Wednesday: A Way to Worship
In their explanation of the relationship between worship and justice, there is another step urged by the prophets: that an active concern for relieving the poor and oppressed and helping those in need is an important part of worship itself. Isaiah 58 is one chapter that makes this link obvious.
Read Isa. 58:1-14. What has gone wrong in the relationship between God and His people as described in the early part of this chapter?
Sharing
As we have seen previously, this criticism is addressed to people who are actively religious. They seem to be earnestly seeking God, but apparently it is not working. So, God says they should try changing how they worship, to try a different way of serving God. If He were to choose how they would worship, it would be “to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke” (Isa. 58:6, NIV). They would also feed the hungry, give shelter to the homeless, and help those in need.
Such activities are not presented as the only way to worship, but God does urge them as a way to worship—and a form of worship that might be preferable to some of the people’s more traditional worship practices. As such, worship is not only inwardly focused but something that brings blessing to all those around the worshipers of God. “The true purpose of religion is to release men from their burdens of sin, to eliminate intolerance and oppression, and to promote justice, liberty, and peace”. – The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 4, p. 306.
In Isaiah 58:8-12, God promises blessings in response to this form of worship. In effect, God is saying that if the people were to be less focused on themselves, they would find God working with them and through them to bring healing and restoration.
Interestingly, this chapter also connects this kind of worship with a renewal of “delight” – filled Sabbath keeping. We have already considered some of the strong connections between Sabbath and ministry, but these verses include both these activities in this call for the people to revitalize their worship and to discover God’s blessing. Reflecting on these verses, Ellen G. White commented, “upon those who keep the Sabbath of the Lord is laid the responsibility of doing a work of mercy and benevolence”. – Welfare Ministry, p. 121.
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Have you ever heard the expression, "They were so heavenly minded, they were no earthly use!"? It captures the essence of theoretical religion - all talk and little action. That notion hit me one day when I was sitting in my favourite Sabbath School class. I enjoyed the great discussions we had, but in the back of my mind I knew that there was a primary Sabbath School class that was languishing because there were not enough teachers for it. Next Sabbath I fronted up at the primary Sabbath School class and for the next 18 months I helped out there. And the discussions we had there were probably more important in the long run that the heady theoretical discussions we had in the adult class.
Being in love is a really great feeling. Looking into one another's eyes, holding hands, kissing and embracing are enjoyable, but in every true love story, eventually you have to work out that love has to extend to the more mundane aspects of life. Somebody has to cook the meals and do the housework. Work needs to be done so that we can live and eat. If your love does not go beyond the "cuddly stuff" and get its hands dirty with the reality of life it will die.
And if our spiritual life is all doctrine and liturgy and does not extend to helping others it will be like the cursed fig tree; all leaves and no fruit.
The lesson encourages us to read Isaiah 58. Its a great read for practical spirituality. Here are a couple of quotes from the Message paraphrase:
Read the whole chapter; its great encouragement for practical Christians.
Peter described Jesus this way:
What an example!
If Sabbath is used in it's true intent there would be no atheist.
Many don't or can't believe in a God because of the sufferings in the world.
If those who believe In Christ actively involved in relieving the stress of the poor, the world would experience power of God such as never before and the world would be turned upside down for the Love of Christ.
Many followed Christ because He had a compassionate heart.
There are many who are poor in the emotions, poor in heath (regardless of wealth) and poor in having peaceful life.
One of my friend shared with me:
A neighbor in her neighborhood had a death in the family.
Another neighbor hearing about the death visited and comforted the family and went onto shine and polish the shoes for the funeral service.
It may be simple but very neglected aspect of the funeral attire.
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
What have you done for the name of Christ?
When I was young on Sabbath we visited nursing homes, my mom always had visitors over for lunch, sometimes we visited shut in's ...sometimes I went with my grandparents who provided free medical care on the reservation or to Mexican nationals, sometimes we passed out free books while at the beach exploring the tide pools...my point is that service was just as important as going to church...I have visited many churches since then (we are fulltime in our rv) and this is no longer part of the Adventist culture!😔
Don't get too worried about the state of the Church Cheryl. There are still those who are out in the community doing good. They do not shout about it but quietly share the love of Jesus in practical ways. A family loses everything in a house fire, and someone offers them rent-free accomodation until they get on their feet. A child is being bullied at school because he comes from a single parent family and has poor teeth. Someone steps in and pays for the orthodontic work that makes a world of difference. A church perceives a need for health education among the unchurched folk in the district and runs a CHIP program. The list could go on and on. Most of this help for the needy is coming from quiet individuals who don't really want to let the left hand know what the right hand is doing.
And if that is not happening in our community, what can we do to change the culture?
I'd like to add my encouragement, Cheryl, in that there are quite a few churches even here in the big city where I live that have weekly ministries to the homeless poor, prisons,and a vibrant regular Nursing home ministry. One congregation went out into the community instead of having a church service just a few weeks ago. Sundays are also busy with food and clothing distribution as well as the regular food pantry held weekly.Free education classes, ESL classes, etc. Not to mention the help given members who find themselves in need as well.
Worship of the Creator obviously involves caring for His creation of which Mankind is a part. If love is the fulfillment of the law, how are we to take part in this? Do unto others as you wish to be done by; furthermore, love one another as Christ has loved us. Because YHWH is love we should reflect this in our interactions; socially, and spiritually. He loved us so He gave us His Son, who loved us enough to die for us. We can die for one another, however, only His Son could die for us and offer us salvation simultaneously! He goes farther/further by giving us His Spirit, which bless us with gifts and fruits. Top fruit is love!
Those whom Christ commends in the judgment may have known little of theology, but they have cherished His principles. Through the influence of the divine Spirit they have been a blessing to those about them. Even among the heathen are those who have cherished the spirit of kindness; before the words of life had fallen upon their ears, they have befriended the missionaries, even ministering to them at the peril of their own lives. Among the heathen are those who worship God ignorantly, those to whom the light is never brought by human instrumentality, yet they will not perish. Though ignorant of the written law of God, they have heard His voice speaking to them in nature, and have done the things that the law required. Their works are evidence that the Holy Spirit has touched their hearts, and they are recognized as the children of God.
Luke 12:48
But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
We have been given much information about how we are supposed to live with the people in need.
Thank you Majuru for the quote by Ellen White in Desire of Ages, page 638. It is not so much how much light we have, but that we act on the light we have. The Good Samaritan may not have had the same head knowledge the priest and Levi had, but he knew enough to show compassion. Thank you for sharing a very important lesson.