Act of Worship Jonathan Michael Jones

            While
Christian worship is surely trinitarian, it is also christocentric. One may
question how both may be true; yet, considering Christ’s complete work in
Christian life, an acknowledgement of the christocentricity of Christian
worship becomes apparent. Subconsciously, perhaps, many people consider God
solely as the Father without realizing the co-equal nature of the Son. Paul
argues for Christ’s preeminence in his letter to the Colossians. As worshippers
of the living God, the preeminence of Christ is vital to God-honoring worship.
Here is what Paul writes:


He
is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all
creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on
earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers
or authorities—all things were created through him and for
him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold
together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the
beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be
preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to
dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on
earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross (Col
1:15-20).


 


The preeminence of the
Son here is clear and should be considered in such a manner that Christian
worship teaches and reveals the preeminence of Christ. With that mentioned,
there are four constraints that must guide how Christian worship is employed.

            The
coming May 9 is Ascension Day in the Christian Calendar; the following Sunday,
May 12, is considered Ascension Sunday. While such a day is often not
recognized in evangelical traditions and particularly in American free church
traditions, it is a vital experience that occurred in the life of Christ; thus,
it is important for Christians to recognize and understand. One’s typical
thought could easily minimize the Ascension as if Jesus ascending from the
earth into the heavens was nothing more than a fascinating sight to behold;
yet, the implications of Jesus’ ascension are vast and far-reaching. Why then
is the Ascension important? Why should Christians remember it? And what are its
implications? I intend to answer these questions with four key ideas.


1.      The
Ascension is important because it is biblical.


2.      The
Ascension means that Jesus presently understands his people.


3.      The
Ascension means that Jesus’ resurrection is absolute and inarguable.


4.      The
Ascension means that God is now human.

Dr. Jonathan Michael Jones give commentary on his hymn, "Love Is My Song"

            Matthew’s
Gospel teaches that Jesus came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it. Surely,
the law could not be abolished so it had to be fulfilled; yet, the only one
able to fulfill it was Jesus Christ. Anyone who has been a Christian for any
significant length of time has likely had discussions as to what Jesus’
fulfillment of the law implies and even responded to questions about why
believers seemingly obey certain parts of the law and not others. Today begins
the Easter season, a time to reflect not only on Christ’s finished work on the
cross but also the implications of his resurrection and how his presence in the
lives of believers impacts the world today. Christian worship hinges on
worshiping a resurrected Christ not only through corporate gatherings but
through individual lives. What then does it mean that Jesus fulfilled the law?
To answer this question, I intend for us to consider three items.

Dr. Jonathan Michael Jones give commentary on his hymn, "My God Who Charges Mountains Stand"

            The
Apostle Paul contends, “We destroy arguments
and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take
every thought captive to obey Christ,” (2 Cor 10:5) in his second letter
to the Church at Corinth. In context, Paul was defending his ministry against
false prophets by highlighting the difference between worldly wisdom and the
spiritual wisdom of the cross, which to humankind could seem illogical or even
foolish (1 Cor 1:18). Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians seemingly doubles
down on his argument against false prophets, which he initiates in 1
Corinthians, i.e. the Apostle feels he must further oppose worldly wisdom,
which has infiltrated the church. Such a sentiment resonates with the church
today, especially in the West.


Moreover,
the key to Paul’s instructions is to take every thought captive to obey Christ.
In other words, such an action is foundational to the battle waged against
lofty (worldly) opinions. Without taking thoughts captive, it is impossible to
defeat the enemy. The mind is a powerful tool and may either be utilized for
good or for evil, which is why Paul says, in his letter to the Romans, that
God’s people are transformed by the renewing of the mind (Rom 12:2). While the
Bible teaches that the greatest commandment is to love God with the heart,
soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30), the mind is crucial to obedience. If the
heart is the seed or core of a person, the mind is the root; thus, how one
cares for the mind impacts all other areas of life. What then does it mean to
take one’s thoughts captive? I suggest three imperative:


1)
fight for rule of the mind,


2)
destroy the enemy’s attacks on the mind,


3)
obey Christ.


All aspects then are
rooted in the realization that worship is war; war is waged against the enemy
when God’s people worship.