Reflections from "The Last Battle"
I just finished reading all of the Chronicles of Narnia. It was a fantastic read, from both a story point of view, but also from a theological/ allegory point of view also.
At the very end of the "The Last Battle" all the main characters are in "heaven". Also there is one of the foreigners who didn't care for Aslan/ Jesus, and spent his entire life serving the god Tash, who is the opposite of Aslan, so I guess would equal Satan. When this character recounts why he's there, he says it's because that Aslan told him that everything good he ever did, even though it was for Tash, was actually for Aslan even if he didn't realize it at the time. I guess the idea is that, any good we ever do, no matter who we say we're doing it for, is actually being done for God. Any evil done, no matter in who's name, is done for Satan.
The other thought, is that you will find whatever you are really searching for. So this character, eventhough he thought he was seeking Tash, was actually seeking Aslan, since he never "found" Tash. I'm not sure I've totally got my mind around that idea yet lol. I'll provide some quotes later on, maybe that'll help.
What do you think? Does this line of thinking present any problems?
Back to the heart of worship?
"I'm coming back to the heart of worship, and it's all about You, all about You Jesus ..." Matt Redman
I've been thinking about a super simple idea when it comes to worship. Namely, that our worship is soley for the purpose of glorifying (making big) of God. That's what is should be about, and you'd think that'd be obvious. However, how often do you hear of one's desire to experience God through worship? Preferring this leader or church or ministry because they really felt like they "connected to God"?
When did corporate worship become about what we experience? I sure don't see it in the Bible! I see people worshipping God only because He is God!! The sacrifice system sure wasn't based upon connecting with God, and yet that was the prodominant form of worship for a very long time.
So is that to say that we don't, or shouldn't meet with God when we worship Him? Not neccesarily, a benefit of drawing close to God is that He does draw close to us. (Jame 4:8) However, what if you don't feel something, or experience that intimacy? Should we then seek out other places or ministries where we do experience that? Maybe we should go on lifting up Jesus, right where we're at. I promise there will be hard times, there will be times when God seems far. But, there will also be great times when you're full of happiness, and God seems as near as ever! As my friend Kyle would say, we need to take spiritual accountability for our own lives. Rather then giving excuses of why we don't worship like we feel we should (I don't like that style, I can't worship to new songs, I can't worship to old songs, I like it fast, I like it slow) We need to CHOOSE to worship God no matter what context we find ourselves in.
It's not dependent on a music style, or a special leader, in my opinion. It's simply about responding to who God is! Try this, use all seven days of the week to find ways to respond to God. You can do this anyway you want!! Then, what a joy it is to join together with others at least once a week to worship God together with other follower of Jesus!
For me, I want to continue to be concious as a lead worshipper in choosing songs and encouraging people to worship God for who He is, not for what they get out of it because it is fitting for the righteous to praise Him! (Psalm 33:1)
