Just a Kiss Away... In church?

I'm going to shock you. Did you know that several hundred years ago, the ealry Christian church was accused of participating in....orgies? Yes, that's what I said. You can wikipedia it if you need further definition. The early church was accused of, get this, cannabalism and orgies. A far cry of what the church is accused of today, that's for sure.

During the 2nd Century a man by the name of Justin Martyr recorded the beginnings of the early church. So why the bad rap? The early church had a beautiful symbol for expressing God's pure love for each other. In fact, Paul actually refers to it in Romans 16:16; the holy kiss. Now, as I think back on how this passage has been "tamed", I laugh. According to Justin, the kiss was a kiss on the lips (forget this cheek stuff). Why?

"It is the kiss-exchanged on the lips because it is identified with the breath of God in the creation stories- that has so scandalized the critics of Christianity...however, the kiss is not a scandal, but a sign of the pure love of God. It is a spiritual expression of unity as the community moves toward sharing Holy Communion". Robert E. Webber, Rediscovering the Missing Jewel

I love it. It's such a beautiful image. I know what you're thinking, and I'm not necessarily advocating that the mega-church down the street start a kissing session during the worship service. This "holy kiss" occurred in small house churches where the people were intimately involved in each others lives. It was a symbol of God's love. I come from a Hispanic family where we all kissed and hugged; it's natural to me. Others may be more uncomfortable with that level of intimacy and that's okay. Some have been abused and injured and we need to be sensitive about this but again, when we develop the intimacy, love and concern for others in small, close knit groups, that level of intimacy is a safe environment.

More Worship

In keeping with this idea of worship, here's another thought...

"...modern Christians want to understand what they are doing when they worship and through worship desire an authentic experience of God."

Worship then needs to be understandable and experiential. I guess it's like a roller coaster. You can explain to me how one works; you get into the car, it starts moving slowly on the track, goes up then comes down really fast and repeat. That's all well and good but I want to experience it first hand. Yes, tell me how it works but I want to experience it first hand. It's the same with worship. there is nothing wrong with understanding the mechanics of worship and is probably pretty important to after all, you have to know the rules before you can break them. However, experience is also necessary for a complete understanding of what worship is.

Worship is...

Here's a pretty intense thought on what worship is...

"the entire experience of worship is a symbolic meeting with God in which the eternal covenant established by Jesus is reaffirmed in the physical action of worship."

Worship is more than just the music part of a church service; it's the whole experience from walking through the door going in to walking through the door going out. By worshipping, we re-establish that which Jesus did; it is a re-enactment of his work for us. Now that doesn't mean that we literally nail someone on a cross (as some cultures do) but it does mean that we take time to reflect on his life and death and life again in everything that we do in worship.

Does your worship service allow or cause you to truly reflect on Jesus or is it merely a time of "entertainment" or "obligation" to fill a Sunday morning?

Who or What Do You Worship?

I heard a powerful quote this morning, (thanks Dr. Chris!)

At this moment and for as long as this world endures everyone inhabiting it is bowing down and serving something or someone; an artifact, a person, an institution, an idea, a spirit, or God through Christ…No one is exempt... We are all worshippers… Harold Best, Unceasing Worship

So, the question is... Who or what do you worship? Worship means to honor or reverence as a divine being or supernatural power.

We all worship something; it's how we are wired so, is the thing/person you worship REALLY worthy of it? Is Barack Obama (or any other President for that matter)REALLY worthy of your worship? Is U2 REALLY worthy of your adoration and praise? Certainly we can admire these people but we need to be careful how we expend our energies and passions. Ultimately, these people/images/things can become idols and false gods.

What do you worship? Is it worthy enough to be worshipped?

Hi

That's it, just hi. I'm back in school mode working on a Worship Studies class and my thesis as well as golf lessons. No, the golf lessons are not a part of my course description...that would be pretty cool though. I think that's part of med school though. ;0) I've also been going through a study on Joseph which is always good. It's a great reminder that God is at work in the details of our lives even if we don't see or sense it; He is there. It's a great reminder; be patient, your time will come and God's plan and will will come to pass just allow him to work.

Best Job in the World!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090506/ap_on_re_as/as_australia_world_s_best_job

So how did I miss out on this? Caretaker of my own tropical island? Wow...

By KRISTEN GELINEAU Kristen Gelineau –
SYDNEY – A bungee jumping, ostrich-riding British charity worker was named Wednesday the winner of what's been dubbed the "Best Job in the World" — a 150,000 Australian dollar ($111,000) contract to serve as the caretaker of a tropical Australian island.

And the money is pretty good too!

So, what would your dream job be?

"Real" Positive

How are you when things are going bad?

"Huh?" "I'm bad, that's how I am", you may respond, but what I mean is, do you hang it out on your sleeve for everybody to see it? I used to be a Registrar at a college...for 3 months. That's all it took before I was "moved on". I'm a pretty positive and likable guy but this job brought out the worst in me. I was so stressed and uptight; I would slam doors and give dirty looks to people; It wasn't pretty and all the while I'd be trying to help the students. Heck, the students even noticed that I had changed.

Not Joseph though. In Genesis 40 we read of a "positive" Joseph. In the midst of his "hell" he was still compassionate and concerned about others and most of all, didn't throw himself a pity party. He was positive; he knew God had a plan even though he himself didn't know what it was. In fact, the story tells us that he told the baker and the cup-bearer, "hey, don't forget who hooked you up when you're on the outside". Of course, they forgot but he still remained faithful to God.

So, how are you when things are not going so hot? Do you, like I did, slam doors and get all bent out of shape or do you genuinely seek to put others first and serve them?

God is Not Fair

Have you ever made a bad decision and paid the consequences for it? Yeah, me too. It stinks, doesn't it? But hey, I deserved it. Bad decisions = bad outcomes. How about making the right decision and still suffering for it? That really stinks. You know you did the right thing and yet you still get dumped on and suffer for it. That's not fair. Well, apparently, God doesn't see "fairness" the same way we do.

In Genesis 39, we see Potiphar's wife as quite the "cougar"; she's eyeing Joseph who apparently was quite the "eye candy" according to Genesis 39:6. In fact, you could make the claim that she sexually harassed him day in and day out. So Joseph, denies her and he still gets blamed for messing around with her! It's one thing to get busted for doing what you're not supposed to; at least you deserve what's coming to you but Joseph did nothing; nada, zilch. Is God "fair?"

Apparently, God is not interested in "fair". I mean, his own son died for the sins of the world; that doesn't seem to fair now, does it? But there is a bigger meaning here. Joseph was living out what Paul wrote hundreds of years later, "we walk by faith, not by sight." Joseph could certainly have just given up and said "to Sheol with this" but instead, he remained faithful and God still continued to bless him even in prison. He must have known, deep down that God WAS with him and he had his dreams to carry him through it. It's easy to look at our circumstances and conclude otherwise but we need to remember that God is with us no matter the circumstances; we need to remain faithful to Him.