Where is the Joy?

Much of our discussion time has been devoted to current (and previous) issues of corporate worship. We have targeted, assaulted, and defended various worship philosophies (some more vigorously than others), and have, hopefully, gained more theologically-tenable ground than has been lost.  Amidst such unstable fields of contemplation, it is challenging to level our sights on the scriptural foundations of worship.

The blessings of corporate worship have oft been forgotten. We become thoroughly embroiled in the conflict that is modern worship, easily overlooking the devastating absence of irreplaceable worship-joys.

Of course, these joys, or blessings, are contingent upon certain elements:

• The reading of the word
• The preaching of the word
• The hearing of the word
• The singing of the word
• The seeing of the word - (GPTG 103).

However, we would do well to continuously ask ourselves, "Which unique blessings are inherent in these elements?" For, if we can discover an answer to such a query, not only will we further recognize the individual importance of each element, but we might possibly be able to experience that importance first-hand.

Edmund P. Clowney wonderfully emphasizes these necessary Christian joys in Give Praise to God. In exhortation, he writes, "Above all, we must prize the blessing of corporate worship, The church of the Lord, gathered for worship, marks the pinnacle of our fellowship with the Lord and with one another" (GPTG 95).

Do we truly prize the assembling of believers? How can we, if the unique blessings of corporate worship remain "out-of-sight, out-of-mind?"

Perhaps, it is time to form a search party.