Life is one long, continuous worship service for the believer. I realize some people think of worship as shouting, lifting and/or clapping their hands during the singing portion of a Sunday service (which could include speaking or singing in tongues, a spoken word of prophecy or of knowledge, and the like). I realize others think of worship as reverential awe, displayed in bowing, crossing themselves with the sign of the cross, kneeling during prayer and other bodily postures. I also realize that others think of worship as overly structured, to be demonstrated in silence and solitude. But none of these attributes constitute genuine worship in spirit and in truth (cf. John 4:24).
The word "worship" is derived from the Old English word "weorthscipe": to grant worth to an object or a person. You may ascribe Jesus Christ His due worth-ship (worship) using any of the above expressions, but those expressions are not in and of themselves worship. Jesus is inherently worthy, therefore when we demonstrate His worthy-ness, we are merely agreeing with a fixed reality, an irreversible truth.
Jesus told a Samaritan woman, "You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews" (John 4:22 NASB). The Greek word proskuneite (worship) translates "to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand; to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (literal or figurative) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore): -- worship.1 BDAG states that its frequent use was the designation and custom of one prostrating himself "before persons and kissing their feet or the hem of their garment, the ground, etc.; the Persians did this in the presence of their deified king, and the Greeks before a divinity or something holy."2
We find the expression of kissing the feet of Jesus at Psalm 2: "Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way" (Ps. 2:12 NKJV; cf. also KJV, ESV, NIV, ISV); "Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way" (Ps. 2:12 NASB; cf. also NET). The Septuagint (i.e., Greek version of the Hebrew Old Testament) uses a different Greek word here for kiss, than for worship, but the image remains.
What if an individual acknowledges God's right to worthship (worship) but lives his life in a perverse or unworthy manner? Will his acknowledgment -- his worship of God through Christ Jesus -- be counted as genuine? You can probably guess by the way the question is asked that the answer is no. But why is the answer no? If the man or woman is worshiping -- in other words, acknowledging that God is inherently worthy -- why must the individual also live a worthy life?
Husbands, imagine if your wife thought you were the most handsome man on earth, with the most impeccable integrity among all other men, and she acknowledged (at least once a week, say Sundays) that you were worthy of that claim. Sundays would probably become your favorite day of the week! However, let's say that Monday through Saturday, she would flirt with every other man with whom she encountered, held private meetings with some of those men, dressed in such a way as to always attract men, and never spoke of you or your worth to anyone else she met. What would you think of her acknowledging your "worthiness" on Sundays?
I was taught by some Pentecostals that to worship God "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24) meant to "give Him all I had" during the Sunday "worship time" (which, typically, meant during the singing portion of the service). "Giving Him all I had" was interpreted to mean lifting my hands in praise, clapping my hands in praise, singing in tongues in the Spirit to Jesus, and allowing the Holy Spirit to do whatever He wanted to do in me, which was not limited to those few expressions. This, I discovered, is not worshiping God in spirit and in truth.
The apostle Paul wrote to one congregation: "Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things" (Phil. 3:17-19 NASB).
Note that Paul was not bothered by their expressions in the worship service. What disturbed him profoundly -- what should disturb us all profoundly -- was that in their congregation were professing believers who did not "walk the walk." In other words, they said one thing in their speech and in their worship, but they lived their lives completely contrary to their profession. Like the wife pictured above, they acknowledged God's worthiness during worship, but they conducted their lives during the rest of the week as though God did not exist. These "believers" are functional atheists.
Life is worship. We do not worship God only on Sundays. Those types of people are called "nominal Christians." That means that such people are "Christian" in name only. But that name is a useless title, void of any real or genuine significance. Scripture teaches, "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31); "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father" (Col. 3:17).
Even eating a meal or a snack -- even drinking a soda or water or juice -- even studying for school or taking a test or performing on your job or going to the bank or walking through the park or burping your baby -- do all to the glory of God. Worship is not about momentary expressions (raising or clapping your hands while you sing praise choruses). Worship is not about the style of music you prefer. Worship is not one hour on a Sunday morning. Life is worship. If you claim to "worship" God, then the manner in which you conduct your life will reflect the truth of that claim.
__________
1 AMG's Annotated Strong's Greek Dictionary, in Strong's Complete Word Study Concordance, expanded edition, ed. Warren Baker (Chattanooga: AMG Publishers, 2004), 2145.
2 A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other Early Christian Literature, third edition, BDAG, revised and edited by Frederick William Danker (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2000), 882.
The word "worship" is derived from the Old English word "weorthscipe": to grant worth to an object or a person. You may ascribe Jesus Christ His due worth-ship (worship) using any of the above expressions, but those expressions are not in and of themselves worship. Jesus is inherently worthy, therefore when we demonstrate His worthy-ness, we are merely agreeing with a fixed reality, an irreversible truth.
Jesus told a Samaritan woman, "You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews" (John 4:22 NASB). The Greek word proskuneite (worship) translates "to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand; to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (literal or figurative) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore): -- worship.1 BDAG states that its frequent use was the designation and custom of one prostrating himself "before persons and kissing their feet or the hem of their garment, the ground, etc.; the Persians did this in the presence of their deified king, and the Greeks before a divinity or something holy."2
We find the expression of kissing the feet of Jesus at Psalm 2: "Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way" (Ps. 2:12 NKJV; cf. also KJV, ESV, NIV, ISV); "Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way" (Ps. 2:12 NASB; cf. also NET). The Septuagint (i.e., Greek version of the Hebrew Old Testament) uses a different Greek word here for kiss, than for worship, but the image remains.
What if an individual acknowledges God's right to worthship (worship) but lives his life in a perverse or unworthy manner? Will his acknowledgment -- his worship of God through Christ Jesus -- be counted as genuine? You can probably guess by the way the question is asked that the answer is no. But why is the answer no? If the man or woman is worshiping -- in other words, acknowledging that God is inherently worthy -- why must the individual also live a worthy life?
Husbands, imagine if your wife thought you were the most handsome man on earth, with the most impeccable integrity among all other men, and she acknowledged (at least once a week, say Sundays) that you were worthy of that claim. Sundays would probably become your favorite day of the week! However, let's say that Monday through Saturday, she would flirt with every other man with whom she encountered, held private meetings with some of those men, dressed in such a way as to always attract men, and never spoke of you or your worth to anyone else she met. What would you think of her acknowledging your "worthiness" on Sundays?
I was taught by some Pentecostals that to worship God "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24) meant to "give Him all I had" during the Sunday "worship time" (which, typically, meant during the singing portion of the service). "Giving Him all I had" was interpreted to mean lifting my hands in praise, clapping my hands in praise, singing in tongues in the Spirit to Jesus, and allowing the Holy Spirit to do whatever He wanted to do in me, which was not limited to those few expressions. This, I discovered, is not worshiping God in spirit and in truth.
The apostle Paul wrote to one congregation: "Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things" (Phil. 3:17-19 NASB).
Note that Paul was not bothered by their expressions in the worship service. What disturbed him profoundly -- what should disturb us all profoundly -- was that in their congregation were professing believers who did not "walk the walk." In other words, they said one thing in their speech and in their worship, but they lived their lives completely contrary to their profession. Like the wife pictured above, they acknowledged God's worthiness during worship, but they conducted their lives during the rest of the week as though God did not exist. These "believers" are functional atheists.
Life is worship. We do not worship God only on Sundays. Those types of people are called "nominal Christians." That means that such people are "Christian" in name only. But that name is a useless title, void of any real or genuine significance. Scripture teaches, "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31); "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father" (Col. 3:17).
Even eating a meal or a snack -- even drinking a soda or water or juice -- even studying for school or taking a test or performing on your job or going to the bank or walking through the park or burping your baby -- do all to the glory of God. Worship is not about momentary expressions (raising or clapping your hands while you sing praise choruses). Worship is not about the style of music you prefer. Worship is not one hour on a Sunday morning. Life is worship. If you claim to "worship" God, then the manner in which you conduct your life will reflect the truth of that claim.
__________
1 AMG's Annotated Strong's Greek Dictionary, in Strong's Complete Word Study Concordance, expanded edition, ed. Warren Baker (Chattanooga: AMG Publishers, 2004), 2145.
2 A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other Early Christian Literature, third edition, BDAG, revised and edited by Frederick William Danker (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2000), 882.
My personal opinion is that worship cannot be part of a multitask. The Greek word is to kiss the hand, and true worship has nothing to do with the outward method. It emanates from the heart.
ReplyDeleteSo the grandmother singing How Great Thou Art may be worshiping God more deeply than the Messianic dancer with a tamborine - or the other way around.
Rick Warren said you can worship God while taking out the trash. No, you cannot. You can praise Him and speak with Him, but if you desire to worship you must be completely given to Him.
And true worship is not music driven. I love and play (piano) and write worship songs, but we must always be careful not to allow the music to detract from the revelation of the Crucified and Risen Christ in our midst.
Also, if we desire to be a worshiper we must worship alone as well as in the company of believers. He is worthy of all we should give unto Him!
I heard a professor say that we can talk to the Lord while doing various activities in the bathroom (if you catch his drift). One Pentecostal lady told me that the Lord "speaks" to her most when she's on the toilet, because God has her undivided attention.
ReplyDeleteI cringe at both of those notions. I make it a habit to not pray in the bathroom, nor do I think that God is going to "speak" to me while on the toilet. I'm actually offended by it.
There is a time and a place to speak to and worship Christ, and while one is depositing one's bodily waste into a porcelain bowl is not the time for that! C'mon people! Do you not grasp the awesome, matchless, splendor of Jesus Christ?
That woman no more heard God "speak" to her on the toilet than I receive messages from the bananas on the counter.
Yea, we're on the same page. Another thought is how in my lifetime worship has become an entity. people say, "The worship was great" or "That church has great worship!"
ReplyDeleteTo me that indicates a real lack of understanding about the nature of worship. In the west we are motivated by emotions, visuals, music (beat and melody), and just the sheer atmosphere. Consversely, I have sensed God presence and been broken while worshiping on the mission field on a dirt floor and without any western accoutrements.
As Ravenhill once observed,
"The question isn't "weren't you challenged (or blessed, or moved, etc.)?" The question is, "Were you changed?""
Oh, we are definitely on the same page!
DeleteWWB - You ask, "What if an individual acknowledges God's right to worthship (worship) but lives his life in a perverse or unworthy manner?" God explicitly answers that in a couple of places: Psalm 109:7 and Proverbs 28:9. Both of these verses state that prayer can be a sin.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think about worship while washing dishes or scrubbing the floor? Brother Lawrence of The Practice of the Presence of God would state, "yes." In fact, I would think that he would heartily agree with your last paragraph. Great truth there! Thanks :-)
Amen, to the first paragraph! As to the second, I get what he and Rick Warren are aiming for: worship is a disposition, whereby a person lives his life with integrity and righteousness before God; hence that person lives his life in worship -- his attitude is always one of worship -- including the washing of dishes or the scrubbing of floors. I'm in agreement.
DeleteI really am unconvinced that true worship can be multitasked. How can you be distracted by dirty dishes, or painting the house, etc. and still worship God with a whole heart? It is difficult enough to remain undistrcted in a worship service, much less doing the work of Martha and claim it is worship.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, Jesus made it clear that Mary chose the best thing. He never indicated Martha was worshiping while doing dishes.
Rick -"He never indicated Martha was worshiping while doing dishes." He also never indicated she wasn't (although you're most likely correct). He simply stated that she was worried about many things. My observation is that worry and prayer are the same mental activity just with a different focus. And, to me, that is what Jesus was emphasizing. Martha needed to pick the better thing, which was to focus on Jesus rather than what Mary wasn't doing.
DeleteHowever, I would disagree that worship can't be multitasked. Bezalel, in Exodus 31:2-3 was filled with the Spirit of God so that he could build the tabernacle. To me, that sounds like someone who worshiped God while he worked.
Of course, I'm putting my own spin on it. So I'll grant you the point about Martha if you grant me the point about Bezalel :-P
WWB,
ReplyDeleteI don't think life is worship. Life can be led honorably and God-honoring, intimately and inclusively with God, but that is more an expression of faith than worship. At the end of time the every knee will bow down to Christ and confess him Lord, and although that is worshipful it won't be faithful.
God can talk to us anywhere doing anything, that is really up to him much more than us, but God talking to us isn't worship either. Faithful worship is the focused realization of a glad and willing surrender of heart and mind to the living, awesome God.
SLW,
DeleteI'm wondering if you're accurately tracking with my thought of life being worship, then. Perhaps I wasn't as clear as I should have or could have been.
If an individual claims to "worship" God on Sunday but lives his life contrary to how Scripture informs us a regenerate man or woman should or will live, then his "worship" is in vain. How one conducts his life, which is an overflow of what is in his heart, dictates the genuineness of his "worship." Therefore, if one's life is wicked and apathetic, then one's worship is also wicked and apathetic.
If one's life matches his obviously-regenerate nature, however, then his worship is genuine and God-honoring. I'm connecting life to worship intentionally -- to show people that merely doing certain things during a song service on Sunday does not constitute worship; your life is worship to God -- how you live it before Him, the state of your heart, etc. Does that make more sense?
WWB,
DeleteWe almost always track, so I don't doubt that we do here. ;-)
I'm charismatic so I'm a bit sensitive to the subject at hand, especially since I seem the odd man out. I believe charismatic worship practices can be out of hand and not in line with the word, but I also believe that they can be very much in line with the word and very pleasing to God. When God's people are in agreement together looking to God worshipfully, manifestations of the Holy Spirit seem to arise more readily. I believe the directives and descriptions of 1 Corinthians 14 paint the picture of what should happen in the normal Christian gathering.
All that aside, as well as my peculiar sensibilities, I do very much appreciate the substance and tenor of your response to my comment. Our lives should be both--genuine "worship" and God-honoring living, rather than either and or.
Increasingly, today's take on intent and meaning of worship when we do some research and try to discern in light of the Scriptures, we can conclude that "expressions of bodily and vocally heartfelt devotion and adoration" has found it's way massively in the church across most denominations. There is a thrust behind it that (I think) we have never witnessed before. Within a few years we have seen the development of "worship leaders" (though nowhere found in the NT, which used to be a mere function) becoming "Pastors of Music & Arts". They now pop out like mushrooms. Even when there is not even an allusion to be found in the New Testament to such a "vocational office" which the title Pastor assumes, it seems to be readily accepted in most churches throughout the country.
ReplyDeleteAlongside and with this phenomenon comes a downgrade of holiness in attire, speech, attitude and music styles of this world, while worldliness seems to be interpreted and limted to only certain areas like money, marriage and masculinity. "Engaging culture" seems to be the major focus to win the world for Christ, of course accompanied with doctrinal truth, so we see many "come to Christ", "worshipping Christ" and being "transformed" by the "renewal of their minds" to a christianity that looks like the world, sounds like the world and interacts with the world. It is called by many in the New Evangelical movement as a "Fresh and new way of Gospel Presentation". Terms as "Refreshing", "Resurgence", "New Wave", "Gospel DNA" are spreading like wildfire on the internet, in conferences and other events. According to one of such massive events, Passion 2012, God speaks straight to us in a mystical, contemplating way (Lectio Divina).
Pauls words in Romans 12: 1,2 come to mind to discern if all this is soundly Biblical,
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and ACCEPTABLE TO GOD, which is your spiritual worship. Do NOT be CONFORMED to this world, BUT be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by TESTING you may DISCERN what is the WILL OF GOD, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
I am very concerned with the whole development of the new approach on worship, that "testing" is more following pragmatic principles than biblical principles. I suspect that if we truly follow the latter, the "crowds" that are drawn now to the New Evangelical Churches (significantly moving toward charismatic styles), will shrink down to a minimum. When Jesus started telling the crowds He attracted by His miracles who he really was and what He came for, they ALL left Him but the twelve. That should really tell us something about testing and discerning the reason why crowds fill church buildings. Are they seeking Christ in Worship or are they seeking satisfaction of their spiritual cravings?
Sjoerd de Boer
Sjoerd,
DeleteWow, what a great response! I can echo a hearty Amen! at these comments, brother. I was shaking my head in approval the entire time reading. God bless.
Good discussion. I believe a Christ honoring life can authenticate your worship and exposes a worshipful heart.
Delete"Alongside and with this phenomenon comes a downgrade of holiness in attire, speech, attitude and music styles of this world"
I believe those things are irrelevant. I have seen sloppily dressed people worship God in humility and brokenness while the suited man singing a hymn is full of pride. (And vice versa.) The exteriors are irrelevant. Man looks on the outside but God ponders the heart.
Rick,
DeleteYou said "I believe those things are irrelevant." and "The exteriors are irrelevant."
I beg to differ and, funny enough, the same New Evangelical theologians who would afirm your statements to their opposition where it concerns the church, will tell their opponents where it concerns their missions that we have to be relevant to the culture (they will hardly use the word "world" in this context) if we want to be succesful to reach the world with the Gospel (Tim Keller uses the term Gospel DNA. Google this and find out what it entails).
Although I can follow their logic in a sense to reach the world in mission. The problem however is, once they come to Christ and enter into a christian culture that ought to be different than the world in EVERY aspect of this life, they would feel (rightly) betrayed if they come in the Church Worship Service where they would hear different music and where they see people clothed in modesty and a preacher that would not wear a Mickey Mouse T-shirt or show no tattoos. So what they do in general is, "sanctifying" those things, like change the lyrics of Hip-Hop, Heavy metal etc., have tattoos of Jesus and/or bible texts and we are good to go. The ones that would have at least some concerns about it are quieted being not to be "narrow-minded" or, in the worst case, are told that they make tradition an idolatry.
I think it would be helpful for many who are confused about the development of cultural relevance in the church to do some research in contemporary Church History. You would be surprised that all "worship wars" find their origin in a movement that proudly called themselves New Evangelicals in the late 50's.
Sjoerd de Boer
The most "conservative" churches in today's evangelical setting would have been considered antichrist in Jacob Arminius' day. I have done extensive study in church history, however that must bow to the Scriptures, Nowhere in the New Testament does it give guidlines for music style or dress (except for modesty) or even that tattoos are sin.
DeleteMy oldest son has several religious tattoos, inlcuding Bible verses. He is a weight lifter and he has a wide ministry and witnesses more than any man I have ever known. He is active in missions and personally flew down to help several missionary families escape the Chavez regime out of his own pocket.
And he has two masters in religious studies, and contrary to what many would surmise because of his appearance, he loves Ravenhill, Spurgeon, Tozer, and Jacob Arminius. He eshews all alcohol and tobacco, and I have seen him weep uncontrollably over the lost souls of men and women.
Brother, appearances are not always what they seem.
Yea, we're on the same page. Another thought is how in my lifetime worship has become an entity. people say, "The worship was great" or "That church has great worship!"
ReplyDeleteGood observation--I've noticed the same thing.
DT
Speaking of worship here is the worship of man.
ReplyDeletehttp://judahslion.blogspot.com/2012/02/bishop-eddie-long-and-spirit-of.html
Behold, the Antichrist cometh.
Fantastic article, William! I'm going to share this with my friends.
ReplyDelete- M. Giuliani
William.
ReplyDeleteIf Christ shat and peed himself on the cross for all to see, why don't you think God can be with us while we are in the bathroom? Surely if God sees all we do, and is with us where ever we go, he is there in the bathroom with us?
It's not that God is not with us in the bathroom. But we as humans are affected by our surroundings. Even Jesus separated Himself and scaled the mountain in search of a time of divine fellwship with the Father.
DeleteI do believe that worship should be sacrificial and not part of a convenient "kill tow birds with one stone" time.
As far as your assessment of Christ's physical sufferings on the cross, the Scriptures gives no revelation of the things you mentioned, and in fact, they are irrelevant.
Why are my observations irrelevant. For me they were and are greatly relevant. A number of years ago I suffered paralysis on my right side. I spent some months in hospital and in a wheel chair.
DeleteI have gone through the shame of having shat and peed myself in public, at church and elsewhere. And in the midst of my own pain and experience God showed me that Christ was with me no matter what. Now 4 years later, I have thrown away the walking stick and can use the bathroom at will. And I tell you, I freely thank God and worship him every time I do use the bathroom and I know he is there with me where ever I go.
Your personal observations are not irrelevant, but the things you suggested happened to Christ, if they did at all, were never the reason for the cross. Jesus did those things on a regular basis every day of His earthly life. The cross was about the blood.
DeleteBut I do acknowledge God's wonderful grace in your life!
BTW - My own health issues keep me pretty well penned up at home as well. Three heart attacks and major league diabetes are perishing my outward man daily, however like you my inward man is renewed every day.
Sorry to hear of your own health struggles and concerns Rick.
DeleteWithin the framework of the cross, I certainly don't want to imply that the cross wasn't about his shed blood. But the shedding of his blood includes the whole gamut of his undignified treatment. My observations come out research which shows what happened to people who were whipped and crucified...and what I mentioned was an integral part of it...
Craig,
DeleteFirst, I am not suggesting that Christ is not with us in the bathroom. What I took issue with is that while in the act of relieving oneself, that may not be the most appropriate time to seek the face of Christ in worship and devotion or Bible study.
Second, I took issue with the woman's assumption that God "spoke" to her most when she was on the toilet, because that seemed to be the only time God could get her undivided attention. That's sad on a few levels, including the fact that her spiritual relationship with Him is so hindered by so many other things that God cannot "get through to her" except when on the toilet. That should have been her first clue that something was seriously wrong.
Third, while you were enduring physical limitations and malfunctions, did you take that specific moment (i.e., wetting, shatting, etc.) to seek Christ's face in worship and devotion, or did you wait until all was better? I'm guessing the latter: correct me if I'm wrong. If what you're trying to imply is true, then you should have sought Christ's face in worship, prayer and devotion (and perhaps Bible study) while you were in the act of "shatting," etc.
Let's take it one step further: would you seek Christ's face in worship and devotion while making love to your wife? If not, why not?
From your initial comment, I think you majored on the minor, and thereby missed the entire point of this post. I'm not sure why you chose that route, but you did. I hope this is not a portrait of things to come.
God bless.
Hi William.
DeleteThanks for the clarification. You are right that if God can only speak to someone on the toilet...there is something not right in their life of devotion.
When I shat myself at church, well don't we consider the whole service part of worship and devotion? :) My point was more to do with how we live our lives despite the circumstances of our life. Within the framework of my condition and hospitalisation I was constantly crying out to God to help me get through it.
Within the framework of your comment, you seemed to be mocking the idea of even praying to God while on the toilet! Why would you mock that idea?
Why are you offended by the idea of talking to the Lord while on the toilet or Him actually talking to you on the toilet?
As for making love to my wife, I believe that is part of a married couples combined worship to the Lord.
While I may not of addressed the gist of your post, and replied to your comment, your comment was a central part of your post and worthy replying to.
As far as shatting and peeing. I go to Bible college with two other guys in wheel chairs. One is a lecturer. The other a student. They have no control over their bodily functions at all. Most of the time they are unaware of their smells and the fact they have soiled themselves. Within their framework of existence, they often pray, sing, sit in class and teach, preach while in the processes of messing themselves.
While I will agree you were not even thinking of people who experience life in these contexts when you commented, the truth is, many do! And as someone who has had to work through the heartache of that public humiliation and come to terms with it, yes there are times when I will sit on the dunny and praise God and seek his face.
The "dunny," haha! I know I'm not conversing with an American when I read a word like that!
DeleteFor people in such circumstances as you've mentioned -- which I believe comprise comparatively few, and not "many," as you wrote -- I would certainly think they may pray to and converse with the Lord in the midst of those circumstances, especially considering that many times they do not even realize they are experiencing those bodily functions during.
For the rest of lazy-yet-too-busy Christians, however, I should think that the other 23 hours 45 minutes of the day when they are NOT on the toilet would be sufficient time to speak with God.
Craig - Touché. Well-played brother.
ReplyDeleteThank you. :) Life often has a way of cutting across our systems of belief.
DeleteAm I just being paranoid, or was this post aimed directly at me?
ReplyDeleteI had never read that. Thanks for sharing. (And, no, haha.)
DeletePhew! Glad to hear that! (That one was close!)
DeleteP.S.: I think this would make a good addition to your post..