The True Worship of the Triune God
by Chris Hendrix
Searching for a church can be frustrating. Since most churches today own a website that's where many find the first of the low-hanging fruit of information. Typically, this is where you can find a church's statement of beliefs. These statements range from one-sentence statements to paragraphs explaining their view of theology. More is not necessarily better, just like less is not always more. Though the headers differ, there’s usually a section specific to the Triune God, and it’s within this block, churches reveal a piece of their heart. You get a glimpse of what the church has declared to believe and hold fast to. You understand from this that the church is not a Mormon, Jehovah's Witness, or Islamic place of worship, but it is in fact, Christian.
The next step typically involves visiting the church. This is where we get to see the full display of theology. Questions below the water line such as, do they really believe what they say, or do they really live out what they believe, are answered as you watch how worship is done, and what is preached from the pulpit. But, here’s where many go wrong. Instead of paying attention to these high-stake questions, we get distracted. In our time, truths are based on feelings. So then, a judgment of a church usually involves questions like, how was the music, how was the preaching style, and did I leave feeling good? There are plenty more questions that people creatively think up on an emotional level, but these are proofs that we have jumped into the same sinking boat of culture, trying to plug the holes of happiness. All the while, not realizing that the kingdom of Christ is upside down. We are granted true emotional peace and joy only as we seek Christ.
The basis for a church on anything other than doctrinal faithfulness might last for a generation within a stable community but be warned, the next generation will reject the true God. How do I know? The Bible warns of this through something about tickling ears and leading into myths (2 Tim. 4:3-5). My generation has proven Scripture truth through running towards secularism and eastern religion, being inoculated with the seeds of these things through the emotional foundation of worship from the past. We still pursue after emotional happiness, but now have turned to other fountains for this.
“Moving every 2-3 years takes a toll on an individual, a couple, and a family. It drains the tank quickly, and if that tank is not filled with the fuel of worship towards the Triune God, then you are burning the ethanol of self, corroding away the engine of your body and soul through each transition.”
However, this does not work in a transient community very well. Moving every 2-3 years takes a toll on an individual, a couple, and a family. It drains the tank quickly, and if that tank is not filled with the fuel of worship towards the Triune God, then you are burning the ethanol of self, corroding away the engine of your body and soul through each transition. The results usually involve an abandonment of the church, addictions taking hold, divorces running rampant, and sometimes, even a rejection of Christianity. All of a sudden (seemingly), the Christian is not glorifying God in whatever he or she does, but glorifying self (1 Cor. 10:31).
As under-shepherds of the Good Shepherd in a transient community, we don’t desire to be a church that encourages, enables, and endorses this false picture of worship. Instead, our aim is to worship the Triune God in truth, goodness, and beauty. With the foundation of the Scriptures, we preach the Triune God. From our faith gifted to us, we teach the Triune God. Overflowing from the love given to us through salvation, we love based on the Triune God. Stemming from the work of the Triune God, we serve in light of the Triune God. All of life derives from the Triune God.
So then, we are a church that worships the Triune God. From our beliefs to our Sunday services, the Triune God is in view and the focus. We don’t seek after emotional responses, for these are easy to manipulate and get, but we pursue after hearts by sharing the truth and trusting the Spirit to work. This drives self-reliance from us and pushes us to seek the Triune God for the worship of Himself (Colossians 1:9-12). True worship in church is this, looking to the Triune God completely, offering oneself entirely, and praising alongside others truthfully (John 4:24).