Tag Archives: worship

THE TEMPLE AS A TOOL OF EMPEROR WORSHIP (5)

Israel, Revelation, Temple October 13, 2020 Leave a comment

Jupiter godPMW 2020-081 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

In this fifth entry in an 8-part series I am arguing that the Jewish Temple in the first-century effectively functioned as tool of emperor worship, when understood spiritually. I recommend reading the previous articles first, and in order.

Jewish Temple as Pagan Idol

In the final analysis, the Temple system has become for Israel an idol substituting for a right relationship with God. Formalism has replaced vitalism in worship, externalism has pushed out spirituality. The Lord rebukes the scribes and Pharisees for their empty traditionalism which “invalidated the word of God” (Mt 15:1-6), making them “hypocrites” (15:7), and showing that “this people honors Me with their lips, / But their heart is far away from me, / But in vain do they worship Me, / Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men” (15:8-9). He chastises Peter for not understanding the hypocrisy involved in Pharisaic hand washing rituals (15:15-20), for “not what enters into the mouth defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man” 15:11). Continue reading →

POSTMILLENNIALISM AND CHURCH

Church April 17, 2020 Leave a comment

Church attendPMW 2020-030 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

Postmillennialism holds a high view of the church. And of Christian worship in the church. And membership in the church. The church is the central focus of the kingdom of God. Much of the decline of Christianity that we are witnessing in America is related to Christians failing to understand the significance of the church for the Christian life.

In this article I will briefly present a biblical argument for church membership. Revival and reformation in our land must begin with the church, the household of God. Continue reading →

THE REFORMATION OF WORSHIP

Church March 21, 2017 Leave a comment

PMT 2017-023 by Glen J. Clary (New Horizons)

Doctrine and worship are mutually formative aspects of church life. What we believe determines how we worship, and over time the way we worship shapes what we believe. Accordingly, the Protestant Reformation was an attempt to reform both doctrine and worship according to Scripture and with respect for the customs of the ancient church. Unlike the Lutheran wing of the Reformation—which was reluctant to introduce extensive changes in worship—the Calvinistic Reformers sought to purge the church of all man-made rites, ceremonies, and ordinances that had corrupted pure worship with superstition and idolatry. For Luther, the Reformation was chiefly a war against works righteousness. For the Calvinists, the Reformation was primarily a war against the idols of Rome. Continue reading →

CHRISTMAS AND WORSHIP

Devotional December 20, 2014 Leave a comment

By Don Strickland.

Two of the leading Christmas passages are from Luke 2 and Matt 2, for they show us worship as integral to a true understanding of Christmas. Continue reading →

Finding a Truly Biblical Church (2)

Church, Non-eschatology Studies December 30, 2013 Leave a comment

PMT 2013-046b Jeffrey K. Boer

Note: In our last PostmillennialismToday posting we began a brief series on how to find a biblical church. Continue reading →