prior to being buried. As a Presbyterian, we do not believe in baptizing the dead. However, do I just outright refuse, saying that my faith forbids it, do I go against my conscience, or do I seek another way to minister to their needs? The answer would be the latter… I could either seek out a pastor who does believe in baptizing the dead, or I could sit down with them, explain my theological perspective, and talk with them about ministry and funeral options that would help them gain closure and not violate my theological convictions. This was something that was highly emphasized, the meeting the people where they were at, and then to help them in the direction that they need to go.
Well, after graduating from seminary, my first wife and I ended up moving to Colorado. We lived with her family due do many different factors. While there, I worked for a Christian radio ministry organization in the shipping and receiving department. I have to admit, I was not happy there. I was greatly frustrated that I was working a job that would not enable us to live on our own. I was very frustrated with working a job that felt like a dead-end-job. Even though I knew that I was supporting and enabling a major Christian ministry, I felt under used and totally out of place. I also felt very frustrated with having spent years training to do ministry in a church kind of setting, and not doing anything remotely like that.
So, after about a year, I joined the Army and started my Basic Training in May of 2001. It would be along and difficult journey for me. Partly because my wife, at the time, and I got a divorce. Another part was because I was entering a totally different lifestyle then what I had grown up experiencing. Instead of having lots of freedoms to come and go as I pleased, my life was suddenly very regimented. It was very different for me and took quite a while to get used to. But, adjust I did.
A few years later, after much prayer and considering my options, I felt God directing me to leave Active Duty and pursue a job in Nebraska and live near my parents. For about 6 months, I searched for a job, preferring a ministry job, but considering other options. Finally, though, I applied for a job with the Nebraska Department of Corrections for Custody Staff/Corrections Officer. Although it was a job that I had seen on many occasions, it was one that I had no interest in applying for. Since my unemployment insurance was running out, I did not see much other choice and I applied. Even though the testing and interview process seemed to go poorly (I came down with some sort of 24 hour cold on my way down to the test and interview and it went away as I returned home… Hmmmm….), I was offered a job and I accepted.
My training for the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services seemed to be a lot like that of the Army, of strict rule enforcement. Not the total picture, as I would find out later, but that was my initial impression. At least it was something familiar. But, again I found myself becoming frustrated and angry with God that I was doing anything but ministry. But, this attitude gradually changed as I worked more with other staff and inmates. Although enforcing the rules was necessary, I started finding that ministering to staff and inmates enabled me to better do my job. To minister to their felt needs, I would listen to what their needs or concerns were and find a way to address them that the rules that I worked by would allow. I now incorporate this approach to working with others as much as possible. Over the 8 years that I have worked with the Nebraska Department of Corrections (I had a break in service for over a year, but that is another conversation), I found that many of my co-workers and inmates needed someone to listen to their concerns, to be reminded that God had not forgotten them, that they were still valued as a human being, etc.
I picked 'Law and Grace' because it is a theme that most accurately describes who I am. As I go through life, after my years of training in ministry, Military Law Enforcement, Nebraska Department of Corrections, etc., it has become second nature to deal with issues that I face from both perspectives. Most of the time, my personal preference is a ministerial one. That is, I seek to understand what the problem is and how can I best address it, given the rules that I have to work within. But, there are times where that is not appropriate. When dealing with an out-of-control inmate or suspect, the chances of me being able to minister to them are very slim and I am more likely to rely on my Law Enforcement training. Sometimes, to prevent myself or someone else from being injured or killed, force has to be used to stop someone else. Unfortunately, that is totally natural in a fallen world. But, there are times where, even when I have to enforce laws and regulations, I still strive to show some grace. For example, while I might have to do some corrective counseling or write a misconduct report, I still try to help the person that I am correcting to see both the inappropriate actions as well as what they have done right. It's a challenge, and easier said then done on many occasions.
In reality, we all live in a world where we can deal with things from a 'law' standpoint or from a 'grace' standpoint. Although, if you ask me, it is usually a combination of both, with more of an emphasis on one or the other. Very rarely do I see people dealing with a situation from a purely grace or law perspective. In seeking to address situations from either a 'law' or from a 'grace' perspective at the same time, I find myself better able to deal with most situations effectively. It isn't easy, and sometimes it is more draining to seek to approach situations from both perspectives instead of either one or another. However, I have personally found that, when seek to find a balance between dealing with something with both 'law' and 'grace,' I have more options to choose from. And, many times the person that I am dealing with is more open to what I have to say when I use such an approach. Though it takes a lot more mental energy and time to consider my options, it becomes more of a win-win situation for everyone.
As I continue on my journey looking at life from these two different lenses, I hope to help others learn to do so. Perhaps, when more people can better look at life from these two lenses, there can be more reconciliation and, by God's Grace, a better world around us.
Some people train for one kind of job and continue doing that as their career. I am not talking about summer jobs as a kid or one's first job as a teenager. I am talking more towards that of adults. While in college, people will train with a particular field in mind, like accounting, business management, languages, etc. After graduation, they will typically pursue that as their career. Though their work may vary over the years, their particular career field does not vary much. However, that is becoming less and less the case it seems. A lot of people may train to become an elementary school teacher but then they find work on an assembly line and that becomes their career. Or, they may major in business management but then, because of the job market, find work as a cook and that becomes their career. Others might join the military right out of high school and have one profession there. But, after retiring from the military, they get a college or masters degree in something very different and work that for the rest of their lives.
While in college, I gave my life to Christ and, about 6 months later, I felt God calling me to go to seminary and pursue a career in ministry. Although I initially resisted that idea, God won the argument and I began the process of searching for a seminary to attend. I graduated from Centre College in 1996 with a BA in German Studies and started my ministry training at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (LPTS) that following summer.
During my time there, one of the things that was emphasized to me was the importance of ministering to a person's felt needs. At least, that is where you start ministering. For example, lets say I am ministering to a family whose pregnancy had ended in a stillborn. Due to their understanding of church and faith, they wanted their child baptized prior to being buried. As a Presbyterian, we do not believe in baptizing the dead. However, do I just outright refuse, saying that my faith forbids it, do I go against my conscience, or do I seek another way to minister to their needs? The answer would be the latter… I could either seek out a pastor who does believe in baptizing the dead, or I could sit down with them, explain my theological perspective, and talk with them about ministry and funeral options that would help them gain closure and not violate my theological convictions. This was something that was highly emphasized, the meeting the people where they were at, and then to help them in the direction that they need to go.
Well, after graduating from seminary, my first wife and I ended up moving to Colorado. We lived with her family due do many different factors. While there, I worked for a Christian radio ministry organization in the shipping and receiving department. I have to admit, I was not happy there. I was greatly frustrated that I was working a job that would not enable us to live on our own. I was very frustrated with working a job that felt like a dead-end-job. Even though I knew that I was supporting and enabling a major Christian ministry, I felt under used and totally out of place. I also felt very frustrated with having spent years training to do ministry in a church kind of setting, and not doing anything remotely like that.
So, after about a year, I joined the Army and started my Basic Training in May of 2001. It would be along and difficult journey for me. Partly because my wife, at the time, and I got a divorce. Another part was because I was entering a totally different lifestyle then what I had grown up experiencing. Instead of having lots of freedoms to come and go as I pleased, my life was suddenly very regimented. It was very different for me and took quite a while to get used to. But, adjust I did.
A few years later, after much prayer and considering my options, I felt God directing me to leave Active Duty and pursue a job in Nebraska and live near my parents. For about 6 months, I searched for a job, preferring a ministry job, but considering other options. Finally, though, I applied for a job with the Nebraska Department of Corrections for Custody Staff/Corrections Officer. Although it was a job that I had seen on many occasions, it was one that I had no interest in applying for. Since my unemployment insurance was running out, I did not see much other choice and I applied. Even though the testing and interview process seemed to go poorly (I came down with some sort of 24 hour cold on my way down to the test and interview and it went away as I returned home… Hmmmm….), I was offered a job and I accepted.
My training for the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services seemed to be a lot like that of the Army, of strict rule enforcement. Not the total picture, as I would find out later, but that was my initial impression. At least it was something familiar. But, again I found myself becoming frustrated and angry with God that I was doing anything but ministry. But, this attitude gradually changed as I worked more with other staff and inmates. Although enforcing the rules was necessary, I started finding that ministering to staff and inmates enabled me to better do my job. To minister to their felt needs, I would listen to what their needs or concerns were and find a way to address them that the rules that I worked by would allow. I now incorporate this approach to working with others as much as possible. Over the 8 years that I have worked with the Nebraska Department of Corrections (I had a break in service for over a year, but that is another conversation), I found that many of my co-workers and inmates needed someone to listen to their concerns, to be reminded that God had not forgotten them, that they were still valued as a human being, etc.
I picked 'Law and Grace' because it is a theme that most accurately describes who I am. As I go through life, after my years of training in ministry, Military Law Enforcement, Nebraska Department of Corrections, etc., it has become second nature to deal with issues that I face from both perspectives. Most of the time, my personal preference is a ministerial one. That is, I seek to understand what the problem is and how can I best address it, given the rules that I have to work within. But, there are times where that is not appropriate. When dealing with an out-of-control inmate or suspect, the chances of me being able to minister to them are very slim and I am more likely to rely on my Law Enforcement training. Sometimes, to prevent myself or someone else from being injured or killed, force has to be used to stop someone else. Unfortunately, that is totally natural in a fallen world. But, there are times where, even when I have to enforce laws and regulations, I still strive to show some grace. For example, while I might have to do some corrective counseling or write a misconduct report, I still try to help the person that I am correcting to see both the inappropriate actions as well as what they have done right. It's a challenge, and easier said then done on many occasions.
In reality, we all live in a world where we can deal with things from a 'law' standpoint or from a 'grace' standpoint. Although, if you ask me, it is usually a combination of both, with more of an emphasis on one or the other. Very rarely do I see people dealing with a situation from a purely grace or law perspective. In seeking to address situations from either a 'law' or from a 'grace' perspective at the same time, I find myself better able to deal with most situations effectively. It isn't easy, and sometimes it is more draining to seek to approach situations from both perspectives instead of either one or another. However, I have personally found that, when seek to find a balance between dealing with something with both 'law' and 'grace,' I have more options to choose from. And, many times the person that I am dealing with is more open to what I have to say when I use such an approach. Though it takes a lot more mental energy and time to consider my options, it becomes more of a win-win situation for everyone.
As I continue on my journey looking at life from these two different lenses, I hope to help others learn to do so. Perhaps, when more people can better look at life from these two lenses, there can be more reconciliation and, by God's Grace, a better world around us.
Sunday, May 10, 2015
God is the Source of Worship
Scripture References:
Old Testament: Psalm 96 NKJV
New Testament: John 4:1-26 NASB
What is worship? What does it mean to worship God, or any other person or thing? What is God's expectation for how we are to approach Him in worship? Does worship just mean sitting in a church for an hour or two, or does it mean something else? During the sermon that I will preaching today (10MAY2014), I will be addressing these topics. I will also examine them here in this post. However, do remember, whole books have been written on the topic of Christian worship. A blog post cannot encompass all of that, but I hope to bestow some clarity upon it.
Having grown up in the Presbyterian Church (USA), I had the opportunity to learn about various church writings in what we call the Book of Confessions. They are not Scripture, but are used to help explain what Scripture means to us as Christians. One part of our Book of Confessions is the Shorter and Larger Catechism. They are written in a question and answer format to help Christians better understand what they believe and why. I will be quoting from a PDF version that I downloaded onto my computer a while ago. And, yes, it is written in King James format.
I am starting off with this quote from the Shorter Catechism because it encapsulates, I believe, what worship is all about. That is, God created us to have a relationship with Him, a personal relationship. With God being the Creator and we being the product of His creation, our relationship with Him is to be one of awe, reverence, and of thankfulness. All of which, as we will see here shortly, are all aspects of worship.
The on-line Definition of Worship (from www.merriam-webster.com)states:
- The act of showing respect and love for a god, especially by praying with other people who believe in the same god;
- the act of worshiping a god; A form of religious practice with its creed and ritual
- extravagant respect or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem (worship of the dollar) or person
In other words, worship is holding something dear to us, that we pay homage to, that we greatly esteem. One example would be a hero that a person has, like a soldier, a firefighter, a particular movie star, etc. In holding such a person in high esteem, we strive to imitate that person, the take on the characteristics of him or her that we respect. Holding a person in high esteem can be a good thing. Children learn by imitating the people they see around them. They learn what is good about certain people and what isn't.
However, though we learn from modeling others, there is a difference between having a person as a role model and actually worshipping them. From a scriptural standpoint, we are called to respect and love those around us (which includes having people as role models) and worshipping God who created the heavens, the earth, and all that is included. Some people might just see things as mere semantics. From my faith perspective, there is a huge difference.
Through out the Old Testament, there are many examples of people giving sacrifices to God, to idols representing all sorts of deities, and ways that they went about worshipping their Gods. One of the things that really stands out to me is that, through out the Old Testament, having a personal relationship with God was an exception, not the rule. Adam and Eve initially had perfect fellowship with each other and with God, walking and talking with Him, in the Garden of Eden. But, after the Fall, all fellowship/relationships became broken. Between us and God, between all people, between us and the world around us, etc. In spite of that, God still sought out people who would fellowship with Him. However, because God is a holy God and we are a sinful and broken people, that fellowship usually had to include various kinds of sacrifices in order to 'cover' our sins and enable us to be in God's presence. Different people like Moses, Abraham, Joshua, David, etc., related to God in unique ways. And, unfortunately, all of them made some very bad decisions while seeking to 'walk with God' (a way of worshipping Him). But yet, because of their attitudes, God would accept their repentant hearts and fellowship with them again.
But yet, even though all people were called to worship God. Not everyone was able to fellowship with God, to enjoy a deep and intimate relationship with Him. People like Moses, Abraham, Jeremiah, etc., all enjoyed a very unique walk with God that most other people were only able to watch. Such a relationship was a rarity. Though many people genuinely sought to love God with all their heart and sole and live a life of obedience, it was most often at a distance.
As time went one and the Nation of Israel became established, the ways in which God called His followers to approach and worship Him became much more detailed and specific. To be able to come into God's presence at the Temple required a sacrifice to be made of some sort, depending on what the reason for approaching God was. God was very detailed with what He expected to be done. Though people could seek God in prayer outside of the Temple at any time; at the Temple, very specific requirements had to be made.
One of the things that was emphasized in the worship at the Temple was that, in order for us sinful human beings to approach a holy God, a sacrifice had to be made. Usually it was a form of an animal, grain, drink, or a combination there of. This continued on for generations until the time of Christ.
In our second Scripture passage, we see Jesus talking with a Samaritan woman. As the passage hints to, there was a deep prejudice that Jews had towards Samaritans. Jews avoided them whenever possible, looked down at, and derided them, etc. But yet, here was Jesus talking with a Samaritan woman. Not just any Samaritan woman who strove to live by God's standards, but who had numerous husbands and was currently living with a man who wasn't married to her. The text doesn't go into detail about why she had been married so many times, but it is clear that it wasn't something that God approved. Such a woman of 'loose morals' would have been the subject of a righteous Jew's great derision. But yet, here is Jesus (as John 1 states, was 'God in the flesh,'), talking with her, inviting her to have fellowship with Him. Jesus corrected several misconceptions she had of worship, and did it in a way that called her to not just change her heart, but to excitedly invite others to meet Him!
Upon dying for our sins and being raised for our justification (as Paul writes extensively about in the first several chapters of Romans), God provided a way for us to come into God's presence as we are. Having been put to death as a criminal and traitor, He paid our penalty of rebellion against Him. Now, through the Holy Spirit, each and every one of us is able to come into God's presence and have a personal and intimate relationship with our Creator. He is still a holy and righteous God, and we are still broken and sinful. But yet, because God is also loving and forgiving, He provided a way for us to have a personal relationship with Him that satisfies His holiness.
Now, when we think of worship today, things like liturgical services, grand cathedrals, small town churches, organ music, amongst many other things, often come to mind. All of these things are vehicles for enabling us to worship God. However, organ music, praise and worship music, a grand cathedral or even a small country church, are not necessary to enter into worship with God. They are not essential.
What is essential is one's attitude. No matter what denomination a person affiliates themselves with, no matter what kind of worship style one prefers, or the kind of music one loves to listen to, they are not essential for worship. What is essential for worship is knowing who God is (which is a life long process and journey!), knowing who we are in relationship to Him, and seeking Him in love, awe, thankfulness and with obedience.
As our Creator, God deserves our worship. As a loving and forgiving God, in spite of what any of us have done in thought, word, and deed, God is even much more deserving of our adoration and love. Think about it... The same holy God that created the vast universe, all of the stars and planets, all that we know, not only created you and me, but enabled a rebellious creation to come back into fellowship with Him. How incredibly wonderful and awesome is that!?
God calls us to approach Him with a thankful heart. One that is thankful for not just creating us, but through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, to daily recreate us. He loves us so much that He not only calls us as we are, but then calls us to be changed and become more like Him. God calls us to come to Him wanting to learn more about Him. Not just that, though, but to take what we have learned and teach it to others.
God's intention for the Nation of Israel was to use them as a light and beacon of home to the world around them. God's intent was that, though Israel's love for God and service to Him, the people of other nations would be drawn to God through them. That is God's intent through the Church. By that, I don't mean any particular congregation, Bible study group, etc. What I mean by Church with a big 'C' is the whole Body of Christ. That means, all of us who follow Christ, past, present, and future.
Worship isn't just about coming together, hearing Scripture read and expounded upon, singing songs, etc. For us to truly worship God, we need to allow Him to change each and every one of us. If we truly worship God, we listen to what His Word says, as is found in the Bible. Upon hearing His Word and allowing it to take root in our hearts, we open ourselves to being changed by God into the person that God wants us to be. Just as when we have a relationship with a fellow human being, if we truly have a relationship with them, things they do and say change us. Just the same as the things we say and do change them. The change can be for the good, or for bad. But, as we interact with others, change will happen. The same is to be with our relationship with God. But, it just doesn't end there.
What is awesome is that worshipping God can be doing personal devotions or Bible reading, it can be while walking around your neighborhood, it can be done while doing acts of service for others, it can be done while praying for or even with people, etc. Worship is an act, it is an attitude towards God and others. The means to enable you to worship (the building, use of liturgy, type of music, etc.) not as important as the attitude you bring to God and to others. An attitude of "God, here I am, use me and change me according to Your will" is much more meaningful and wonderful in God's eyes than any fancy song, building, etc. God wants us to come together, to fellowship with Him, to fellowship with others, and to be changed so that, through us, God can change others.
Just as God intended Israel to be a light to the world around them, God calls us to be His witnesses. Through the hearing of God's Word, through prayer, and through listening for God's guidance, God wants to teach and prepare us. Not just fellowship with Him, but to become His ambassadors to the world around us. And, it is not a 'one time deal.' God calls us to this kind of living worship through out our journey in this world and with Him. Let us, then, prayerfully seek not only to know who God is, but to know Him personally. And, in knowing Him personally, to be changed and, by His Grace, be instruments of change to the world around us.
RC
Old Testament: Psalm 96 NKJV
New Testament: John 4:1-26 NASB
What is worship? What does it mean to worship God, or any other person or thing? What is God's expectation for how we are to approach Him in worship? Does worship just mean sitting in a church for an hour or two, or does it mean something else? During the sermon that I will preaching today (10MAY2014), I will be addressing these topics. I will also examine them here in this post. However, do remember, whole books have been written on the topic of Christian worship. A blog post cannot encompass all of that, but I hope to bestow some clarity upon it.
Having grown up in the Presbyterian Church (USA), I had the opportunity to learn about various church writings in what we call the Book of Confessions. They are not Scripture, but are used to help explain what Scripture means to us as Christians. One part of our Book of Confessions is the Shorter and Larger Catechism. They are written in a question and answer format to help Christians better understand what they believe and why. I will be quoting from a PDF version that I downloaded onto my computer a while ago. And, yes, it is written in King James format.
Shorter Catechism Q1 & A1 (PC USA Book of Confessions, 2014, page 245)
7.001 Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God,1 and to enjoy him forever.
7.002 Q. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?
A. The Word of God which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.
7.003 Q. 3. What do the Scriptures principally teach?
A. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.
I am starting off with this quote from the Shorter Catechism because it encapsulates, I believe, what worship is all about. That is, God created us to have a relationship with Him, a personal relationship. With God being the Creator and we being the product of His creation, our relationship with Him is to be one of awe, reverence, and of thankfulness. All of which, as we will see here shortly, are all aspects of worship.
The on-line Definition of Worship (from www.merriam-webster.com)states:
- The act of showing respect and love for a god, especially by praying with other people who believe in the same god;
- the act of worshiping a god; A form of religious practice with its creed and ritual
- extravagant respect or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem (worship of the dollar) or person
In other words, worship is holding something dear to us, that we pay homage to, that we greatly esteem. One example would be a hero that a person has, like a soldier, a firefighter, a particular movie star, etc. In holding such a person in high esteem, we strive to imitate that person, the take on the characteristics of him or her that we respect. Holding a person in high esteem can be a good thing. Children learn by imitating the people they see around them. They learn what is good about certain people and what isn't.
However, though we learn from modeling others, there is a difference between having a person as a role model and actually worshipping them. From a scriptural standpoint, we are called to respect and love those around us (which includes having people as role models) and worshipping God who created the heavens, the earth, and all that is included. Some people might just see things as mere semantics. From my faith perspective, there is a huge difference.
Through out the Old Testament, there are many examples of people giving sacrifices to God, to idols representing all sorts of deities, and ways that they went about worshipping their Gods. One of the things that really stands out to me is that, through out the Old Testament, having a personal relationship with God was an exception, not the rule. Adam and Eve initially had perfect fellowship with each other and with God, walking and talking with Him, in the Garden of Eden. But, after the Fall, all fellowship/relationships became broken. Between us and God, between all people, between us and the world around us, etc. In spite of that, God still sought out people who would fellowship with Him. However, because God is a holy God and we are a sinful and broken people, that fellowship usually had to include various kinds of sacrifices in order to 'cover' our sins and enable us to be in God's presence. Different people like Moses, Abraham, Joshua, David, etc., related to God in unique ways. And, unfortunately, all of them made some very bad decisions while seeking to 'walk with God' (a way of worshipping Him). But yet, because of their attitudes, God would accept their repentant hearts and fellowship with them again.
But yet, even though all people were called to worship God. Not everyone was able to fellowship with God, to enjoy a deep and intimate relationship with Him. People like Moses, Abraham, Jeremiah, etc., all enjoyed a very unique walk with God that most other people were only able to watch. Such a relationship was a rarity. Though many people genuinely sought to love God with all their heart and sole and live a life of obedience, it was most often at a distance.
As time went one and the Nation of Israel became established, the ways in which God called His followers to approach and worship Him became much more detailed and specific. To be able to come into God's presence at the Temple required a sacrifice to be made of some sort, depending on what the reason for approaching God was. God was very detailed with what He expected to be done. Though people could seek God in prayer outside of the Temple at any time; at the Temple, very specific requirements had to be made.
One of the things that was emphasized in the worship at the Temple was that, in order for us sinful human beings to approach a holy God, a sacrifice had to be made. Usually it was a form of an animal, grain, drink, or a combination there of. This continued on for generations until the time of Christ.
In our second Scripture passage, we see Jesus talking with a Samaritan woman. As the passage hints to, there was a deep prejudice that Jews had towards Samaritans. Jews avoided them whenever possible, looked down at, and derided them, etc. But yet, here was Jesus talking with a Samaritan woman. Not just any Samaritan woman who strove to live by God's standards, but who had numerous husbands and was currently living with a man who wasn't married to her. The text doesn't go into detail about why she had been married so many times, but it is clear that it wasn't something that God approved. Such a woman of 'loose morals' would have been the subject of a righteous Jew's great derision. But yet, here is Jesus (as John 1 states, was 'God in the flesh,'), talking with her, inviting her to have fellowship with Him. Jesus corrected several misconceptions she had of worship, and did it in a way that called her to not just change her heart, but to excitedly invite others to meet Him!
Upon dying for our sins and being raised for our justification (as Paul writes extensively about in the first several chapters of Romans), God provided a way for us to come into God's presence as we are. Having been put to death as a criminal and traitor, He paid our penalty of rebellion against Him. Now, through the Holy Spirit, each and every one of us is able to come into God's presence and have a personal and intimate relationship with our Creator. He is still a holy and righteous God, and we are still broken and sinful. But yet, because God is also loving and forgiving, He provided a way for us to have a personal relationship with Him that satisfies His holiness.
Now, when we think of worship today, things like liturgical services, grand cathedrals, small town churches, organ music, amongst many other things, often come to mind. All of these things are vehicles for enabling us to worship God. However, organ music, praise and worship music, a grand cathedral or even a small country church, are not necessary to enter into worship with God. They are not essential.
What is essential is one's attitude. No matter what denomination a person affiliates themselves with, no matter what kind of worship style one prefers, or the kind of music one loves to listen to, they are not essential for worship. What is essential for worship is knowing who God is (which is a life long process and journey!), knowing who we are in relationship to Him, and seeking Him in love, awe, thankfulness and with obedience.
As our Creator, God deserves our worship. As a loving and forgiving God, in spite of what any of us have done in thought, word, and deed, God is even much more deserving of our adoration and love. Think about it... The same holy God that created the vast universe, all of the stars and planets, all that we know, not only created you and me, but enabled a rebellious creation to come back into fellowship with Him. How incredibly wonderful and awesome is that!?
God calls us to approach Him with a thankful heart. One that is thankful for not just creating us, but through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, to daily recreate us. He loves us so much that He not only calls us as we are, but then calls us to be changed and become more like Him. God calls us to come to Him wanting to learn more about Him. Not just that, though, but to take what we have learned and teach it to others.
God's intention for the Nation of Israel was to use them as a light and beacon of home to the world around them. God's intent was that, though Israel's love for God and service to Him, the people of other nations would be drawn to God through them. That is God's intent through the Church. By that, I don't mean any particular congregation, Bible study group, etc. What I mean by Church with a big 'C' is the whole Body of Christ. That means, all of us who follow Christ, past, present, and future.
Worship isn't just about coming together, hearing Scripture read and expounded upon, singing songs, etc. For us to truly worship God, we need to allow Him to change each and every one of us. If we truly worship God, we listen to what His Word says, as is found in the Bible. Upon hearing His Word and allowing it to take root in our hearts, we open ourselves to being changed by God into the person that God wants us to be. Just as when we have a relationship with a fellow human being, if we truly have a relationship with them, things they do and say change us. Just the same as the things we say and do change them. The change can be for the good, or for bad. But, as we interact with others, change will happen. The same is to be with our relationship with God. But, it just doesn't end there.
What is awesome is that worshipping God can be doing personal devotions or Bible reading, it can be while walking around your neighborhood, it can be done while doing acts of service for others, it can be done while praying for or even with people, etc. Worship is an act, it is an attitude towards God and others. The means to enable you to worship (the building, use of liturgy, type of music, etc.) not as important as the attitude you bring to God and to others. An attitude of "God, here I am, use me and change me according to Your will" is much more meaningful and wonderful in God's eyes than any fancy song, building, etc. God wants us to come together, to fellowship with Him, to fellowship with others, and to be changed so that, through us, God can change others.
Just as God intended Israel to be a light to the world around them, God calls us to be His witnesses. Through the hearing of God's Word, through prayer, and through listening for God's guidance, God wants to teach and prepare us. Not just fellowship with Him, but to become His ambassadors to the world around us. And, it is not a 'one time deal.' God calls us to this kind of living worship through out our journey in this world and with Him. Let us, then, prayerfully seek not only to know who God is, but to know Him personally. And, in knowing Him personally, to be changed and, by His Grace, be instruments of change to the world around us.
RC
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