From time to time questions are raised about why we do what we do at Lakeview Church. The answers will be fairly brief, but more detailed answers are available upon request. DOES THE COMMANDMENT TO KEEP THE SABBATH HOLY HAVE ANY APPLICATION FOR US TODAY?
To the Jews, the commandment meant that they were to take a day off, and this day off was to be kept holy. The commandment was related to creation (Genesis 2:2-3). We are told that God blessed the day and hallowed the day. He made this day a source of blessing and He made it to focus on Himself. In effect, when the Bible says that God rested, it suggests that He was satisfied with His creative work and He now stood back to savor its beauty and completeness. God called His highest creation to one day each week stop working and to focus on Him. This would remind man that God is the source of all that he has. This is a further reminder that all true blessing comes from God's grace, not our labor. When we set this day apart for Him, we honor Him; we hallow Him.
Creation was not the only thing connected to the Sabbath. Deuteronomy 5:15 provided a different basis for the observance of the Sabbath. Keeping the Sabbath was tied to redemption from Egypt. The same God to be honored as Creator, should also be honored as Deliverer. Our focus. on Him reminds us that we, by our labor, did not get here by ourselves and we. certainly cannot save ourselves. We exist and are saved by His grace. Another truth concerning the Sabbath surfaces in Exodus 31:12-13. It is the truth of sanctification. The Sabbath was a sign that God had chosen His people and set them apart and made them distinct among the peoples of the earth. Our work does not create or save or, sanctify, but His does. These are His blessings to us. Lest we forget, it is proper to set aside one day in seven to so honor Him. The Sabbath was never intended to be a burden to God's people, but a blessing, providing one special day in seven where time could be invested in pure delight in Him! Surely we should not object to that! WHEN VARIOUS NATIONAL HOLIDAYS OR DAYS OF RECOGNITION OCCUR, HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND TO THESE AT CHURCH WHEN WE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER FOR WORSHIP?
There is sometimes an internal struggle to know how to respond on the various days when our government or Hallmark, or some well-meaning organization declares a day of recognition for a particular group of people. Let's think through this. We gather on Sunday morning for a little over an hour to give our attention to our awesome God, to acknowledge His greatness and His goodness, offering Him our unadulterated worship. Sometimes pressure is applied to take time to introduce various good and well-meaning matters into that time slot, even though there is really no other time in the week when we gather together for worship. As an example, last week was Memorial Day. It is true that the Scripture reminds us to give honor to whom honor is due. We are instructed to pray for our leaders. As a nation at war, we should be in prayer for those who are fighting for our temporal freedoms. We should remember them and pray for God's grace. We all ought to be good and godly citizens of this country. Such behavior pleases and honors God.
But we must also remember that if we are in Christ, our citizenship is in heaven. We are part of a royal priesthood, a holy nation that is made up of not one people, but of many peoples of every tribe and tongue and nation. Our cause is not toward the spread of democracy, but the spread of the Gospel. True freedom is not ultimately found in a democratic society run by its people, but in a loyal allegiance to Jesus Christ, where He is the sovereign ruler. The Bible is clear. Our attention is to be above. Our resources are to be used to "lay up treasure in heaven: Our peace is found in the Prince of Peace who is declared in Scripture to be "our peace." Certainly in the time set aside on Sunday morning, He must be our central focus, for we have been set free from sin and judgment and have been granted eternal life.
Please, do not misunderstand. Not making much of these various days in this one hour of worship is not that these matters are unimportant. The issue is one of contrast and purpose. We are to make much of God and since this time is dedicated to our worship of Him, we need to maintain our focus on Him. Everything pales in significance when compared to Him. There are times for patriotic celebrations and the honoring of Moms and Dads and graduates and kids and grandparents, etc. There are also times for worship of our great God. To attempt to mix together is either to elevate the one to the level of God or to bring God down to the other. Neither is wise or appropriate. SUPPOSE I WAS SEEKING SPECIAL PRAYER FOR A SPECIFIC- CONCERN. COULD THIS BE A LEGITIMATE USE OF THE ALTAR?
There are times in our lives when we are overwhelmed, and we desire that someone would come along side and pray with us. Hopefully such relationships are developing in our fellowship where we could call upon another to pray with us at any time. Where that may not be possible or yet in place, our intention is to make available at the conclusion of each worship service, godly, wise men and women who are ready to pray with any who so desire prayer. The desire for prayer may be made known to various church leaders who are standing near the front of the church, or to one of the pastors or elders or deacons. Any of these people would pray with you or direct you to another to pray with you. There is nothing more significant about the "altar" than any other area of the church building, but one could kneel at the altar if that was desired. Someone would likely come and ask if they could pray with you. God has called us to pray for one another. We certainly affirm that call and encourage that among the body of believers here, regardless of the place and form in which that occurs.
WHY DO WE SOMETIMES HAVE READ FOR US LONG PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE DURING OUR WORSHIP SERVICES? Believers should love to hear God's Word! That is God talking to us. If we don't want to hear His Word, there is a problem in our hearts. Paul challenged Timothy, "...devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching." Is a single verse too little, or a chapter too much? An interesting example is given in Nehemiah 8. Ezra took the Scripture and read it in the presence of all the people, "from early morning until midday." The Scripture says that he "opened the book...and as he opened it all the people stood... Ezra blessed the Lord and all the people answered, 'Amen, Amen' lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground." The Levites later helped the people understand what they heard. We desire that God's Word be central in our worship - not only in our literature, but in our practice!
INVITATIONS AND ALTAR CALLS HAVE BEEN PART OF THE HISTORY OF THIS CHURCH. WHY ARE THEY SELDOM IF EVER GIVEN?
Invitations and altar calls are two different things. Invitations are appropriate, and generally flow out of the sermon text. In effect, the message is the invitation. Historically, altar calls appeared in church history in the 1800's. Evangelist Charles Finney may have been responsible for their inception. They were popularized by Billy Sunday in the early 1900's and brought into more common use under Billy Graham. Altars calls may not be wrong, but they confuse more than they make clear. Most who respond to altar calls quickly fall away. Even Graham would admit that less than 20% who respond to his invitations are ever found in a local church. Salvation is a transaction between the Holy Spirit, the Word of God and the person who has been quickened, (made alive), by the Spirit. When people are encouraged to come forward, it is not clear whether they are coming for salvation or assurance or counselor further instruction or some other reason? Whatever it is or whatever it is supposed to be, it is a method that has no Scriptural support at all. Typically, one who responds to the appeal is told that because of his/her response they are now saved. Passages of assurance are given. The proof of their conversion is found in their response to the
altar call. "I am saved because I went forward and prayed the prayer." The Apostle Paul
reminded the Romans, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for
salvation to everyone who believes..." The message, not the method, results in the salvation of all who believe. For more information, the pamphlet, "The Dangers of the Invitation System" by Jim Ehrhard, is available upon request. A recent Crossway Books publication, Fool's Gold, has a good chapter on the subject as well. |
