The Church and our Worship

The Church here at West Olive, aims to adore God when we worship, because that is the very essence of what the word worship means. Many people, even religious people, do not understand why we worship the way we do. The misunderstanding most people seem to have, is that they do not know for certain what God's view of submission, holiness and love is. Evenschool teachers still wrestle over the definition of love in God's view. These words dictate what worship should be, and they are each defined in the Bible. God's definition of submission, holiness and love cannot be found in "Websters" dictionary. As Christians we should be willing to accept The Holy Spirit's definition of worship and let The Bible dictate what His definition is. The Church is described as the body and bride of Christ, and there is a sense in which the Head will tell the body what He needs. There is also a sense in which the husband will tell the bride what he desires, instead of the bride telling the husband what he ought to want. If you don't completely understand this, please read Ephesians 5:23-32, "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present it to Himself as the glorious church, without spot or wrinkle or any such things, but that it should be holy and without blemish. So men ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord loves the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two of them shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church." The love expressed between a husband and wife creating unity in one body is indeed a great mystery, but there is no mystery whatsoever about the unity created between Christ and the Church, we are in His one body, so therefore our spirits are united into The Holy Spirit. Since we are made one in His way, we ought to worship Him in His way. This is the epitome of submissive love in worship, whether we are singing, praying or giving money in the contribution, we all should aim to do it submissively in love for our Redeemer, Christ Jesus our Lord and God.Worship is an expression of humanities love for God who is holy. To worship Him who is holy, demands we be holy or have the gift of holiness within us, in order to be acceptable in loving Him. Holiness is an essential quality for humanity, the Hebrew writer claims holiness is an absolute necessity, and we can't even see the Lord without his gift of holiness. (Hebrews 12:14) To try and worship God without holiness in our hearts, or in an unholy way, is complete folly and a waste of time. Why? Because God told His own people in Israel, "when you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes; cease to do evil" (Isaiah 1:15-16) There is no way any human being can 'put away the evil' of our doings by our own means, work or sacrifice. No matter what charity we sacrifice, or devotion in holy piety we display, our sin is still our sin and won't be erased from the sight of God, until our hearts are covered and washed by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. So with sin on our hearts, our worship is unacceptable, our prayers unheard, our deeds unseen and our love falls off the cold stone set shoulders of Him who reigns on the Throne of Heaven. We need the sacrifice of Christ's blood in our heart and the only way to get it, is in submissive obedience to his victorious death. What do we mean? Believing in the resurrection. Showing our faith in His promise to wash us clean with His blood in the watery grave of the baptism of Jesus. Then we can worship with confidence that he sees, hears and feels our love filled songs and prayers in worship. This is why the Church of Christ is just right for you. Once your certain your in the body of Christ, your certain of your worship being felt by God and blessing Him who loves you more than yourself. It's good and right for you as His creation to worship Him in holiness when your made holy and given His gift. Luke proclaims that to "those who obey Him, He gives the Holy Spirit", (Acts 5:32). Why would God want to give us His Spirit? To make us holy and acceptable in His presence, so we can express our love and worship to Him, gaining spiritual strength in knowing that He feels, hears and loves to be loved in holiness.

Jeff Wealand