Praise: An Overclouded Issue in Fundamental Christianity
So often we in fundamental Christianity are viewed as “problem-spotters.” I suppose this is the case because we are known to take definitive stands on many issues. Because of a very “black-and-white” approach to what is truth, fundamentalists can tend to disagree with many people. This tendency can turn into what is viewed as contentious behavior. Whether “contentiousness” is a label or a tendency, it seems that this description often overshadows the culture of praise among fundamental Christians.
Truth is a very important aspect to biblical Christianity. We cannot forego aspects of the truth and “compromise” just to get along. But a very vital part of standing for this truth is practicing it, living it out in our daily lives. One truth that seems to be eclipsed in fundamental Christianity today is the command to praise—given literally hundreds of times in the Word of God. I wonder how many of us that term ourselves “fundamental Christians” could be viewed as those who regularly and habitually offer praise to God?
The Bible makes clear that praise is important to God. Hebrews 13:5 states: “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” I find it interesting that praise is considered a sacrifice. Fundamental Christians often hear much about self-sacrifice and surrender (of our bodies, the temple of God’s Holy Spirit, for example). While surrender is profitable, we cannot forego the sacrifice of our spirits (attitudes), which are God’s, as well.
Our attitude may say, “Forget it.”
Praise says, “Embrace it.”
Our attitude may say, “No thanks.”
Praise says, “Thanks.”
When I praise God, I am sacrificing my right to myself to respond how I FEEL like responding and am instead submitting to the way of God, which is “perfect.”
One of the numerous praise psalms in the Word of God is Psalm 113, which begins with this rousing call: “Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.”
In his commentary on Psalm 113, Matthew Henry says, “This psalm…is designed to promote the great and good work of praising God.” In the next few paragraphs, then, I’d like to take a moment to discuss this “great and good work.”
Imagine making the “work of praising God” an integral part of our moment-by-moment experience with Him! The old hymn says, “Sing praise to God, Who reigns above, the God of all creation…” What a testimony we could be to the world, simply by embracing the attitude of praise!
Matthew Henry discusses another beautiful result of praising God when he states: “…Those who are much in praising God themselves will court others to it, both because they find the weight of the work, and that there is need of all the help they can fetch in (there is employment for all hearts, all hands, and all little enough), and because they find the pleasure of it, which they wish all their friends may share in.”
Praise God for His Humility
The psalm reminds us that we should praise God because of Who He is. “The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.” The psalmist rhetorically questions: “Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!” Our high God, Creator of Heaven and earth, humbles Himself to look upon us, to attend to all that is in Heaven and earth and many times over, too! (See Psalm 40:5.)
Next are articulated our God’s humble acts: “He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.”
The fact that my God should so humble Himself as to behold my life reminds me of the principle from James that God gives grace to the humble. It’s a simple principle so hard to embrace for the carnal mind. When God gives grace, we, in turn, get His perspective. When we have His perspective, we are enabled to see EVERY aspect of life as emanating from His own gracious hand. We are suddenly enlightened to see His humility in working in divine providence on our behalf. We quickly remove “Chance” or “Self” or “Humanism” from the pedestal and replace “Jesus Christ,” the only true God, as Lord of our every moment. As at salvation, we crown Him the Lord of each second of the day, and He supplies continued grace to walk with Him as we habitually humble ourselves before Him.
Grace: The Means Whereby We Can Praise
At salvation was the first extension of God’s eternal grace to my soul. Now I can live experiencing this grace daily as I moment by moment humble myself before the Great God of Heaven, Who humbled Himself to come to live on earth and die for me, the Great God Who humbles Himself to look at things in my life, Who blesses me above measure and delights in fulfilling the desire of the righteous!
Note the reason He helps the poor and needy (seen in verse 8): “that He might set them as kings and princes before His people.” This is so beautiful! Every salvation experience is a “rags to riches” story, for in humility, we recognize our fallen state, make Christ Lord of our lives, and He lifts us up to be kings and priests with His own dear Son!
We deserve nothing so amazing and should hence show forth His praises at all times! Look around! We are kings and priests with Christ! We have ALL of the riches of His grace! May we as fundamental Christians glory in His indescribable, priceless treasures that are available to us each moment!
Claiming to live and practice all of the Bible, to defend it, to uphold its words and commandments, fundamental Christians should find as an integral part of our lives this aspect of praise. Not only are there hundreds of commands to praise God in the Bible, but praise is the [super]natural response of regeneration and the evidence of God’s sanctifying grace in our lives!
3 comments:
I am long overdue on commenting... it's taken me a while to sit down long enough to read this whole article. I'm glad I did, because it is a good reminder. Often we focus on serving and DOING, but forget to praise God for who He is and what He's done.
Keep up the good work! I look forward to reading what you have to say in the future!
Dear Gargoyle,
Sacrifice—presenting our bodies as living sacrifices—includes surrendering even our most basic desires to the God of heaven. It makes sense that God, Who gave His only Son to die for us, should also receive our all (Romans 12:1-2). Therefore, we are encouraged to live a sacrificial life before Him. Even David would not offer to God that which had cost him nothing (2 Samuel 24:24). And Christ makes it clear to us that if we seek to follow Him, we need to be willing to “hate” all, in comparison to our love for Him (Luke 14:26). Thus, we see from the Scriptures that sacrifice is important. But, as David reminds, the sacrifices of God are a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). God desires our sacrifices only as we offer them with the correct spirit (I Corinthians 13:3—though I give my body to be burned and have not charity, it profits me nothing).
But you have asked for me to delineate specific types of surrender and sacrifice. I heard a message while in Bible college that every Christian ought to say to God, “I surrender to the mission field and will go, unless You stop me.” This preacher’s emphasis was on the fact that the world is need of Christ and that we should not be so enamored of the worldly things of life that we can’t surrender our all to Christ. We should hold nothing back from the Lord, including our future. This surrender to full-time Christian service is a definite emphasis of fundamentalism, and rightly so, for the Bible says: “The harvest is white already to harvest.” Christ told His disciples that the laborers were few, and that the Christian’s duty was to evangelize the world (Matthew 28:19-20).
Other types of surrender are aligned with I Corinthians 6:19-20: “What! Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” This surrender deals with our personal “rights” to ourselves to live our lives the way we want to from day to day. What I eat and whatever I do should glorify the Lord (I Corinthians 10:31). How I speak should honor God (Colossians 4:6). How I dress should be befitting to a child of God (I Timothy 2:9). These are important principles to guide me in living a life that honors God.
I won’t drink alcohol, because God’s Word tells me: “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1). I will seek to honor God in my speech by eliminating even euphemistic expressions such as Gee or Gosh from my language, because Exodus 20:7 says, “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” My dress will be modest, in fitting with I Timothy 2 and 2 Peter 3. These “sacrifices” may seem like non-issues in today’s society, but I am not my own and am God’s; therefore, my body and my attitude belong to God. I am His and can yield to His control in my life, for it makes perfect sense to give back to God that which He has already bought anyway.
I suppose you wanted even more concrete examples, but I hope that the above illustrations will show that every area of our lives can be affected by God. If He lives within, we can sacrifice all to Him, including giving Him most deserving praise, as the post indicated.
Heather
As another who adheres to the fundamentals of the faith, I appreciate your comments. Sadly, the media has blighted the term fundamentalist, so that it says terrorist to many today. Also, it tends to be the "fighting fundamentalists" who get the most press, but I am blessed to know many who are gracious and loving.
And you are correct, it is important to stand for the right, and oppose what is wrong. It is when this is done with a harsh and arrogant spirit that it is hurtful more than helpful. Your emphasis on the importance of praise is insightful. True praise requires taking a humble position before God. That attitude can then carry over into our ministry to others.
Well done. And I encourage you to drop by my blog, Wordwise Hymns occasionally. God bless.
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