In The Dangerous Act of Worship: Living God’s Call to Justice
Dr. Labberton feels that we are too self-centered in our worship. Seem like an oxymoron? It is. Worship does not stop in singing to God, in hearing the preaching of his Word, in making our requests known to our Father. It continues in loving our neighbor, in seeking justice for the downtrodden, in renewing our communities. If we are true worshipers, our worship will “expose our cultural and even spiritual complacency toward a world of suffering and injustice.”
“Waking up is the dangerous act of worship. It’s dangerous because worship is meant to produce lives fully attentive to reality as God sees it, and that’s more than most of us want to deal with.” This book is Dr. Labberton’s wake up call to the church. He writes, “nothing is more important than for us to wake up and practice the dangerous act of worship, living God’s call to justice.”
Dr. Labberton then looks at some of the specific dangers of worship - false ones as well as actual ones. The false dangers are ones that we think are dangers within worship (relevance, expectations, etc.). The true dangers of worship are those that are false about God and his word. The biggest danger of all, though, is encountering God. Too often, Christians merely have a “friendly relationship” with God (which is fine - we are called friends of God), but we also need a healthy fear of the Lord, an awe of the holy, a wonder at the person of Jesus. When we truly encounter God, everything we call normal is redefined & we are nearly powerless to do anything but seek his kingdom.
This is not a casual read. It will make you uncomfortable & will challenge your conception of worship. There is a study guide included in this book, if you would like to take a leadership team or staff through, also.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU?
About 3 years ago I dropped into a black hole – four months of absolute terror. I wanted to end my life, but somehow [Holy Spirit], I reached out to a friend who took me to hospital. I had three visits [hospital] in four months – I actually thought I was in hell. I imagine I was going through some sort of metamorphosis [mental, physical & spiritual]. I had been seeing a therapist [1994] on a regular basis, up until this point in time. I actually thought I would be locked away – but the hospital staff was very supportive [I had no control over my process]. I was released from hospital 16th September 1994, but my fear, pain & shame had only subsided a little. I remember this particular morning waking up [home] & my process would start up again [fear, pain, & shame]. No one could help me, not even my therapist [I was terrified]. I asked Jesus Christ to have mercy on me & forgive me my sins. Slowly, all my fear has dissipated & I believe Jesus delivered me from my “psychological prison.” I am a practicing Catholic & the Holy Spirit is my friend & strength; every day since then has been a joy & blessing. I deserve to go to hell for the life I have led, but Jesus through His sacrifice on the cross, delivered me from my inequities. John 3: 8, John 15: 26, are verses I can relate to, organically. He’s a real person who is with me all the time. I have so much joy & peace in my life, today, after a childhood spent in orphanages [England & Australia]. God LOVES me so much. Fear, pain, & shame, are no longer my constant companions. I just wanted to share my experience with you [Luke 8: 16 – 17].
Peace Be With You
Micky
PS: Now i know why there are so many DENOMINATIONS - everyone has an opinion. Jesus was about LOVE - not being RIGHT or WRONG!!
Hey nice review and very cool site…I have a review of it as well
http://cecworship.wordpress.com/2007/08/07/223/
As a musician and worship leader I tend to agree that worship sung but not lived is a dangerous cocktail.
There is something very powerful when a bunch of folks get together and sing songs to someone they can’t see (if you think about sung worship that’s what to looks like to outsiders). But it becomes even more powerful when it translates into social action, justice and mercy.
The statement (attributed to Napoleon amongst others) that he would rather write the nations songs than write its laws implies that there is power for change in both art and action.
Cheers - Andy