Check out the definition of the word "otherness," here. It's amazing to me that the word otherness is a noun, God is unique. There is none other like Him. Check out the lyrics to the song "Indescribable." After reading this chapter try to approach this song differently. We are singing to and about a God who is truly indescribable. Below, I've pulled out some great quotes from this chapter for reflection.
"Worship thrives on wonder."
"Sometimes in the Church we find ourselves doing the total opposite-we take the extraordinary revelation of God and somehow manage to make Him sound completely ordinary! We fail to communicate the sense of God's otherness."
"Left to ourselves we tend immediately to reduce God to manageable terms." (A.W. Tozer)
"Sometimes in the Church, I worry that we've settled for "goldfish bowl" worship. We convey a tame and domesticated God, and then find ourselves stuck in the endless pursuit of the ordinary."
"Reverance for God must find its way into even the smallest details of our lives."
Questions:
1. As worship leaders, how might we help to communicate the "otherness" of God?
2. Do you ever feel like you've settled for "goldfish bowl" worship?
3. Have you ever had a time when you we're ever "lost" in wonder?
2 comments:
Again, Matt Redman's book angers me. Not an anger of Matt's inaccuracy, or an anger of his haughty intellectualism, but an anger toward myself. I read his words and they are cutting through me like a laser beam.
why do I settle for so little in worship... is it even worship? I know (thanks to the Holy Spirit) that God is to be the center of my worship, but I worship God so apathetically, as if He is on some back burner.
I feel that if I really had a good view of God's glory and mighty power, I would treat my interaction and admiration toward Him differently. Falling face down is just the beginning.
tim
I must admit, that although, sometimes I get really tired of doing the song indescribable, but the words still pierce me every time I read / sing them... Because they are such amazing, true words... and it's good to remember the majesty of God, and be in awe!... So, onto the interrogatories.... first, how can we communicate "otherness" of God... that is a very good question, I think for me I have to let myself get caught up in the awe, forget that their are others around, and so I can only focus on God & his uniqueness.. then hopefully my posture, attitude, and countenance will display my wonder in God's otherness.
Regarding the Goldfish Bowl... it's easy to size God down, and I think it's because our human minds will never fully comprehend all that is God... so rather than explore that, we bring him down to our size... but Him in a box, and limit His effectiveness on our lives... This frustrates me when either I do it, or I see others doing it... and I always remind myself, that it is I who need to be looking to God, because God is always there waiting, always trying to communicate, and if I'm waiting for a burning bush, then I'll be waiting for some time! My prayer is usually that I let God speak to me and through me as I enter into worship, because it's my own distractions that cut off the communication.
In regards to be lost in the wonder... I think that I have brief moments of wonder (but always with those darn distractions), and in those instants of clarity, it has been like resurfacing, like I was holding my breath, but didn't realize it until after I caught my breath. Unfortunately, these moments never last long, as once I have them, rather than relish in them I attempt to take stock, and reconfigure myself to make the necessary adjustments... but I do try to get to that point... but to be completely honest, I usually have to be totally alone, and out of hearing range from any person, because I do this best out loud... My thoughts are much more clear to me when I speak them, rather than think them, so when I'm driving, or at my office alone (like today), I find myself getting more lost... and I have to accept the fact that it's ok to get lost sometimes, even if I have to stop whatever else is going on to do that!...
So, those are my thoughts... and honestly, I'll have to admit, that I'm getting more out of the blog than the book... I like the Matt Lewis cliff notes version... it's more concise, and the questions make me think.
Once again, sorry I'm running behind in my posts...
Diana
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