This week’s denominational developments have left many reeling.  Many are asking now, “where do we go from here?”  “How can we be faithful followers of Christ when the church we are members of has put ‘truth and falsehood upon a level’?”  (All comments I have heart this week.)

So all I could do this morning was worship.  Numbed and unable to come up with some great theological response, lacking any clear insight into political and ecclesiological moves, I just came before the Lord in worship and prayer.

I mentioned this in my sermon on Sunday, we are commanded in Scripture to praise – it’s not an option.  “Praise the Lord!  Praise God in his sancturay; praise him in the mighty heavens!  Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!” (Psalm 150:1-2 (ESV)) It’s not a matter of “I don’t feel like praising and worshiping God right now” – praise Him.  The act of praise, even when we don’t feel like it, reminds us of God’s great power and love which He demonstrated in Christ, in His life, death, and resurrection.  The act of praise raises our eyes from our current circumstances and situations to the realm of God’s might in the heavens and His excellent greatness.  The act of praise builds our hope and trust in the strength of the Lord.

In my time of worship this morning I came across the song, “Forever” by Chris Tomlin:

Give thanks to the Lord our God and King
     His love endures forever
For He is good, He is above all things
     His love endures forever

With a mighty hand and out-streched arm
     His love endures forever
For the life that’s been reborn
     His love endures forever

From the rising to the setting sun
     His love endures forever
And by the grace of God we carry on
      His love endures forever

Sing praise, sing praise

Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever, forever, forever

It is difficult right now to praise Him.  As the Israelites were led into Babylon, they sat down by the river and wept, saying “How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land” (Psalm 137); and still they sang.  Job had lost everything, property and his children, still his song was, “Naked I came from my mothers womb, and naked I shall return.  The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).  Now, in the wake of an unbiblical and unfaithful decision of the church, shouldn’t God’s faithful sing to Him, extolling his praise and glory so that we might learn to trust in Him more and find our hope in Him?