The Truth That God Loves

I like to think I’m a relatively inquisitive learner. I don’t take what’s been told to me on face value. I enjoy thinking things through and considering other views. That’s not the case for everything.  In some things I remain unyielding and because some things are deeply embedded it takes much for me to reconsider them.  This is problematic when it comes to knowing God in Spirit and Truth.

That brings me round to a phrase I’ve heard repeated that makes me chuckle.  It is used to reinforce a contention someone is making and it simply states that the position is the truth that God loves.  I chuckle at that because some of the unsaid implicit suggestions.  One, there is truth that God doesn’t love and two the truth is very special because it’s got God’s seal of approval on it.

Beyond the subtle humour in the phrase there is something about God’s love for truth and the costs it will take to realise it, embrace and share it appropriately.

So where am I?  Well I am convinced of the reality of God, I am convinced of the reality of the plan of salvation, I am convinced about the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I am convinced about the church as the Body and Bride of Christ and the crucial role they play in God’s eternal plans.  I am convinced that God’s love for His creation will be culminated in a state of being where those who place their trust in Him will enjoy His blessed presence for eternity.  I am convinced about the central role the revelation of God in Holy Scripture is to understanding who God is and who we are as a result.

Those are rough plot-lines on my convictions at this time.  As well as that there are things about family, money, relationships, politics and other matters that I have strong beliefs on without necessarily holding them as ever unchanging.  One aspect of those convictions, however, surround the role of Scripture and here is where things get tricky.  At the end of the day a lot of factors determine how we read the scriptures, how we understand them and subsequently how we apply them.  If we don’t acknowledge those factors it could lead to us desperately holding views that are not supported in scripture.

That study of how we read scriptures, also known as hermeneutics, isn’t given a lot cop from certain sources, but the benefits of at least understanding that can go a long way to appreciating how other people came to their decisions on their reading of scripture.  Not only hat but how we deal with issues that surround church and life.

For example my position on Christmas is fairly clear.  I don’t celebrate it because despite it’s well-intentioned expression it remains a celebration of something whose roots are fundamentally pagan and are actually not reflecting truth.  It’s meant to be the celebration of the birth of Jesus when firstly His birth was not at that time and secondly such a monumental occasion was not observed by the early church. It never popped up until some Roman emperor bought into the whole Christian gig and made it the Empire’s religion.  So, to give it legitimacy, it was married the faith alongside the familiar rites of the Empire’s favourite other pagan religions.

It is no surprise that a lot of the elements of the festival have sprung up from non-bible specific traditions and have been tagged on as if it’s not a problem, when it blatantly is and does not bring people closer to … the truth that God loves.  That truth being that we celebrate Jesus not in a way that’s compromised, but in the purity of His birth, life and death as well as fundamentally His resurrection, ascension and promised return we have a hope that goes to the heart of who we’re called to be.  That’s not something to be segmented at the end of the year.  That’s something to be celebrated and cherished all year long.

The key though is, its pagan roots and influences make the celebration tainted and somewhat off what the key is meant to be.  That’s not to say that pagan influences are always bad.  It is to say that if we are going to do something, let’s make sure it’s done for the right reasons, with the right sources in the right Spirit.

In the light of that I find it interesting whilst reading Pagan Christianity by George Barna and Frank Viola about something that really is sacrosanct in most church service experiences and that is the church service itself.  I recently texted some highly valued people in my life and asked them to see how they would react to this interesting quote:

Let’s face it.  The Protestant order of worship is largely unscriptural, impractical, and unspiritual. It has no analog in the New Testament.  Rather it finds its roots in the culture of fallen man.  It rips at the heart of primitive Christianity, which was informal and free of ritual.  (Barna and Viola, Pagan Christianity, p77)

OK as I understand it from what I read, what they are outlining as the Protestant order of worship is defined as greeting, prayer/scripture reading, song service, announcement, offering, sermon (including after-sermon-prayer, altar call, more singing, more prayer and Lord’s Supper where necessary) and benediction.  That’s the rough structure and the argument is that it’s fairly focussed on the sermon with little room for true Body ministry and participation from others.

I’m not suggesting I wholeheartedly concur with the suggestion, but the question is if it’s not wrong how could that relatively static and inflexible method of church services be properly supported with scripture?  How does it do what church meetings are meant to do?  How is it really edifying to those in church?  In this situation what is the truth that God loves?

Just wondering.

For His Name’s Sake