Our Damascus Road

In 1 Thessalonians 5, the Apostle Paul wrote:
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."


If Paul had to choose the most significant moment in his entire life, I would be that he would choose Christ's appearance to him and his subsequent conversion from a legalistic leader of Judaism to a servant of Jesus Christ.  This was the one event that helped to create and shape Paul's world view, or rather the lens through which he sees and experiences everything in his lifetime.  


Paul understood that because of his life as an enemy of God and the violent persecution of His people that he was deserving of God's wrath.  Instead, God chose to truly demonstrate His power by dramatically changing Paul's life instead of destroying him.  


If you really, truly look at all thirteen epistles that were authored by Paul, there are two themes that are weaved throughout the text as a result of Paul's changed world view: he believed that the primary mission of the church was the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (this one is a discussion for another day), and Paul also desired to help others to a place where they might experience the same generous mercy that God had shown him on the Damascus Road.


So how did this dramatic change in Paul's life manifest itself?  The Apostle became fully aware that God deserved to be glorified in all of his thoughts and all of his actions; Paul knew that God deserved our continuous worship, not just on a particular day of the week or for a few designated hours in a day.  


It is almost a sort of misnomer to refer to our weekly gatherings as "worship services," since our meeting together on Sunday mornings should simply be an extension of worship that continues on from throughout the week.  I know that I'm guilty at times of not even worshiping when I'm on stage playing in the band, and certainly even more guilty when I'm doing my day-to-day activities.


It is my hope that as the leading worshipers here at LGCC, this blog would help provide ideas and concepts to ponder about and to pray about throughout the week.  Paul wanted all believers to experience God's grace and mercy so that they might be compelled to live a lifestyle of worship, because that is what worship is: a lifestyle.  It isn't a set of songs, or simply going to church.  It is living a life that constantly realizes that God is truly awesome, merciful, and gracious and therefore worthy of our unceasing worship.


I truly hope that this blog and whatever words are written will help to stir up your hearts whenever you read it, and I hope that it will help spark discussion of the theology of worship during rehearsals.


My practical challenge to you (and to myself) is this:  don't think of worship as something that can be turned on and off with the flip of a switch.  Practice your music and know it as best as you can for rehearsals and for Sunday mornings.  Wean yourself off of constantly staring at the lyrics or the chord chart and allow yourself to truly comprehend the contents of the music.  Worship music are prayers to God set to music, and that is not something that is to be taken lightly.


I am honored to be a part of a community of musicians such as this, and I greatly look forward to being able to encourage and to be encouraged by all of you to truly live a lifestyle of worship.