For the past 13 years, I have had the pleasure and privilege being a vocational pastor, leading corporate worship and teaching others about worship. During this time, I have witnessed and read about movements and “fads” within the American church, from services that are sensitive toward seekers to ministries that driven with a purpose. Though from face value, I can understand what would motivate these leaders in developing such philosophies within the American Christian culture, but after a side by side comparison with scripture, there are some serious flaws within such movements.

After reading my 10,000th article in Worship Leader on how to develop a worship service that appeals to the preferences of the worship attender, the thought crossed my mind, “What or who is being worshiped and what is the driving force in our so-called worship services?” My mind immediately went to Jesus’ words to the Samaritan women in John 4, where the worship debate in that day was the place and externals of worship (the Jews worshiped in Jerusalem while the Samaritans worshiped in the mountains).

In John 4: 23, 24, Jesus addresses the issue of worship, stating that the Father desires those who will worship in spirit and truth, His point being is that the Father does not desire religious acts of worship, but worship that comes from one’s inmost being (spirit) that is consistent with revealed Scripture and centered on Christ (truth).

Worship in “spirit” is worship that engages the spirit or the heart of a person. True worship flows from the inner person of a man and involves the intellect and the emotions that is described in many of the Psalms (Psalm 45:1; Psalm 103:1; Psalm 51:17; Romans 1:9). Worship in “spirit” contrasts worship that is just an outward ritual which God rejects (Isaiah 1:13,15; 29:13, Jeremiah 7:9-10, Matthew 15:7-9). The corporate worship of the church must be without hypocrisy and deceit, therefore worship in “spirit” should be a sincere expression of love and adoration for our God.

Worship in “truth” is worship that occurs in response to God’s gracious revelation of Himself in both creation (general revelation) and the Word of God (special revelation). True worship cannot occur apart from an understanding of who God is (Acts 17:23), and thus every aspect of worship must conform to the truth of God’s Word.

I like John Piper’s words:

“Truth without emotion produces dead orthodoxy and a church full of artificial admirers (like people who write generic anniversary cards for a living). On the other hand, emotion without truth produces empty frenzy and cultivates shallow people who refuse the discipline of rigorous thought. But true worship comes from people who are deeply emotional and who love deep and sound doctrine. Strong affections for God rooted in truth are the bone and marrow of biblical worship.”
(DESIRING GOD, Multnomah Press, 1986.)

Worship goes beyond a Sunday morning event, it is a life that needs to be influenced and “driven” by the God’s truth. Thus, the name of this site, “Driven By Truth”.

Weekend worship services are really a symptom of a larger problem, that is the over all battle for truth in our society and churches. Truth is no longer absolute, just subjective. There has been a total disregard for God’s word, a battle that has literally been fought down through the ages and really has gain no significant prominence in American culture over the past 100 or so years. From the liberalization of main stream denominations, to Supreme Court decisions on life, to bioethics in the practice of medicine and research…. all due to the devaluation of Scripture… no longer an authority in the eyes of our society, no longer a driving force in our culture, worship services or pulpits.

The truth of the matter is…. truth matters, and more specifically God’s absolute truth matters. Truth is what this blog is about.

OTHER RAMBLINGS
From time to time I will ramble about other musings such as politics, current world events, my family, and other interests that I have. Because I have opinionated tendencies, I am often attracted to individuals who are just as if not more opinionated than myself and the blogosphere is full of them. There are several individuals in which have fueled my decision in throwing my hat in the blogosphere ring (by the way, if you mentioned my name to them, it would not buy you a cup of coffee at the local diner down the street) :

1. Phil Johnson and his tag-team blog at PyroManiacs. What can I say about Phil that has not been said? Nothing. Phil edits most of John MacArthur’s books, an elder at Grace Community Church , one of the most well-read guys out there. Phil is a devout biblicalist, an admirer of C.H. Spurgeon and a big-time Calvinist. The only thing I know about Phil outside of his website and blog writings is what his office looks like. I know this from my recent visit to the Grace To You offices when I attended the 2006 Shepherds’ Conference. In fact, I have a picture of his office and his extensive library. Wow, what a collection of books. (I might post the picture only if I have his permission in doing so.) Like I said, he is a well-read man!

2. Al Mohler and his commentaries on morality and culture published on his website. Mohler has a mind like a steel trap, nothing escapes it. I have heard ramblings on the sized of his library that would make Phil jealous. I admire Dr. Mohler for his courage and steadfastness in the 1990’s as he rooted out the liberal element at Southern Seminary and placed strong conservative biblicalists as professors and teachers. Dr. Mohler has great insight regarding faith and culture and a good expositor of the Word.

3. Lastly, Bob Kauflin at Worship Matters. Bob is a trained musician, an original member of the group GLAD, and a worship pastor at Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, MD. Bob’s blog is always insightful in the area church music and worship. The one thing I appreciate about Bob as a “reformed charismatic”, his views of the gifts do not overshadow the eminence of God’s Word in worship, which is generally not the case in most charismatic circles. I love the rich lyrics of the songs that he writes and the recordings he produces at Sovereign Grace Ministries. One of these days I will attend a WorshipGod conference in Gaithersburg. If fact, I would not mind buying him a cup of coffee at the local diner down the street just to get a chance to talk with him.