“An hour is
coming and now is,
when the
true worshippers shall
worship the
Father in spirit and truth;
for such
people the Father seeks to be His worshippers”
(John
4:23)
It’s a
worship from within, in Spirit, tapping into this inexplicable knowledge,
truth, a deep form of intuition that goes beyond intuition and into knowledge
of truth.
Next, Yeshua says something revealing: “God is Spirit”
(John 4:24). While this statement does
complement the traditional concept of the Trinity, it doesn’t fit into our
popular concept of God. Yeshua’s own
depiction of God as “Father” fits the way we perceive God as a much larger and
far grander version of us humans. But,
here, Yeshua clarifies that the Father uses the names Father, God, is
“spirit.” In verses 4:21-24, Yeshua uses
the names Father and God interchangeably as He who is worshipped in spirit and
truth, so Father = God = Spirit.
“God is
spirit,
and those
who worship Him
must
worship in spirit and truth”
(John
4:24)
In the full statement, Yeshua suggests we cannot worship God unless we worship “in spirit and truth.” Religion is not worship. Rituals are not worship. Adherence to doctrines is not worship. Going to church is not worship. These things can be done, and perhaps they’ll
be of some benefit, but they are not “worship.”
If we consider this full discourse, with living water “springing up to
eternal life” in the one who receives
it and worship “in spirit and truth,” then it seems “worship” is more akin to
deep prayer and meditation than most of our usual concepts of “worship.” It can take place corporately, but likely
cannot occur unless it also, and most importantly, takes place privately.
©
2014 by Karina Jacobson. All rights reserved. Please use
only with permission from the author.
Beautiful, Karina! So good to see another post from you. :-) After reading it a few times, I asked myself how I would describe worship without using the word "worship." What came to mind out of the silence was the phrase "adoring attention." I understand that as a kind of mindfulness devoted to Spirit, seeking to be aware of the many ways Spirit is always present. I think you're absolutely right that this requires an inward, or private, movement on our part. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteAgape,
Chuck
So nice to read this. As for you, this particular verse has taken on new meaning for me, much the same as you describe it here. I am beginning to realize that the journey towards the Divine comes from a faithfulness to the interior life, while being informed and guided by the external. I think we tend to get it the other way around....the externals leading us, and we miss the interior "adoring attention" as Chuck rightly puts it. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAmy
Advent blessings, Chuck and Amy,
ReplyDelete"Adoring attention" is a lovely description, Chuck, and, Amy, I appreciate your expression that our journey derives both from "a faithfulness to the interior life, while also being informed and guided by the external." The internal/external balance is another persistent quest: how we balance between our internal journey and our external life, giving to each and neglecting neither, also helps to mediate our path and our worship, in spite of, and perhaps because of, the challenges of maintaining the balance.
It's a blessing to see you both. May moments of adoring attention bless you during this season,
Karina