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“For: The Institute of Contemporary and Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephens University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt:
I have survived the technical challenge that was set before me. I am converted; a new creation. I am a Facebooker; I am a Blogger; I am an ITunesU’er; I am a Talkshoer; I am WOMAN! (Helen Reddy would be so proud!- Ok, I just realized that 90% of this class will have no idea who I am talking about!)
As I look back at Week 2 of this Worship Theology class, I am overwhelmed; not in a negative way, just overwhelmed. In just a few weeks, I will be starting my 8th year as worship leader of New Song Christian Fellowship. Oh, if I had only had Essentials Blue back in 2001!
As I reflect on all of the materials from this week, I keep going back to the moment when it really hit me, I mean really hit me. It was early one morning and I was sitting on our front porch reading section two of N.T. Wright’s book. Three cows had decided they were off for greener pastures (into my front yard), and I sent our trusty dog, Casey, ”head of ranch security,” to go secure the area! After this brief, but exciting interruption, I dove into the chapter on Israel. The Jewish people believed that heaven and earth came together in one holy place, the Temple, the place where the god of the universe resided. This is why it was so important for the Temple to be built and rebuilt through the ages.
God’s ultimate plan of restoration for His people came in the form of His Son, Jesus. No longer would God’s sphere of heaven and earth intersect in a building, but rather in a servant King. And here comes the front porch cosmic revelation: through the mercy of God, this King lives in me. In fact, He said in His Word that my body is the “temple” of the Holy Spirit. I am now the intersection, the meeting point, if you will, of heaven and earth. In the U.S. we have just celebrated July 4th, Independence Day, which traditionally boasts of magnificent firework displays. None could have compared with the “stars” which were shooting off in my heart! I stood up and worshipped the God who loved me, the God who created me, the God who gave me life, the God who chose me for His kingdom!
Now that I have had a couple of days to think about all of this, I must go back to all those kings who tried to rebuild and restore the Temple throughout ancient history. I couldn’t help but think about those today, even Christians, who after 2,000 years, are longing to rebuild the physical temple in Israel. God sacrificed His Son so that heaven and earth could come together as the kingdom of God in us. Why then would anyone want to go back to a finite earthly temple (the shadow) when He has given us the infinite Presence (the reality) in His Son?
Intersections are usually dangerous places to be…………..but this one is worth it!
