Comments on: Worship Mythbusters: The Myth of Proposition over Experience in Worship

By: Rich Kirkpatrick

Rich Kirkpatrick — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 14:35:12 +0000

Dan…But is being higher biblical? This still implies “separate” and there is no “biblical” evidence of that. The very point is that Augustine and our modernist way of thinking about anthropology is incomplete and skewed. Reason is very important, but its context is in an emotion-filled, spiritually created being. So, the “meaning” of reason is not understood without the other part of us just as much as reason may “moderate” passion. Passion moderates reason from us not seeking after God by faith when no reason can give us permission to do so.

By: danv

danv — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 08:50:00 +0000

Reason is like a network firewall: when it’s operating properly it screens out deleterious passions and allows constructive and God-honoring passions to come through. Without reason, and more accurately, without reason anchored by the teachings of Jesus, we wouldn’t be able to discern among the passions that flow through us. So in that context, Augustinian and Platonic Reason is higher in a hierarchical sense, but not necessarily more important, than passion. IMHO Reason was never meant to exclude or usurp Passion; the two coexist for different purposes.

By: Rich Kirkpatrick

Rich Kirkpatrick — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 03:56:33 +0000

I love your 2 cents Fred!

By: Fred McKinnon

Fred McKinnon — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 23:05:40 +0000

Could it be that we (especially, as WL’s) don’t spend enough time in intentional planning and prayer so that our expression expresses both – that of reason, and that of feeling?

Just as we put forth effort into choosing the appropriate balance of fast/praise, versus slow/worship (not necessarily do those go together) … we balance modern to traditional (for those of us blending things) … we should also balance “reasonal” expression with “emotional” expression.

My $.02?

By: David Regier

David Regier — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:26:58 +0000

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, with all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Col 3:16

By: Rich Kirkpatrick

Rich Kirkpatrick — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 06:01:24 +0000

Not too simple at all Craig!

About balance…

What I am arguing here is for a better theology about us as people.

By: Craig Wilson

Craig Wilson — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 01:14:30 +0000

I love Jesus…I love to sing songs to Him and about Him and about how I feel about Him…I think He’s down with that. Is that too simple?

By: Gary Durbin

Gary Durbin — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:33:04 +0000

Yea, Luke said the word: balance. When we’re off balance, we will fall. Balance is the key.

By: Luke

Luke — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:22:23 +0000

Interesting thoughts. I’ve always enjoyed the phrase “emotions expressing truth.” God’s given us emotions as a means of expression. What higher calling that. To express the joy and wonder of knowing Him?

As with most things, balance is key.

By: David Regier

David Regier — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 21:57:21 +0000

I agree that we do need to feel Jesus. My point is that we begin to feel Him by finding out who He is, affirming who He is, and acting fully upon who He is, in every sense accorded us in Scripture, i.e. falling down, clapping hands, shouting, bowing, singing, kneeling, dancing, and most of all, obeying.