Have you noticed how important it is to stress the right words in a sentence? Take the question “What does it look like?” If you say “What does it look like?” you are asking for information about something’s form. If you say “What does it look like?” you’re asking for some kind of comparison with something else. If you say “What does it look like?” you’re my dad commentating on the state of my bedroom when I was a teenager.
What should worship at All Saints’ look like? Should it be like 9:00am?
- structured
- 4 hymns
- liturgical
- dignified
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be!
Or should it look like 10:30am?
- free
- informal
- with provision for all ages,
- contemporary
- open
Or should it look like 6:30pm?
- fluid
- unstructured
- sometimes unplanned
- cutting edge
- experimental
The answer is yes. I am convinced that we have got it right to have developed a mixed economy here.
I know which services you like the most because I know which ones you usually attend. Very few of you go to all three. Which do I prefer? Really? You might think I sound like a politician here but, God is my witness, the truth is that I go to the majority of our services here and I appreciate all three styles just as much… as long as Jesus is at the centre.
I like praying well crafted, familiar prayers with feeling and faith. I like seeing people respond in gloriously unpredictable ways to the power of the Holy Spirit in prayer ministry. I like seemliness and I like spontaneity.
As long as Christ is glorified, exalted and adored, as long as I see that people are delighting in him, I don’t care if I’m dressed up in robes, hearing a tambourine shaking loudly in my ear or standing on my head.
Two Poles
The truth though is that all of our worship services run the perilous risk of drifting away from centring on Christ – and for different reasons. And I think our reading from Colossians 2 speaks into that issue very clearly today.
Colossians 2 contrasts two different unhealthy extremes in worship.
· One extreme is characterised by words like superspiritual, otherworldly, weird, esoteric and excessive.
· The other extreme is characterised by words such as fussy, religious, fastidious, ascetic and pious.
These two opposites are both bad news because, like the north and south poles of our planet, they are magnetic - they both pull people away from Jesus Christ. They lure us into minimising him, they lure us into marginalising his essential greatness. They are a deadly distraction.
The Superspiritual Pole
The first pole (let’s call it the Superspiritual Pole) is described in v18.
“Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such people also go into great detail about what they have seen, and their unspiritual minds puff them up with idle notions.”
Paul is describing a spiritual movement called Gnosticism. It threatened the health of the church in the first century. It could have squeezed the life out of the church in its infancy. One aspect of Gnosticism was that some people made a big, big thing of weird and wonderful visions, dreams, angelic visitations and special spiritual revelations that only a few privileged and elite people were party to. It was like an exclusive club with a bouncer on the door. There were level one Christians with their special access to God – and the rest.
It’s not that we don’t believe in dreams and visions and angels. We do. But Paul says here that these people “go into great detail about what they have seen.” They are obsessed with this stuff. They go from conference to conference looking for the next spiritual buzz. He talks about “delighting in false humility.” In other words they loved drawing attention to themselves but it was all phoney and showy.
Watch out for people who are not shy of revealing to you their incredible insights into what’s going on in the spiritual realms, especially when they describe a whole catalogue of phenomena that the Bible never mentions. I’ve heard that kind of talk and I’m not impressed.
Paul says that their unspiritual minds puff them up with idle notions. Pride is the worst spiritual illness you can have - because it’s so hard to cure. As American pastor John Ortberg says, “People see therapists and pastors every day for anger or anxiety or addiction problems, but rarely does anyone seek help for their pride problem. There are no Betty Ford Treatment Centers for the Insufferably Arrogant, but not because we don’t need them.”
The Ultrareligious Pole
The second pole (let’s call it the Ultrareligious Pole) is described in v20-23.
“Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.”
What’s going on here? He’s talking about people in the church at Colossae whose approach to the Christian faith is preoccupied with human wisdom, human regulations and human systems. It’s an approach to worship that is very correct, but quite rigid and rather austere. There’s a nitpicking joylessness about it. Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!
They’ve swapped the simple Gospel of Grace for a thick Religious Procedures Manual. It’s not that we don’t need shape and order in our worship – we do. But we must not obsess over matters of form and lose sight of what it’s really all about.
That’s what was in danger of happening here in Colossae. Look at v19:
“They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.”
Spiritual growth and health only occur when our worship and teaching, and pastoral care and service and decision making and giving are Jesus focused.
When we allow ourselves to become fixated with superspiritual phenomena and manifestations or preoccupied by ultrareligious traditions and procedures we get disconnected from the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a spiritual decapitation. Jesus drifts into the background. He becomes little more than an amusing accessory.
Why Jesus is Preeminent
And that’s when, to borrow some phrases from SM Lockeridge…
He who is:
- the King of the Jews
- the King of righteousness.
- the King of the ages.
- the King of Heaven.
- the King of glory.
- the King of kings and the Lord of lords
is deposed from his throne.
He who is:
- enduringly strong
- entirely sincere
- eternally steadfast
- immortally graceful
- imperially powerful
- and impartially merciful
fades into something rather underwhelming.
He who is:
- the grandest idea in literature
- the highest personality in philosophy
- the supreme problem in higher criticism
- the fundamental doctrine of historic theology
- and the cardinal necessity of spiritual religion
becomes just one moral guide among many.
He who:
- heals the sick
- cleanses lepers
- forgives sinners
- discharges debtors
- delivers the captives
- defends the feeble
- blesses the young
- serves the unfortunate
- regards the aged
- rewards the diligent
- and beautifies the meek
gets relegated to the rank of just a good man.
He who is:
- the key of knowledge
- the wellspring of wisdom
- the doorway of deliverance
- the pathway of peace
- the roadway of righteousness
- the highway of holiness
- the gateway of glory
becomes just a way, a truth and a life.
He:
- whose office is manifold
- whose promise is sure
- whose life is matchless
- whose goodness is limitless
- whose mercy is everlasting
- whose love never change
- whose Word is enough
- whose grace is sufficient
- whose reign is righteous
- whose yoke is easy
- whose burden is light
becomes little more than a pretty decoration on a man-made religion.
As SM Lockeridge went on to say;
- He's invincible, and He is irresistible.
- You can't outlive Him and you can't live without Him.
- He always has been and He always will be.
- He had no predecessor and He'll have no successor.
- There's nobody before Him and there'll be nobody after Him.
In the passage from Revelation 1 Jesus appears in his risen and ascended glory.
The “robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash” are images of priestly distinction – having dealt with our sin by offering his own life, he is now interceding for us in heaven.
The “hair on his head, white like wool, white as snow”, is a picture of dignity and wisdom.
The “eyes like blazing fire” speak of his all-knowing authority.
“Coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword.” This is a representation of the severity of Christ – he will place his enemies; all the forces of evil and all who attack the gospel of grace, decisively under his feet.
“His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.” As the blessing in Numbers 6 says, “May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.” The countenance of the Lord is radiant favour to those whom he delights to bless.
No one seems to know what the feet like bronze glowing in a furnace is all about.
I’m not sure you’re supposed to work out what every detail means; I think you’re supposed to be awestruck by the terrible majesty of this vision and moved to worship.
Nobody has more names and titles in the whole of human history than Jesus. In the fields of entertainment, science, politics, philosophy, religion or sport nobody comes close. One website I looked at this week listed 208 separate names and designations. I’m going to finish by going through some of them now.
He’s called the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 3.14) because he was before all things and he when it’s all over he’ll still be there.
He’s called the Amen (Revelation 3.14) because he is God’s “yes” to every yearning question we could ever ask.
He’s called the Lamb of God (Revelation 13.8) because his sin sacrifice alone is perfect, unblemished and acceptable.
He’s called the Shepherd and Guardian of your Soul (1 Peter 2:25) because he watches over your life and goes looking for you when you stray.
He’s called the Wonderful Counsellor (Isaiah 9.6) because when you go to him for assistance his words are uplifting, wise and life changing.
He’s called the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5.4) because every human pastor or church leader is under his authority and will give an account to him.
He’s called the Leader and Commander of the Peoples (Isaiah 55:4) and the Desired of Nations (Haggai 2.7) because nations can only find their true wealth and prosperity under his just government and perfect rule.
He’s called the Chosen One of God (Isaiah 42.1) because his Father loves him, is well pleased with him and delights in his servant obedience.
He’s called the Star of the Morning (Revelation 22.16), the bright morning star, because when all the celebrities and superstars and icons have faded, he will still outshine them all.
He’s called the Man of Sorrows (Isaiah 53:3) because he went lower than any other man has gone before or since, sounding the depths of suffering and despair – for our sakes.
He’s called the Heir of all Things (Hebrews 1:2) because he was raised higher than any man has been elevated before or since, crowned with majesty and glory and seated at his Father’s right hand.
He’s called the Image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4) because everything you see in Jesus is true of his Father; he is God’s body language.
He’s called the Cornerstone (Psalm 118.22) because you can build your life on him and your foundation will be solid.
He’s called the Deliverer (Romans 11.26) because he sets free those under the power of the occult, the paranormal and evil forces.
He’s called the I Am (John 8.58) because he is the great I Am; Yahweh – the God who always was, always is and always will be.
He’s called the Gate - not a gate - (John 10.7) because eternal life is found only in him.
He’s called the Light of the World (John 8.1) because darkness is a symbol for fear and evil. His love casts out all fear and there is no evil in him.
He’s called the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25) because all those who believe in him will live - even when they die.
He’s called the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9.6) because in him there is neither Jew or Arab, Protestant or Catholic. When terrorists in the Middle East and Northern Ireland are converted they embrace those who were once sworn enemies.
He’s called the King of the Ages (1 Timothy 1.17) because he reigns and he rules and he always will.
He’s called the Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2) because as the sun rises in the sky, he appeared in history and as the sun’s rays kiss the earth his healing power reaches all peoples.
He’s called the Almighty (Revelation 1.8) because nothing is too hard for him.
He’s called the Pioneer of our Faith (Hebrews 6.20) because he goes before us through life and has opened the door of heaven for us – a door no one can shut.
He’s called the Author and Perfecter of our Faith (Hebrews 12.2) because he is the brilliant writer behind every chapter of your life and only he can pen a happy ending to it.
Ending
That’s why our worship, whatever form it takes, must be centred on Jesus.
Sermon preached at All Saints' Preston on Tees, 26th June 2011
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