The Wind and the Rock
The Wind and the Rock
People are wired differently - have you noticed?
For instance, I am more of a songwriter than an accountant. I am fascinated by accountants. How could they possibly enjoy doing what they do? I’m sure they wish they could be normal like me… (I hope you know I’m kidding!)
God, our Creator, delights in irony and contrasts. He made both the rhinoceros and the butterfly. Making everything the same is not his idea of a good time.
Here’s another of his great ironies: God wants his worshipers to worship in spirit and in truth. Some of us think that spirit is fundamental and truth is incidental. For others it’s just the opposite.
Charismatic Jack & Seminary Sam
Bear with me for a moment as I draw some caricatures. Any resemblance to anyone in your church fellowship is purely coincidental. Let’s imagine a Tuesday night home group meeting. You’re the worship leader and your name is Jack.
You really like to “flow in the spirit in worship — oh, glory to God!” And Sam, over there — bless his heart — “just can’t get free.” “Oh God,” you pray, “please don’t let Sam interrupt this great worship time with all those trivial obscurities that he gets out of ‘the original languages.'”
Meanwhile, Sam, over there is trying to figure you out. “Is he for real? Why does he always close his eyes when he sings? How long is this ‘free worship’ time going to last anyway? I’m ready to hear some good teaching.”
Back to you, Jack. “I just wish Sam knew that God is Spirit. I wonder if he understands that the greatest commandment requires that we love God with all our hearts?”
Sam: “I just wish Jack knew that God is Truth. I wonder if he understands that the greatest commandment requires that we love God with all our minds?”
Jack: “I’ll bet he’s not even filled with the Holy Spirit. He probably doesn’t even have a good worship playlist to listen to… too busy reading all those books!”
Sam: “I’ll bet he’s never read a book longer than 200 pages. He probably thinks John Calvin is a jeans designer.”
End of caricature. Jack and Sam have just proven what one translation of Proverbs 21:2 says: “every man’s way is right in his own eyes.”
Physiological Predispositions
Assuming that what the neuropsychologists tell us is true, the right and left hemispheres of our brains have fundamentally different functions. In his classic book, Worship is a Verb, the late Robert Webber tells us, “The left hemisphere of the brain specializes in verbal skills, while the right side of the brain centers on nonverbal and inductive skills such as the spatial and poetic impulses of the person. The left side of the brain is more word-oriented and orderly while the right side of the brain is more symbolic and creative.”
Everyone will operate out of both sides of the brain, but the fact is, some will function more from one side than the other. Sam, for instance, has a little more circuitry in his left side. The tragedy is that relationships are broken and churches split because of not understanding and appreciating these different predispositions.
Spirit and Truth
Jesus said that his Father is looking for worshipers who worship in spirit and truth — not one or the other. Here’s the principle:
Acceptable worship is an offering that is pleasing to God, in harmony with his Spirit and in accordance with his truth.
If we genuinely want to please God in our worship, we must understand that truth without spirit is unacceptable, as is spirit without truth.
In John 5, we see the Pharisees searching the Scriptures but unwilling to come to Christ. This is an example of truth without spirit — knowledge of God without fellowship with God. How serious is this problem? It can be idolatrous!
The flip side of the problem is spirit without truth. In 1 Chronicles 13, King David led in vigorous charismatic worship as they were returning the ark to Jerusalem. But according to I Chronicles 15:13-15, it was not in line with God’s truth. How serious is this problem? Even as they danced vigorously and the joyful sounds of the tambourines were going strong, God’s anger was growing. Uzzah died before the worship service was over! Pretty serious!
Rob & Braden
Years ago, a revelation came to me at a wedding rehearsal dinner for two special friends, Rob and Braden. He was a solid, serious-minded student who has since become a pastor; she had an art degree, was more spontaneous and very creative. As I was looking for words that would bless their marriage, I came to this: “God’s truth is like a rock — it is eternally the same, it never changes. God’s Spirit is like the wind — you don’t know where it’s coming from or where it’s going. Truth is fixed; Spirit is dynamic. Braden is like the wind; Rob is like the rock. Here’s to the marriage of the wind and the rock.”
Shouldn’t that be our prayer for our worship ministries, our congregations and the Church as a whole? If you agree, lift your glasses: “Here’s to worshipers who worship in spirit and truth! Here’s to the marriage of the Wind and the Rock!”
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