What Does the Location of the Temple Teach Us about Worship?

"Then David said, "Here shall be the house of the Lord God and here the altar of burnt offering for Israel" (1 Chron 22:1). The location of the Temple is the same location upon which David offered a sacrifice to assuage God's wrath against God's people in the wake of David's sin of the census (cf. 1 Chron 21; 2 Sam 24:1-25).

In his comments on 1 Chronicles 22, D. A. Carson offers the following reflection on what this site selection teaches us about worship:

The place chosen for the temple is the place where a sacrifice was offered and the wrath of God against sin was averted. Of course, the very design of tabernacle and temple was meant to remind people that sin had to be atoned for, that one could not simply saunter into the presence of the holy God, that the sacrifices God himself had prescribed had to be offered by the high priest once a year, first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people. But the siting of the temple on this location reinforces the point. Worship and religion are not primarily about offering to God something called praise, something God prefers not to be without. Worship and religion are first of all about God-centeredness--and because we are rebels, that means that worship and religion are in the first instance about being reconciled to this God, our Creator and Redeemer, from whom we have willfully become alienated. The hear of the temple is not its choirs, its incense, its ceremonies. The heart of the temple is about averting the wrath of God, by the means he himself has provided." (D. A. Carson, For the Love of God, Vol. 1 [Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1998], 330). 

Review: Family Worship by Donald Whitney

Title: Family Worship
Author: Donald S. Whitney
Publisher: Crossway, 2016
Price: $7.99
Binding: Paperback
Pages: 80

The phrase “family worship” is a term that was unfamiliar to me until a few years ago. I grew up familiar with the term “corporate worship”—the gathering together of believers to study God’s word, celebrate the ordinances of the church, and sing praises unto God—but “family worship” was new. “Family worship” simply refers to the Christian practice of worshipping God together as a family within the home.

As a husband and father of three children (soon to be four), the phrase “family worship” holds practical significance for me as I seek to fulfill the biblical charge to love my wife sacrificially, washing her with the water of the word (Eph 5:26), and to bring my children up in the “discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph 6:4). The manifold testimony of the Scriptures indicates that Christian parents should lead their families to study the Scriptures and worship God together daily (cf. Deut 6:4–7; Psa 78:5–8; 2 Tim 3:15). Further, dereliction in this duty has disastrous consequences (e.g., Judges 2:10). For these reasons, I hold theconviction that family worship is good and right. However, holding a conviction about the goodness of family worship is not the same as developing that discipline. A host of practical issues and obstacles must be navigated.

To the end of moving from conviction to practice, Donald Whitney, professor of biblical spirituality at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisvile, KY), has done the church an admirable service in his recently released book Family Worship. Writing with the perspective of 24 years of pastoral experience, Whitney laments,

I am persuaded from my own ministry experience in hundreds of churches that so little family worship regularly exists in Christian homes today, that even inmost of our best churches, most of our best men do not even pray with their wives (and children if they have them) much less lead them in ten minutes or so of worship as a family (13; emphasis original).

Whitney argument is simple: “God deserves to be worshiped daily in our homes by our families” (15). He concedes that the notion of “family worship” as he is developing it is not directly commanded in the Scriptures, but he contends that it is clearly implied. For example, in Deuteronomy 6:4–7, we read,

[4] Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! [5] “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. [6] “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. [7] You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up (Deut 6:4–7; emphasis added).

These verses command and describe a lifestyle of engagement and worship together as a family. Such a lifestyle as Whitney argues should involve the intentional worship of God within the home as a family. In fact, parents are commanded to write the words of this command “on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (Deut 6:10).

Family Worship is a quick read at just under 60 pages (excluding the front and back matter). The book is divided into an introduction, five chapters, and a short discussion guide for small groups. In the first two chapters Whitney lays a biblical and historical foundation for the practice of family worship. In these chapters he succinctly surveys key biblical texts and highlights notable instances of family worship in the lives of men from John Chrysostom (c. A.D. 347–407) to D. A. Carson (1946–Present).

The biggest obstacle I have encountered in my years of attempting to lead family worship is the difficulty of developing a clear picture what family worship looks like. What elements should it include? How long should it be? When is a good time to schedule it? How do you adjust it for little ones? How do you keep it from being too formal?

In chapter 3 of his book, Whitney answers the most foundational of these practical questions: what elements should family worship include? His outline is simple:

• Read
• Pray¹
• Sing

While he notes other elements can be added (e.g., Scripture memory, catechism, etc.), he maintains that these three elements are the basic building blocks for family worship. In chapter 4 he offers a number of valuable insights for overcoming obstacles to family worship that various family situations may involve such as “What if the father is not a Christian?” “What if the children are very young?” “What if there is a wide range of ages among the children?” (among others).

In the final chapter, Whitney encourages the reader to take action. “Regardless of what anyone else does,” he writes, “let every husband, let every father, let every Christian challenged by these words commit himself to this: ‘As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD’ in family worship (Josh 24:15)” (67). This call to action is accompanied by several powerful biblical and historical examples of men who led their families well in this regard (the story of John G. Paton’s father is particularly moving; 60­–63).

Evaluation

Whitney’s book has much to commend it. Two major strengths should be noted. First, the foundational premise of the book is simple and compelling: “God deserves to be worshiped daily in our homes by our families” (15). In the book of Revelation we find “a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues” as well as angels and elders bowing on their faces before the throne of God in worship “saying . . . ‘blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen’” (Rev 7:12; emphasis added). Surely Whitney is correct that such worship is due our God not only in the future gathered around His throne with the saints but also in the present around our tables with our families.

Second, Whitney offers a straightforward, practical plan for starting the family worship. I suspect many readers will find the idea of family worship unfamiliar as I once did. Regardless of one’s previous exposure to the idea and practice of family worship, readers are likely to find Whitney’s approach readily applied to their own family situations.

Finally, the tone throughout the work is pastoral. Whitney seeks to shepherd his readers to see the value of family worship, and he attempts to identify potential pitfalls to implementing the practice. As a father who has struggled to implement family worship in my own home (with three children currently under the age of 7) I can testify that there are pitfalls (sometimes there are literally falls—as in, we are reading the Bible story and someone falls out of their chair at the table). However, Whitney offers profound insight for even the difficult situation of family worship with little ones. He writes,

Even if you have a child who is fifteen months old and doesn’t even know what you are saying, be assured that the child is learning. If we could put his or her infant thoughts into adult language, they might be something like this: I don’t know what it is we do here every night—Dad reads things I don’t understand from a big book, then everyone closes their eyes and talks, and after that everyone sings (I like that part)—but whatever it is, it must be important, because we do it every night. In other words, even when a child cannot grasp the content of what you read, pray, and sing, at the very least the child is beginning to learn that family worship is an important part of the rhythm of your day (54–55; emphasis original).

In the end, Family Worship is best thought of as a blueprint. The book is not a sourcebook for family worship. Rather, Whitney provides readers with a simple plan for implementing family worship in their homes.

On the merits of its profundity and brevity alone I believe that Family Worship is an book that should find wide readership within our churches. Readers from across the spectrum of life circumstances (married/non-married, children/no-children, young/old) interested in a brief introduction to the foundations, history, and practical considerations of family worship should take up and read this accessible and thoughtful little book. Whitney is right: “God deserves to be worshiped daily in our homes by our families.” May it be so.

For a video introduction to the book visit https://www.crossway.org/familyworship101/

[This review originally appeared www.churchandgospel.com] 

---

1 Whitney offers some helpful thoughts on letting the Scriptures read during the first part of family worship to inform the content of the prayer time. Readers should note that Crossway recently released another book by Whitney called “Praying the Bible,” in which he develops these thoughts further.^↩

Keep that Kid Quiet...

A friend on Facebook posted a link to an article and a quote that I found thought-provoking. Couldn't agree with the following sentiments more:

"Usually disruptions in services are regarded as coming from children. I really appreciate churches that regard the typical children noise as holy noise. One church I visited has taken cries of a child and said to the congregation, 'Turn that cry into a prayer that you're praying for the underserved people of the world whose needs are not being met.' But if a disturbance comes from someone in a tantrum, a child is having a tantrum, then I think that child needs to be removed from the service so that child is not embarrassed by their out-of-control behavior. So it depends on the nature of the disturbance, but to say there should be no disturbances in a worship service creates a very Western, cognitive-oriented worship service. Holy noise that is even sometimes distracting can be a great, beautiful sound to our God." Scottie May, associate professor, Wheaton College

Parents need to be sensitive to address unruliness. However, a coo or momentary cry should not be cause for panic, nor should it draw dirty looks from those around them. Rather than a hindrance to worship, these coos and cries should be aids to thanksgiving for the gift and prospect of glory that this little life represents.

Grace & Peace,

J

Worship & Theology

I am preparing to teach my first course in Systematic Theology this fall. One of the charges against such a study is that it is "too heady, too theoretical, and simply impractical." Certainly, the subject of theology can be pursued in such a way that it is all of these things. However, it need not be; in fact, it must not be if the church is to maintain her worship and witness within the world.

I found the following quote helpful for considering the proper relationship between theology and worship:

Worship is ritualized theology; theology is reflective worship. The quality of our worship is therefore an index of the quality of our theology (and vice versa). . . . Dogmatics [the formal study of theology] both begins in and leads to doxology (Vanhoozer, Drama of Doctrine, 410).

What do you think about when you worship God? When the songs are being sung, does the truth of their content evoke emotions of sorrow, joy, repentance, etc.? Theology aids worshipers by connecting the truths/themes of Scripture, bringing them into sharper focus, drawing out their implications for daily living, and much more. At its most basic level theology is the study of God's person and works. How can one look into these things and not be inspired to worship this God? If we find ourselves doing "theology" and not worshiping God more deeply and loving others more fervently than before, we are not doing theology well. At the same time, if we find ourselves "worshiping" and not reflecting upon the person and works of God deeply, we are not worshiping well either. May God grant us grace to worship Him in Spirit and truth with our entire being: heart, soul, mind, and strength.

J

A Thought for Worship

Clement of Rome wrote the following in a conclusion to one of his works (Paidagogos). A wonderful thought as we go to worship our risen and soon returning Lord:

King of Saints, almighty Word
of the Father, highest Lord;
Wisdom's head and chief;
Assuagement of all grief;
Lord of all time and space,
Jesus, Saviour of our race.

Similarly, Paul writes, "To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen" (1 Tim 1:17).

May His name be praised and honored in us both today and forever.

J

Truth as a Protection Against Idolatry

I am currently reading selected works of John Calvin (Protestant reformer from the 1500s) and works about him. Tonight I found the following that I was challenged by. It relates to the importance of knowing the God whom we worship. The basic idea is that if we do not know God in truth (i.e., as He has revealed himself through Christ and through the Scriptures), we will inevitably fall into idolatry in our worship of Him.

The following quote comes from Calvin's Commentary on Acts 17:24. Paul is here declaring to the men of Athens the true nature of the "Unknown God" to whom they have erected an idol. The verse reads as follows: "The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man (ESV)."

Calvin's writes,

“For this is the true rule of godliness, distinctly and plainly to know who that God whom we worship is. If any man will entreat generally of religion, this must be the first point, that there is some divine power or godhead which men ought to worship. But because that was out of question, Paul descends unto the second point, that [the] true God must be distinguished from all vain inventions. So that he begins with the definition of God, that he may thence prove how he ought to be worshiped; because the one depends upon the other. For whence came so many false worshippings, and such rashness to increase the same oftentimes, save only because all men forged to themselves a God at their pleasure? And nothing is more easy than to corrupt the pure worship of God, when men esteem God after their sense and wit" (emphasis mine).

Calvin rightly interprets the significance of what Paul is proclaiming to the Athenians. If God made you and you make the idols and temples, then it is foolish to think that God is something made by human hands?

We sometimes think that idolatry is something to which only primitive people are in danger. However, often times we are guilty of worshiping a God of our own making too. Maybe false image is that He is a heavenly grandfather that ignores our sins. Or maybe the false image is that He is high, aloof, and uncaring of us in our weaknesses. Both of these idols are torn down by the birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. His sufferings and death to take the punishment of our sin tells us that God takes our sin seriously. Yet the fact that God would give His only begotten Son in our place tells us that He is not insensitive to us in our suffering. In fact, Christ currently intercedes for us as a Mediator who has suffered in every way we suffer yet without sin (Heb 4:15-16). May we know our God truly and may our worship be in accordance with and in grateful response to who He is and what He has done for us in Christ.

Grace & Peace,

Jonathan

Ascribing Truthfulness to God: Luther on the Function of Faith

In the last week the Holy Spirit has consistently been reminding me of the necessity of faith. Last Sunday I heard an excellent sermon about the persevering faith of the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21-28 by Dr. Greg Welty. The theme has been repeated in my conversations. Further, this morning Karen and I read the story of Jesus healing a demon possessed boy (Mark 9:14-29). The boy's father came to Jesus and begged him to heal the boy from his affliction, for it caused epileptic seizures that threatened his life. Jesus said that he could heal the boy if the father had faith. The father's response is so descriptive of our weak condition. He cries, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (v.24).

In one of Martin Luther's most famous works, The Freedom of a Christian, he offers a helpful explanation of the function of faith. Simply put, Luther sees faith as ascribing truthfulness to God. However, Luther deserves to be heard in his own words:

"It is a ... function of faith that it honors him whom it trusts with the most reverent and highest regard since it considers him truthful and trustworthy. There is no other honor equal to the estimate of truthfulness with which we honor him whom we trust. Could we ascribe to a man anything greater than truthfulness and righteousness and perfect goodness? On the other hand, there is no way in which we can show greater contempt for a man than to regard him as false and wicked and to be suspicious of him, as we do when we do not trust him. So when the soul firmly trusts God's promises, it regards him as truthful and righteous. Nothing more excellent than this can be ascribed to God. The very highest worship of God is this that we ascribe to him truthfulness, righteousness, and whatever else should be ascribed to one who is trusted. When this is done, the soul consents to his will. Then it hallows his name and allows itself to be treated according to God's good pleasure for, clinging to God's promises, it does not doubt that he who is true, just, and wise will do, dispose, and provide all things well."--Martin Luther, The Freedom of a Christian (in Three Treatises, 284-85).

This quote has come to mind several times throughout the day in various contexts. Tonight, I find myself wrestling through the following questions:

1. Do I trust that God is faithful to fulfill his promises?
2. Does my worship of God involve ascribing truthfulness to Him, His promises, commands, and judgments?
3. In what ways am I failing to acknowledge the truthfulness of God and His Word? In particular, do I question His truthfulness in the face of adversity?
   
4. Do I recognize the frailty of my own faith? Am I looking to God for help in sustaining and strengthening this weak faith?
   

May God grant us faith as well as the continued strength to believe and ascribe truthfulness to Him.

Grace & Peace,

J

P.S.--If you have never read anything by Luther, you should start by reading The Freedom of a Christian. It contains a classic exposition of his understanding of justification by faith alone. The edition of the work pictured above contains two other treatises that will give you a great feel for Luther's reformation efforts. I highly recommend it for your personal library.

The Heart of Worship?

Imagine the following exchange: Someone walks up to you and says, "I just want to say 'thank you.'" "For what?" you reply. "For nothing...just 'thank you.'" This exchange really doesn't make sense does it? It is simply nonsense to say thank you to someone if there is nothing in view for which the thanks is being given. The act of giving thanks is dependent upon truth.

Jesus told the woman at the well (Jn 4), Christian worship is worship in Spirit and in TRUTH. As we worship God individually and corporately, that worship must be centered on God's truth and, specifically, the truth about who He is and what Has done in Christ as revealed in Scripture. Only insofar as we do this can we truly express thanks to God. It boils down to this: no truth, no thanks, no worship.

Paul writes, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God" (Colossians 3:16 ESV). It is significant that the singing of "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs" is connected to letting the "word of Christ dwell"in us. Paul goes on to connect the attitude of thankfulness to this truth-filled worship.

Our church is blessed to have a very dynamic worship leader, Gary Brumley. Gary does as good a job of integrating biblical truth and quality music as anyone I know. The music portion of our worship services involve a variety of elements, including corporate Scripture reading and songs that focus on biblical truth. I am appreciative of his approach because by putting God's truth at the center of our worship, we as a congregation are encouraged to dwell deeply upon God's truth and return thanks to Him for His great person and work.

Gary has put the words of 1 Timothy 1:17 to music. I recommend that you check it out. Lyrics, sheet music, and a demo can be found on his website: http://www.newmonikermusic.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=143&Itemid=124.

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible,
The only God, eternal, immortal, invisible
Be honor and glory, honor and glory,
Forever and ever, Amen,
Forever and ever, Amen.

Lyrics: 1 Timothy 1:17
by Gary Brumley © 2009 New Moniker Music.
www.newmonikermusic.com

Grace & Peace,

Jonathan

ho apseudeœs theos - The God Who Never Lies

Our pastor is preaching a ten-part series on the core values of our church. This morning's sermon was on the importance of doctrine and one of the key texts was Titus 1:1-2.

“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began” (Titus 1:1-2 ESV).

Over the last 4-6 months I have been drawn to the book of Titus. In three brief chapters Paul lays forth one of the clearest explanations of the gospel and its implications for good works, relationships, and worship. Today I was reviewing the verses from the sermon cited above and was struck by the great hope that is contained in the title Paul ascribes to God: ho apseudeœs theos - "the God who never lies."

God is worthy of our worship simply by virtue of his position (i.e., creator of the universe and the ground of all being). However, it is wonderful to know that God's character is worthy of praise and honor as well. We are able to honor Him for His goodness as well as His position!

This thought finds great contrast when I think of the limited amount of authority God has given me in the workplace. Those who work under that authority are called to respect that authority by virtue of my position. However, I am weak and fleshly and often fail to lead with clarity, vision, gentleness, etc. (the list could go on and on). In short, there is a disconnect between the honor owed to my position and the honor warranted by my character, person, and work. For God the honor owed His position is synonymous with that owed to His character, person, and work. He is worthy of infinite honor and worth, a worthiness that exceeds our ability to express in its fullness.

He is the God who never lies and who has promised eternal life to all who are in Christ. What He promises will surely come to pass. May we praise Him for his character and for the great work of salvation He has accomplished through Christ and given to all who place their faith and trust in Him.

Grace and Peace,

J