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I will sing with my spirit, I will also sing with my mind. 1 Corinthians 14:15
Recent Entries
Making Sense Of It AllJanuary 30, 2012
Where are things headed? Is there rhyme and reason to the endless cycle of summer, fall, winter and spring? Is there a plan in place, or is randomness the explanation?
Suffering Saints
January 25, 2012
We get nervous thinking about it - suffering for the sake of Christ. How necessary is it, and what does it produce in us?
George Herbert on Prayer Meetings
January 21, 2012
Prayer Meetings are a thing of the past. Or so it seems. What has been lost? Maybe more than we realize.
When Fear Is Good
January 7, 2012
NO FEAR, we are told. And the point is well taken. But fear can be healthy, at least when it comes to eternal matters.
Happy, Happy, Happy
January 4, 2012
The declaration of independence holds up the pursuit of happiness as a right. Did you ever consider the reading the bible might be the one source that will never let you down?
The Twelve Signs Of Grace
December 22, 2011
Self-examination is not easy to do. The tendency is to let ourselves off easy. But examine we must, for eternity is at stake.
"Ouch!!"
July 22, 2011
Spiritual pride is hard to detect. Jonathan Edwards gives some tips. The process can be painful, but necessary.
Thanksgiving - Don't Lose Your Mind!
September 27, 2008
Our ability and willingness to recall God's goodness is what fuels fervent and joyful thanksgiving. The mind's ability to remember is key in gratitude.
Steven Charnock was one bright Puritan. His thinking on Spiritual Worship from his collection of articles on the attributes of God is deep water, but so helpful to our understanding of how worship "works." He says....
"Worship is an act of the understanding, applying itself to the knowledge of the excellency of God and actual thoughts of his majesty; recognizing him as the supreme Lord and Governor of the world, which is natural knowledge; beholding the glory of his attributes in the Redeemer, which is evangelical knowledge.
This is the sole act of the spirit of man. The same reason is for all our worship as for our thanksgiving. This must be done with understanding, with a knowledge and sense of his greatness, goodness, and wisdom. It is also an act of the will, whereby the soul adores and reverences his majesty, is ravished with his amiableness, embraces his goodness, enters itself into an intimate communion with this most lovely object, and pitches all his affections on him.
We must worship God understandingly; or else it is not a reasonable service. A reasonable service is that wherein the mind truly engages with God. Acts done only by sense are the acts of a brute. Acts done by reason are the acts of a man. There cannot be religion where there is not reason.
There cannot be an exercise of religion where there is not an exercise of the rational faculties. Since only worship done for some end qualifies as worship, worship of God must be for God, and only with the help of a rational faculty can we aim at an end. (Charnock Harrahphrase, page 223 of Attributes)
Steven Charnock was one bright Puritan. His thinking on Spiritual Worship from his collection of articles on the attributes of God is deep water, but so helpful to our understanding of how worship "works." He says....
"Worship is an act of the understanding, applying itself to the knowledge of the excellency of God and actual thoughts of his majesty; recognizing him as the supreme Lord and Governor of the world, which is natural knowledge; beholding the glory of his attributes in the Redeemer, which is evangelical knowledge.
This is the sole act of the spirit of man. The same reason is for all our worship as for our thanksgiving. This must be done with understanding, with a knowledge and sense of his greatness, goodness, and wisdom. It is also an act of the will, whereby the soul adores and reverences his majesty, is ravished with his amiableness, embraces his goodness, enters itself into an intimate communion with this most lovely object, and pitches all his affections on him.
We must worship God understandingly; or else it is not a reasonable service. A reasonable service is that wherein the mind truly engages with God. Acts done only by sense are the acts of a brute. Acts done by reason are the acts of a man. There cannot be religion where there is not reason.
There cannot be an exercise of religion where there is not an exercise of the rational faculties. Since only worship done for some end qualifies as worship, worship of God must be for God, and only with the help of a rational faculty can we aim at an end. (Charnock Harrahphrase, page 223 of Attributes)
