The Operation Log of Agent Delta

"FOR YOU"

Posted On: August 14th, 2006 at 9:09 am

Sorry it's been so long. I've been busy!

"For you." That is the theme of next year's Higher Things conferences.
To paraphrase next year's conference coordinators, "The Gospel is not that Christ died, but that
He died FOR YOU." We see this theme reflected throughout the Divine Service.
Yet it is this principle that is perhaps one of the core differences between
the traditional Divine Service and the modern contemporary worship service.
The core of each service can be described using almost the same words.
However, the words are arranged differently. The Divine Service is all about
what God has done and continues to do FOR US. The modern contemporary worship
service is all about what we do FOR GOD. A small rearrangement of the words, but
big difference in meaning. Want proof that this is what each service is about? Look at the Words of
Institution from the Divine Service: "This is my body, given FOR YOU...this is
my blood, shed FOR YOU." Now look at a popular contemporary worship song:
"Here I am to worship, here I am to bow down..." It's all about what YOU are
doing.

Many churches hold contemporary worship services in an attempt to "reach out"
to youth. Personally, I find the core principle in these services rather
scary. You may wonder why I think this way. After all, what's so scary about
a little change? What scares me is that God demands perfection. Suddenly, I'm
wondering if my worship is good enough. After all, since God demands
perfection, my worship better be perfect. After all, I am offering it to God.
What if He doesn't like it? What if it's not good enough? That's a scary thing
to have to wonder about.

But the Divine Service is different. It's all about what God does FOR US.
Suddenly, God's demand for perfection goes from being incredibly scary to
incredibly comforting. Jesus earned my salvation, and it is perfect, because
God accepted what Jesus earned for us, and God will accept nothing short
of perfection. Now I know that my salvation is perfect. Now I know that God
will never require anything more, or anything better, than what Jesus has
earned for me. I don't have to worry anymore! That's what's so cool about Jesus earning our salvation and
giving it feely to us. That's also what's so cool about the Divine Service.
It's all about what God has done FOR US.

Edited on: August 14th, 2006 9:14 am

Comments:

Re: "FOR YOU"

Posted On: August 15th, 2006 at 8:39 am by Rachel Engebretson
Excellent.

Wonderful post...I wish you would write more often! Blogger Smiley

Re: "FOR YOU"

Posted On: August 15th, 2006 at 8:52 am by AgentDelta

Excellent.

Wonderful post...I wish you would write more often!

Thanks. I just don't have that much time...

Re: "FOR YOU"

Posted On: August 16th, 2006 at 9:34 am by Rachel Engebretson

Thanks. I just don't have that much time...

I know how that is.

Okay, so when are we going to be able to read your thoughts on debate? Blogger Smiley

Re: "FOR YOU"

Posted On: August 17th, 2006 at 6:40 am by AgentDelta

Thanks. I just don't have that much time...

I know how that is.

Okay, so when are we going to be able to read your thoughts on debate? ;-)

Sometime in the next decade, if you're lucky. :P Blogger Smiley