Friday, December 18, 2009

Spirituality of God (part 1), from “The Great Doctrines of the Bible” by Evans

Notes: (1) “The Great Doctrines of the Bible” by Rev. William Evans, Ph.D., D.D. is a well-respected reference material for Bible students, pastors, missionaries and laymen. You can read the entire book from Google (click the picture of the book cover), or download the complete zipped e-book. (2) Surf to the index of lessons and online quizzes from Evans. (3) The most important ideas and statements from this part of Evans’ book are listed in the “Basic truths” section below.

THE SPIRITUALITY OF GOD: (Vs. Materialism). “GOD IS SPIRIT.”

a) Statement of the Fact, John 4:24: “God is Spirit.”

Meaning: The Samaritan woman’s question, “Where is God to be found?” etc. On Mt. Zion or Gerizim? Christ’s answer: God is not to be confined to any one place (cf. Acts 7:48; 17:25, 1 Kings 8:27). God must be worshipped in spirit as distinguished from place, form, or other sensual limitations (4:21); and in truth as distinguished from false conceptions resulting from imperfect knowledge (4:22).

b) Light on “God is Spirit,” from other Scriptures.

Luke 24:39: “A spirit hath not flesh and bones,” i. e., has not body, or parts like human beings; incorporeal; not subject to human limitations.

Col. 1:15: “The image of the invisible God.”

1 Tim. 1:17 (R. V.): “Now unto the King incorruptible, invisible.”

These passages teach that God has nothing of a material or bodily nature. Sight sees only objects of the material world, but God is not of the nature of the material world, hence He cannot be seen with the material eye--at least not now.

c) Light Derived from Cautions Against Representing God by Graven Images:

Deut. 4:15-23; Isa. 40:25; Exod. 20:4. Study these passages carefully and note that the reason why images were forbidden was because no one had ever seen God, and consequently could not picture how He looked, and, further, there was nothing on the earth that could resemble Him.

d) Definition of “God is Spirit” in the Light of All This:

God is invisible, incorporeal, without parts, without body, without passions, and therefore free from all limitations; He is apprehended not by the senses, but by the soul; hence God is above sensuous perceptions. 1 Cor. 2:6-16 intimates that without the teaching of God's Spirit we cannot know God. He is not a material Being. “LaPlace swept the heavens with his telescope, but could not find anywhere a God. He might just as well have swept a kitchen with his broom.” Since God is not a material Being, He cannot be apprehended by physical means. (From “The Great Doctrines of the Bible” by Rev. William Evans, Ph.D., D.D.)
Basic truths

[1] “God must be worshipped in spirit as distinguished from place, form, or other sensual limitations (4:21); and in truth as distinguished from false conceptions resulting from imperfect knowledge (4:22).”

[2] “God has nothing of a material or bodily nature.”

[3] “Images were forbidden because no one had ever seen God, and consequently could not picture how He looked, and, further, there was nothing on the earth that could resemble Him.”

[4] “God is invisible, incorporeal, without parts, without body, without passions, and therefore free from all limitations; He is apprehended not by the senses, but by the soul.”

Further study (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] Developing a theology of music

[2] Why Johnny Can’t Sing Hymns: How Pop Culture Rewrote the Hymnal, by T. David Gordon (Professor of Religion and Greek at Grove City College; former professor of New Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary)

We face the challenging circumstance that many voices in the discussion know nothing of Christian hymnody prior to the nineteenth or twentieth century (which is precisely the moment when some of us think it began a downward spiral). They often equate traditional with organ-accompanied hymns, for instance, even though organs were uncommon in the Protestant tradition (both because of expense and because of musical and theological considerations) until the mid-to-late nineteenth century. Thus, a young person reared in anything like a typical evangelical church knows only two things: nineteenth-century, sentimentalist revivalist hymns, and contemporary praise choruses; and they think the argument against the latter is an argument for the former.

What I am looking for is an argument that actually addresses the crux of the decision that many churches have now made: that the criterion of contemporaneity trumps all the criteria of all the hymnal-revision committees that ever labored. I put it that way because, with very few exceptions, the contemporary praise choruses that are actually selected would not ordinarily satisfy the criteria that previous hymns had to meet to get into the hymnals. These included, but were not limited to, items such as the following:

  • theologically orthodox lyrics
  • theologically significant lyrics
  • literarily apt and thoughtful lyrics
  • lyrics and music appropriate to a meeting between God and His visible people
  • well written music with regard to melody, harmony, rhythm and form
  • musical setting appropriate to the lyrical content

By these criteria, only the most artistically gifted (or arrogant) of generations could possibly imagine that it could, in a single generation, be expected to produce a body of hymns that surpassed all previous hymns and rendered them obsolete.
So the question remains: Why does contemporaneity deserve to be included as a criterion at all, much less as a criterion more important than all of these? Why are there not signs outside churches that read: “Theologically Significant Worship,” or “Worship Appropriate to a Meeting between God and His Assembled People,” or “Worship That Is Literarily Apt and Thoughtful”? Why do the signs say “Contemporary Worship,” as though that criterion were itself worthy of promoting? (Read the complete article)

[3] Transcending the Worship Wars, Christianity Today interview by Collin Hansen of Bryan Chapell (President, Covenant Seminary)

If church leaders try to establish a style of worship based upon their preferences or based upon satisfying congregants' competing preferences, then the church will inevitably be torn apart by the politics of preference. But if the leadership is asking the missional questions of “Who is here?” and “Who should be here?” in determining worship styles and practices, then the mission of the church will enable those leaders to unite around gospel goals that are more defensible and uniting than anyone’s personal preference. These gospel goals will never undermine the gospel contours of the worship service, but rather will ask how each gospel aspect can be expressed in ways that best minister to those present and those being reached for Christ’s glory.

[4] Focus On “Worship Wars” Hides The Real Issues Regarding Connection to God, by the Barna Group

“Most of the church people who fight about their musical preference do so because they don't understand the relationship between music, communication, God and worship. Church leaders foster the problem by focusing on how to please people with music or how to offer enough styles of music to meet everyone’s tastes rather dealing with the underlying issues of limited interest in, comprehension of, and investment in fervent worship of a holy, deserving God.” Barna also stated that although music is important in the worship process, it is often elevated beyond its rightful place in the worship effort. “Music is just a tool meant to enable people to express themselves to God, yet we sometimes spend more time arguing over the tool than over the product and purpose of the tool.” (Read the complete article)

[5] Putting an End to Worship Wars, by Elmer Towns (PDF, 384Kb)

[6] The Real Worship War: Forget about choruses versus hymns—what about justice? by Mark Labberton

[7] Knowing God, by J.I. Packer
“We are cruel to ourselves if we try to live in this world without knowing about the God whose world it is and who runs it. The world becomes a strange, mad, painful place and life in it a disappointing and unpleasant business, for those who do not know about God. Disregard the study of God, and you sentence yourself to stumble and blunder through life blindfold, as it were, with no sense of direction and no understanding of what surrounds you. This way you can waste your life and lose your soul.”

Knowing God study guides: Section 1 Introduction and Chapters 1-6; Section 2 Chapters 7-17; Section 3 Chapters 18-22.
[8] “The Attributes of God” part 1 and part 2, by A. W. Tozer (Infinitude, Immensity, Goodness, Justice, Mercy, Grace, Omnipresence, Immanence, Holiness, Perfection); read also Knowledge Of The Holy, The Pursuit of God and other works by Tozer.

“If a sermon can be compared to light, then A. W. Tozer released a laser beam from the pulpit, a beam that penetrated your heart. If you have never read Tozer - what are you waiting for? Thirty minutes spent in a Tozer essay is often better than a week at a Bible conference.” (Warren Wiersbe, Bible teacher; General Director, Back to the Bible Broadcast; Former Pastor, Moody Church in Chicago)

Sermons on John 4, spirit, worship (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] God is, by David Palmer, East Side Baptist Church

[2] Sermons by Timothy McGhee, First Baptist Church – Powell

[3] Worship, by Ralph Sorter

[4] The Sychar Sinner, by Toby L. Soechting

[5] Corporate Worship, by Terry Lange Jr.

[6] The Ministering Heart part 2 John 4 16-26, by David York

[7] Perfect Example of Intentional Evangelism, by Jason Leight

[8] Getting Ready for Easter (3 Drink Deep), by Greg Henneman

[9] Developing a Heart for God, by J. David Hoke

[10] The Beauty of the Body, by Rex Bonar

[11] The Heart of Worship: Worshipping God in Spirit and in Truth, by Michael C. Northrup

[12] Fellowship and Forgiveness in the Light, by David Harp

[13] JP2 When Guilt won't go away, by Chuck King

Sermons on the attributes of God (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] Sermons by Philip G. Layton, Gold Country Baptist Church

[2] Sermons by Pastor Jeremy Stephens, Southview Baptist Church

[3] God is, by David Palmer, East Side Baptist Church

[4] The Doctrine of God - Part A: The Nature and Attributes of God, by Randy D. Starkey, East Bend Baptist Church

[5] SF523 - WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT GOD (Hebrews 11:6), by Timothy McGhee, First Baptist Church – Powell

[6] Materials by Kurt Andree

[7] Praise to the God of Unlimited Power, by Dr. Kelly Randolph, Country Acres Baptist Church

[8] Is It Possible To See God, by Thomas

[9] God The Holy Spirit, by George Toews

[10] Three Forgotten Perfections of God, by Kenneth P. McCaulley

[11] Attributes of God, by Shaun LePage

[12] Attributes Of God: Faithfulness, by Timothy D. Hall

[13] Doctrinal Statement: Theology Proper, by Jason Button

[14] 100 Names of Jesus, by Ralph Andrus, Calvary Baptist Church

[15] What We Believe and Why We Believe It Concerning God 4, by Richard E. Rutherford Jr

[16] The Immensity of God, by Wayne Gropp

[17] Some Things God Cannot Do, by Kenneth W. Burton


Note: This ministry does not necessarily endorse or share all the views and opinions expressed in the materials, resources or links mentioned in these posts. Please always refer to the Articles of Faith and Biblical distinctives of Baptists when you study these materials.

Posted by Atty. Gerry T. Galacio at 10:28 AM

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