Someone sent me another Tozer quote, that is probably much truer today than it was when he wrote it. This one is from the preface of The Pursuit of God .
To great sections of the Church the art of worship has been lost entirely, and in its place has come that strange and foreign thing called the ‘program.’ This word has been borrowed from the stage and applied with sad wisdom to the type of public service which now passes for worship among us.
Tozer was definitely a man after God’s heart, with a passion and unbridled honesty that still resonates today. We have absolutely destroyed any meaning to worship in our day when we think that it is anything we do on a Sunday morning involving songs, vocalists, instruments and light shows. Worship is how we live our lives in Father. How we love our husbands, children, the obnoxious person at work and strangers on the street is closer to real worship than anything having to do with songs.
Don’t get me wrong. Singing and making melody in our hearts to God together is a special thing to. We can call it adoration if we want. But calling it worship, destroys the real term that belongs in every-day life, not something we do once or twice a week.
Even though adoration and worship nearly mean the same thing in the secular world, I’m glad you took a moment to show us the difference using Tozer’s example. Thanks Wayne, it is important!
Even though adoration and worship nearly mean the same thing in the secular world, I’m glad you took a moment to show us the difference using Tozer’s example. Thanks Wayne, it is important!
It’s interesting that the Greek word for worship comes from the word “kiss”. “Kiss the Son lest He be angry!” So worship is an intimacy with the Lord, not a performance.
It’s interesting that the Greek word for worship comes from the word “kiss”. “Kiss the Son lest He be angry!” So worship is an intimacy with the Lord, not a performance.
Thanks Wayne for restoring the focus back to the Lord, and not ourselves.
Prayer is about the nature of God. After giving what is commonly known as the “Lord’s Prayer”, Jesus addresses their perception of what he was talking about by telling of a friend who has come unexpectedly, and yet expecting to be provided for.
The very crisis itself precipitates all kinds of doubt in the mind of the host. But, knowing the character of the One he is appealing to, and the need at hand, persistence wins the day, and the need is provided for. Then come those famous words, “Ask, Seek, Knock”, etc., with promises for each one!
My hunch is that he would not have gotten any accolades for great worship, with his stubborn persistence. He just got an answer!
Thanks Wayne for restoring the focus back to the Lord, and not ourselves.
Prayer is about the nature of God. After giving what is commonly known as the “Lord’s Prayer”, Jesus addresses their perception of what he was talking about by telling of a friend who has come unexpectedly, and yet expecting to be provided for.
The very crisis itself precipitates all kinds of doubt in the mind of the host. But, knowing the character of the One he is appealing to, and the need at hand, persistence wins the day, and the need is provided for. Then come those famous words, “Ask, Seek, Knock”, etc., with promises for each one!
My hunch is that he would not have gotten any accolades for great worship, with his stubborn persistence. He just got an answer!