Ekklesia

Zach and I are very thankful that we have settled down at a church here in Roseburg because the "church shopping" process can be such a draining one. We've thought a lot about the church together, specifically pondering what its true role in our culture needs to be and how it can achieve that goal in the most Biblical manner. Admittedly, I do sometimes go to church "with my red pen" -- that is, I am a little too critical of each and every detail of the service -- and yet on some level such critical thinking is necessary. Here are some of the questions I've been pondering over the last few weeks:

1. Throughout the Old Testament, particularly in Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, it seems that a common theme is that worship MUST be costly. In 1 Kings 13, the kingdom had just split between Israel and Judah, and Jeroboam (the newly crowned king of the northern kingdom) was feeling a bit insecure about his new position. Because the primary temple was in Jerusalem (which was in the newly-formed "southern" kingdom), Jeroboam feared that his people would visit Jerusalem and revert their allegiance back to Rehoboam, the southern king. Because of this, he built shrines at Bethel and Dan (which were both part of his northern kingdom) so that people would not have to journey SO far to Jerusalem just to worship. Not only does this action show his own fear and insecurity, but it also relates directly to the idea that worship should always cost us something. The people of Israel began to worship at Bethel and Dan simply because it was closer to home and more conveniently located for their purposes. It should be an honor and privilege to enter into the presence of the Most High God, and if we choose a church based on how close it is to home, how short the sermon is, or how good it makes us feel, we have missed the whole point.

The idea of sacrificial worship, however, extends so much much deeper than mere personal convenience. Once we enter into the presence of God for worship, we should not be surprised if He asks us to sacrifice something -- or everything: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship" (Romans 12:1-2). Worship here is defined as sacrifice, and so often true worship does require us to make ourselves nothing so that Christ might increase in us (John 3:30). Notice, however, that it is a "living" sacrifice that we are required to make. To understand the meaning of "living sacrifice," we have to look no farther than the story of Abraham and Isaac, for Isaac represented the quintessential "living sacrifice" -- not only was he literally living, but he also represented for Abraham the future of his family line and the fulfillment of God's promise. Being willing to sacrifice Isaac on that altar was a truly meaningful sacrifice because his death would have cost Abraham so much. In the same way, God requires that we be willing to sacrifice anything and everything that He requires, even if we do not understand why we must or how He will work through the situation after we do.

To be continued....