July 2025

             Tucker Carlson recently asked Senator Ted Cruz a seemingly simple question on his podcast: What is Israel? The question stemmed from Cruz’s attempt to use Genesis 12:3 as rationale for the USA bombing Iran. For some, this question may not appear difficult to answer. However, as Cruz’s answer and Carlson’s pushback demonstrated, the answer is not quite so simple. Tucker asked the question, Is the current political government of Israel the same thing as the OT descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? In other words, is there extreme congruity between the twelve tribes stemming from Jacob in the Old Testament and the present nation of Israel founded in 1948? The obvious answer, from Tucker’s perspective, is no. Once one becomes aware of the various backgrounds of modern-day “Jews” and understands the various realities of Sephardic and Ashkenazi lineages and intermarrying over 2,000 years, one may understand Tucker’s hesitancy to equate modern day Israel with the twelve tribes stemming from Jacob’s sons. So, what may appear to be a question with a simple answer, turns out to be quite controversial.
Another seemingly simple question on the surface that turns out to have a wide variety of answers is, What is worship? The Lexham Theological Workbook defines worship as the “awed response to the saving acts and praiseworthy character of God.” This definition clearly ties worship to the Gospel and character of God. I would agree whole hardily that worship is intricately and inseparably linked to the Gospel and the character of God. Therefore, one must ask, should church worship be designed for the unbeliever or for the believer? How can an unbeliever actually worship a God they are at enmity with because of their unregenerate nature? The Easton’s Bible Dictionary adds another important element to the definition of worship: “Worship is homage rendered to God which is sinful to render to any other created being.” Given this aspect of the definition of worship, one struggles to understand the mindset of “I like that kind of worship” or “I don’t like that kind of worship.” Worship isn’t directed to us. Worship is directed to God.
Worship is proclaiming the great worth, value, and praiseworthy nature of God in light of His saving acts performed on behalf of His covenantal people. This truth is not meant to be pedantic or bellicose. This truth is meant to be instructive and beneficial to our personal faith and church life. When we worship God, we are not only strengthening our mind, soul, and body, but we are strengthening our entire church.
The Scripture is replete with passages commanding God’s people to worship Him. Psalm 95:6 states, Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. The Apostle Paul stated in Romans 12:1, I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. And Jesus said in John 4:23, But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. These three verses show us that worship is inextricably connected and directed to God.
As Pastor Justin Thompson joins us in August as our new Worship Pastor may we all welcome him by turning our hearts towards God and directing our praise towards Him. The greatest gift a congregation can give their new pastor is to truly love, serve, and worship God. May we not expect Pastor Justin to worship God for us; rather, may we ask Justin to help us proclaim God’s great worth to Him.
Even if the definition of worship is not as simple as one might think, may we never forget that worship is primarily vertical in action and horizontal in corporate benefit. As we praise God for His character and saving acts, we not only find great hope, peace, and joy as individual Christians, but we find strength and unity as a church.

-Pastor Clint Miller