Rested Assurance?

As a former US Marine, I gravitate easily toward God as King. Whether reading OT prophecy or a NT epistle, my eyes lock and load on the imperative commands. I want my marching orders. Whether it's my personality, wiring, exhortative gifting, or simply my sinful flesh ... that's how I read. It's probably why God has me writing for coaches. Such field generals likely find my work their kind of stuff.

Isaiah 40, however, contrasts the fragile brevity of humanity against the power and eternality of God. A summary verse in the first section reads, "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever" (NASB). Here are some snippets of Raymond Orlund's writings, that puncture my paradigm and cause me pause:

"Isaiah is told to tell us that we are unreliable. ... Christianity is not about what we can do; it's about what God promises to do. Christianity is not fundamentally challenge; fundamentally it is assurance. It must be.

"Only God qualifes for our final trust. No human power or condition can stop Him. ... Human failure is costly, but it's not the end of our happiness. God's promise of salvation is final. He is committed to his own glory and our joy in His glory. And in that certainty, our hopes come to rest."

It's not hard to surmise that I am not the only "driven" kind of Christian. The church, heavily encumbered by American business goals of expansion, committed customer base, and glossy hip product, evidences that many goal-driven "ministers" exist. I hate that love for the law in me resembles the ambition in them. Guess we're all sinners. No news there.

According to Ortland, many of us may be missing the blessed rest in the simple assurance that God is, well ... God. And we are but dust.

Trying to take that from theological fact to life ethic,
Cory

Evil in worship?

I've been more underwater than above it lately, swamped with writing deadlines (and falling behind in them). So my blogging has suffered. That stinks, because life has been full of blog-worthy events of late. For now, I pass on a question I posed to a fellow worship leader recently:
Where's the "evil" in our worship?

Studying Isaiah in depth this semester, the concepts of evil/wickedness/injustice occur as frequently as those of righteousness and goodness. The two go hand in hand, complimenting one another. [I'm not arguing that the universe is dualistic (like "the force" or the yin/yang of Eastern mystcism). It's not. There is only one power (Creator God) and creation (sustained by Him). Neither am I arguing for worship to equally address Satan and our Lord.] However, that people value the cross only as much as they understand their need of it. We appreciate forgiveness only as much as we comprehend our offense. Our view of grace is only as big as our view of sin. God's holiness in view of man's wickedness, etc. The one who loves much is the one who knows he's been forgiven much.

Thus, where is mention of evil in worship songs? Or wickedness? Or suffering, for that matter? They are intertwined theologically and ideologically. So why do they never comingle in worship of God? Why not mention the war when giving glory to our Deliverer? Where is mention of the fire, when giving thanks to our Rescuer?

Happy worship lyrics may feel good briefly, but evaporate quickly for lack of substance. At best, modern American worship seems quite incomplete. At worst, it's become idolatry—a self-centered service to comfortably fulfill our needs. If today's worship songs are devotively vanilla, perhaps it's because they they tell a only half the story. Maybe the struggle of life (so prevalent in the Psalms) is essential to reveal God's glory in fullness.

Looking forward to your thoughts.


PS. In going through my archive of worhsip songs/hymns, Martin Luther provided the strongest example of putting the "evil" in worship. In this hymn, notice how his lyrics described God, evil, the devil, and the redeemed all in proper context. The result is robust worship:

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing.
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth.
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever!