The Worship Leader | Christ In The Cosmos, Church & CultureSample

Jesus the Liturgist Pt. 1 

We understand that to most the word “liturgy,” is a bad word. It stinks of tradition, form, and is what charismatics like to label as “not-spirit-filled.” Not so fast! Liturgy is derived from its origin in God’s Word and we need to pay attention. Remember, words are like containers that are filled with meaning. We need to understand this word, not reject it out of our own baggage. 

Our habits, rhythms, and daily schedules (liturgies) form us as much as a Sunday service—perhaps more so. We are all liturgically shaping our lives moment-by-moment around what we believe to be the “good life.” Jesus’ vision of the “good life” is the kingdom.  So that causes us to ask, “What is our ‘Worship Leader’ doing in his kingdom now, and what does it have to do with us?” The following is Part 1 of the liturgy of our Worship Leader Jesus. His rhythms should cause us to rest in his work, and join joyfully in his work throughout every moment of our day:

He intercedes for us (HEB 7:25; ROM 8:34): Those on stage in our churches may exhort us into a “call to worship” or a “call to pray,” but Jesus is the one doing the calling. Our prayers only reach so far, while his intercessory ministry also reaches into the future to include all believers who would, directly or indirectly, come to the Lord because of our ministry (JHN 17:20). 

He pleads his “finished work” over us (JHN 19:30): Jesus’ ministry is to plead his case over ours. We should in all respects be condemned to stand before the bench of the Judge of the Cosmos, guilty of treachery and perjury of his court in his kingdom. But this kind King-Priest (remember Melchizedek) takes the cameras off of us and puts them on himself. He bears the ridicule, defamation, and attacks so we don’t have to. Worship then is ultimately about the attention placed upon the work of Christ, rather than on our work! 

He reconciles us back to the Father (ROM 5:10): It is not the endless altar calls that make us right with God. What makes us “right” is the ministry of Jesus. He works it in and through his people to accomplish his will and purpose.