In Spirit and Truth

We have often heard the metaphor of “the Body of Christ,” and it provides us an excellent picture with how we should behave toward one another and toward the world. Just as a healthy body cannot be at war with itself, so we as Christians must honor one another as fellow members of the Body. And just as Christ reached out to the poor and helpless, the lost and broken, so we as his Body must continue to do the same. When it comes to worship, however, there is a better analogy. Scripture talks about the church being the “Bride of Christ.” (Isa. 62:5 / 2 Cor. 11:2 / Rev18-22) What a picture this brings! We are the betrothed of God! For those of you who are married, think back to you engagement period. For those of you who aren’t, imagine it. Do you remember the sheer joy at being in the same room together? Do you remember how everything else was laid aside in order to have more time together? Troubles didn’t seem quite as big. And it seemed like everything was going to work out just ri

Ah, that icon of the elementary school lunch room! The Nutrition Pyramid. Its vibrant colors and cartoonish images of food daily reminded us that we needed a little of everything – fruits, vegetables, meats, cereals, dairy, & sweets. It’s funny that what came on the trays in the lunchroom rarely resembled the proportions that the pyramid preached. In worship there is also a balanced diet. (For the purposes of this article when I speak of worship, I am referring to music; however, these types apply to all forms.) There is worship that drives us, worship that forms us, worship that moves us, and worship that comforts us. You will never hear me willing speak of “traditional” and “contemporary” worship, because all worship is both traditional and contemporary! If we sing an 800 year old song, it is contemporary worship, because we are currently singing it. If we sing a song written 8 minutes ago, it is traditional worship, because we are joining in with centuries of worshippers who