Friday, August 28, 2009
The Chief End?
Blue Fish quotes Tim Keller:
This quote really appeals to me - I think it's pretty right on, but then, I recall this from the Westminster Shorter Catechism:
Well, here is a thought - What best attests to God's glory, our singing or our lives? If indeed repentance is "the best sign" then are not our transformed lives bringing God glory? How much glory is there is someone that sings loudly on Sunday, but sins unrepentantly on Monday?
Is God glorified by a large church full of people who claim to sing His praise, or a smaller church with a few people that declare His glory on their knees and with their very existence?
Repentance gives God ALL the glory for it is sacrificial. We give of ourselves so that He may have all the glory.
Repentance is glorifying God and it brings us closest to His presence - it is the heart of worship.
"Repentance is the way we make progress in the Christian life. Indeed, pervasive, all-of-life repentance is the best sign that we are growing deeply and rapidly into the character of Jesus... in the gospel the purpose of repentance is to repeatedly tap into the joy of union with Christ..."(Lots of good related links there too - be sure to check them out!)
This quote really appeals to me - I think it's pretty right on, but then, I recall this from the Westminster Shorter Catechism:
Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?I think of it becasue I have had this bit of the catechism thrown in my face many times when discussing the happy, clappy worship styles we encounter so often now, and particularly when they are devoid almost entirely, if not entirely, of confessional (which is the root of repentance) content. "Man we are supposed to sing God's glory, not have all that downer stuff in worship!"
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
Well, here is a thought - What best attests to God's glory, our singing or our lives? If indeed repentance is "the best sign" then are not our transformed lives bringing God glory? How much glory is there is someone that sings loudly on Sunday, but sins unrepentantly on Monday?
Is God glorified by a large church full of people who claim to sing His praise, or a smaller church with a few people that declare His glory on their knees and with their very existence?
Repentance gives God ALL the glory for it is sacrificial. We give of ourselves so that He may have all the glory.
Repentance is glorifying God and it brings us closest to His presence - it is the heart of worship.
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