Bringing Unity in Worship (January 21, 2007) Revelation 5:1-14
Revelation 5:1-14 Bringing Unity in Worship
Unity is hard to have in the church. Sometimes, Christians spend so much time arguing about what separates us. Sometimes, it is about Bible translation, the role of men and women in the church. Christians also seem to disagree about how we should worship.
We worship the same God. We celebrate the same Savior. We sing the same song. We just sing in different ways. Let me show you what I mean.
AMAZING GRACE
Let's sing this song "Amazing Grace". We will sing it in a few different languages.
English:
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.
German:
O Gnade Gottes, wunderbar has du errettet mich.
Ich war verloren ganz und gar, war blind, jetzt sehe ich.
French:
Grâce infinie, ô quel beau don Pour moi, pécheur, qui crois;
J'étais perdu, j'ai le pardon, Aveugle, mais je vois.
Spanish:
Sublime gracia, dulce son, a un infeliz salvó;
perdido andaba y me halló, su luz me rescató.
Scottish Gaelic:
O Miorbhail gràis! nach breagh'an ceòl; 'S e lorg mi 's mi air chall,
Air seachdran dorch', gun neart, gun treòir, 'S a dh'fhosgail sùilean dall.
When we sing this song, we even sing it differently. How many of you who were NOT native English-speakers have difficulty emotionally with this song? How many of you had trouble singing this song in German? or Spanish, or Gaelic?
Why is that so? Because the music touches the soul, but we must also comprehend the words.
Language can divide us. Language was created to divide us. In Genesis 10, all of the people came together to build an idol. So God mixed them up by language. He did that so that we would not forget to worship God.
And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth." (Revelation 5:9-10 NKJV)
God has re-purchased us by selling off His Son Jesus. This chapter talks about the Lion who becomes the Lamb. Jesus died, not just so that we could become free. Jesus died, not just so that you and I could be children of God and come to live with God. Jesus died, so that you and I could come together in unity forever.
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!" And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!" Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever. (Revelation 5:11-14 NKJV)
So why is this important?
Why is unity so important to us as Christians? Because unity is one of the most effective ways to reach people who do not know Jesus Christ. Do you know that many people know more about Christians for what they stand seperated against, than what they stand together for?
Christians are known in the world because they stand seperated on the following issues:
Homosexuality
A woman's place in the church or the home
War in Iraq
Worship practices (playing with the organ or the praise band)
The translations of our Bible
But what are we known to stand together for? Not much folks.
So we should work to stand together on the one thing that is most effective. We should stand together on the message in Jesus Christ.
Worship should be a way in which we can come together.
ILLUSTRATION: "Coca Cola" Song
"I'd like to give the world a Coke"
I'd like to buy the world a home
And furnish it with love
Grow apple trees and honey bees
And snow white turtle doves
(Chorus)
I'd like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I'd like to buy the world a Coke
And keep it company
That's the real thing
What the world wants today
Is the real thing
(Repeat Chorus 2)
"Singing the new song" is not taking away the meaning, not even the words. But it is putting them in a tune that can keep our attention.
Sometimes, we need to learn how to sing the new song, so that other people who need to hear the message of Jesus Christ can hear it and understand it. Let's try that right now with "Amazing Grace". But let's sing it in this new way.
SING AMAZING GRACE WITH THE NEW TUNE.
Grace is a sweet sound. It is sweeter when we sing it together.
