Exploring Grace & Worship, Part Two

The second subject for our consideration is worship. Unlike grace, worship is a somewhat harder term to pin down as far as what worship constitutes within the church of God. To begin with, if grace is God’s condescending, unmerited love toward mankind, then worship is man’s humble, ascending love toward God. If we find this an acceptable definition, then it stands to reason that we may not approach the subject of worship in terms of defining what act is considered worship and what is not. Instead, it is the spirit in which an act is performed that would make something worship.

Exploring Grace & Worship, Part One

After having an edifying discussion with my wife this last weekend while we were at a local coffee shop, she wanted me to discuss the topic of grace and worship. More specifically, how to define the terms and what they generally mean. Much can be said about both words and what they are meant to convey when used. But some Christians do seem a little confused when it comes to clearly understanding what grace and worship are. To that end, I would like to touch upon the subject and God willing, shed a little light on what both mean, and perhaps what they do not mean.

Molehills: The Doctrine Of Soul Sleep, Part Two

Moving to the final chapter in the book of Ecclesiastes we read, “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it,” Ecclesiastes 12:7. This is preceded by the preacher’s warning to remember your Creator before the day of death, Ecclesiastes 12:6. God created the spirit in man, and when we die, the body molders in the earth, but the spirit returns to God. In this dispensation believers enter into immediate conscious fellowship with Christ. “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit for my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better,” Philippians 1:21-23.

Molehills: The Doctrine Of Soul Sleep, Part One

What is the doctrine of soul sleep? Soul sleep is a euphemism for the annihilation of the soul upon the death of the body. To wit, this doctrine teaches that the body and soul are indivisible, and if one dies the other dies without it because one cannot survive the death of the other. Cults such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Seventh Day Adventists have propagated this false doctrine for decades, and I firmly believe that its reception and practice in teaching is injurious to the spiritual welfare of those that espouse it. Why is it relegated to being a molehill, then? Because belief in soul sleep does not harm the gospel, which is the foundation of the Christian faith. Therefore, harmful or otherwise, it is not an impediment to one being saved by faith in Jesus Christ.

Ecclesiastes Chapter Nine, Spurning Wisdom

Ecclesiastes 9:13 This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me: [14] There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it. [15] Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man. [16] Then I said: “Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. [17] Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard rather than the shout of a ruler of fools. [18] Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good.”

The preacher would have obviously heard the story of the siege at Abel during the twilight years of David as king. In truth, he would have already been alive and likely a young man at this point, serving as a prince under his father. The history of the siege of Abel, and the events that led to it, are chronicled in 2 Samuel chapter 20. Sheba, a man of Benjamin and a rebel, tried to get Israel to defect from David after a dispute between Judah and the other tribes, 2 Samuel 20:1, 2.