Alistair Begg: Knowing vs. Feeling in Worship
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- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2024
- In this excerpt from a Ligonier conference message, Alistair Begg reminds us of the importance of knowledge in worship.
Transcript: www.ligonier.or...
Message: www.ligonier.or...
He isn't being judgemental at all, he's speaking truth which most don't like. I want to worship in Spirit and Truth!
He is being judgmental. But that's absolutely fine bc judging or discernment is crucial to find truth.
He's being very judgmental......he wraps it in some truth, to be sure, but it's stick in the mud sour puss Christianity
Chuck Wright I’m sorry he is speaking truth and to many are led by their own emotions rather then being led by the word of God
@@chuckwright8889 -Judgmental? Have you read the Bible where Jesus COMMANDS us to judge?? It's in John. I'll let you find it.
@@jasonharkness2992 Emotions and "experiences" - that's the state of today's apostate churches - JUST as the Bible says was coming. *It's here!*
One of my favorite Begg Rants. “Don’t ask me how I feel, Ask me what I KNOW”!!
Yes, and if you appreciate God-focussed rants, try Rev.Ian Paisley (Sr) on sleepy Christians...
Looks like Begg doesnt know how he feels. which in my humble opinion is bad. at 2:47 ongoing he tells us how he feels which is sad "a miserable wretch, i feel rotten". Proverbs 4:23. He really should meditate on this one. I am stunned on these comments here, like nobody hear the cry of his heart. Instead his brain is gettin even more puffed while his heart is dying. May God bless his heart. My Mum got really sad and once she had tears in her eyes and said "nobody ask how i feel". There are many people feeling like my mum, after hearing this sermon people will get encouraged not to ask the question "how do you feel" what sick psychology is that?
@@doncraxalot4381 You're missing the point. Its a difference, whether I as a fellow believer ask you personally "how do you feel" - or "how are you" with real intent to getting that answer, instead of as a worship leader asking "how do you feel", so that the group gets hyped up. We should be interested in the life of our fellow believers - and serve them, help them in their needs, as Jesus commands us to do. This though is not what worship leaders do with the question "how do you feel". We ought not to worship god based upon our feelings - but we ought to worship him based on who he is. We can do that based on what we know of him.
Probably the best 4:00 on RUclips.
No doubt about that?
I currently lead worship at a church in South Georgia and it is my desire to faithfully lead in praise to God that is befitting. I am thankful for this short excerpt to help in keeping focus what is vital.
Daniel Forsythe ...I pray u stick to it and don't succumb to the pressure of being a flesh and people pleasing worship leader as so many in the church today.. it's life giving to see and hear truth in love not irrelevant and empty babble out of confusion and lack of the knowledge of God. Keep leading in ever increasing knowledge of God and you will truly strengthen the Church as Christ would have you "in spirit and in truth" as He said. Unless we have knowledge of the God we worship there is no worship in truth. May God continue to bless us all with the revelation of Himself!
The Holy Spirit is the worship leader. ;)
One thing I really desire in worship is to start by lyrics being God in the first person. Worship isn't about God it is worshipping God.
For example; not God is good. But God you are good or not God is an awesome God. But, God you are an awesome God. If you get my point.
That is what I call worshipping God.
Churches tend to sing about God instead of to God.
We need to show this to Hillsong, Jesus Culture, etc. All these modern "worship" teams....
Many churches have a band and performers. That's not my idea of worship. And when the band and loud speakers overpower my singing, I'm not edified. And I'm a preacher.
I do not Begg to differ. Seriously, this is such a good message. Notice how so many songs refer to 'I'.
Why I see that too?
Many Psalms refer to "I" and "me" also, so merely having first-person pronouns is not a weakness.
I agree emotional manipulation IS NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT. Too many churches use music to manipulate. Worship should be theologically rich. Emotion is not the purpose of worship.
True worship goes with altar. The catholic church got it right same as old testament altar and worship.
@@arnoldmaglalang5522 The Catholic Church turns the Gospel of Christ into anathema.. As God speaks in Revelation (and yes, to Catholics!), "Come OUT of her, My people"! Find it out now in truth or later in the Tribulation.. Thank God that you have a choice while there is time before Jesus comes for we who are His own.. "Works" Salvation is NO salvation at all.
THANK YOU for this comment, because it is so TRUE!
Just to clarify, the purpose of worship is to turn our affections (emotions) and mind (theology) unto God and His glory. Basically, emotions aren’t supposed to be rejected, but directed unto God.
Yes, emotion is not the purpose of worship, and if that's our intention it's wrong, but it's also wrong to reject emotions that God brings when we worship him in Spirit and truth.
Hearing R.C shout “preach it” from the congregation at 2:18 must be a grand old exhortation!
Yes. Now i hear it.
Amen, Alistair.
It's not about what or how we feel, it's about Jesus Christ.
The two are not mutually exclusive pharisee...
This!
@@chuckwright8889 But Jesus Christ and the speed with which you turn to insults against total strangers are certainly mutually exclusive.
This is a man people need to listen to.
As a preacher of the Word, and a Christian in this post common sense era we live in; this is much needed preaching! Amen
Finally someone said what's been bugging me for years about modern worship. Too much emphasis on my feelings (I also am not feeling particularly joyful or anything else very Christ-like at half past eight in the morning), too much emphasis on being EXCITED...some of us have good stuff going on and we're glad to have celebratory singing, but many of us are dealing with hard things too, and too much navel gazing and not enough of who God is. Well said Alistair!
As a worship leader, this speaks to my heart. I am very particular about the songs I choose for corporate worship. They must have a message. They must have a message that exalts Christ. They must have a message that is scriptural correct. To me, the “worship” part of the service is just as much a part of the “teaching” as the “teaching” is part of the “worship.” And it must all be grounded in God’s truth.
I think all you critics should write a sermon that everyone will agree with and no one will misunderstand. I haven't listened to Alistair Begg in quite a few years, and just stumbled across this. I plan to start listening to him again. He has always inspired and convicted me with his words while making me laugh and cry and nod my head in agreement with him. As for this snippet, I didn't hear a word that needed to be changed.
+2peter1v2 So the preacher can criticize a group of people, but none of the people can criticize him unless they are able to preach "a sermon that everyone will agree with and no one will misunderstand"? Why would you hold the listeners to a higher standard than the preacher? Rather, I think we should ALL be testing the preaching of the Word by everyone. I believe Mr. Begg would agree with me, and perhaps he would even direct us to Acts 17:11: "Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so."
Alistair Begg was speaking from the realities of life.
Just because a person has arrived at church service, does not mean the whole morning went without issues.
Years ago when I in my twenties, I was not in a very good way and a fellow parishioner asked me: "How are you doing?". At that point the question popped into my mind:, I have these episodes: "what will he do if I tell him the truth?" So I replied: "lousy!" as that was exactly how I was doing at that moment in time. He responded saying: "well, that's not a very good Christina attitude!" The next question in my mind was: "if you didn't want to know, then why did you ask?"
Over the years thinking back on that episode I have always wondered: What is kind of a Christian attitude does one have if one is lying about how one is doing? In truth, the bad Christian attitude is the one which requires people to lie about how they are doing because people only want to hear about the good, and never the bad.
Not him. Not his words. He is just the mouthpiece of God. Its Jesus’ words.
@@scotttovey THIS -- "What is kind of a Christian attitude does one have if one is lying about how one is doing? In truth, the bad Christian attitude is the one which requires people to lie about how they are doing because people only want to hear about the good, and never the bad"
It's a "Christian attitude" to be leaning on Jesus Christ and not your own understanding.
You're "lousy" because your faith is not in Him but in what you FEELING --which by the way is what is destroying the church: Everyone's FEELINGS. Today's church grows more apostate by the day.. which is because (one reason why) Jesus is coming SOON.. Pray, read the Bible, learn on CHRIST and not your own feelings and understanding.
Proverbs 3:5-6 ~ "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths".
@@TheMistysFavs
"What is kind of a Christian attitude does one have if one is lying about how one is doing? In truth, the bad Christian attitude is the one which requires people to lie about how they are doing because people only want to hear about the good, and never the bad"
That's true but....
"You're "lousy" because your faith is not in Him but in what you FEELING --which by the way is what is destroying the church: Everyone's FEELINGS."
Aren't you being a hypocrite by doing exactly what he did?
I don't care how much faith you or anyone thinks they have. Faith does not give you a happy go lucky feeling every hour of every minute of every day. That doctrine is a lie from hell!
We are earthly, we will experience earthly things. As long as we are in this earthly, carnal and corruptible shell, we will have days in which we are depressed or just plain feeling lousy.
Finding a person guilty of having faith in their feelings and not in Christ because they just happen to be feeling miserable, is a corrupt judgment.
When Elijah fled from Jezebel for his life and wanted to die, God did not rebuke him for being that discouraged and depressed. On the contrary, He sent an angel to feed Elijah.
1Kings 19:1: And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
2: Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
3: And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
1Kings 19:4: But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
5: And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
6: And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.
7: And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.
8: And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
9: And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
"Today's church grows more apostate by the day.. which is because (one reason why) Jesus is coming SOON.. Pray, read the Bible, learn on CHRIST and not your own feelings and understanding."
You have no place for judging as you judge not from truth, but from your own biased doctrine which is false.
Faith does not diminish or extinguish the emotional roller coaster that people go though. Your condemnation and false judgment however, shows a lack of empathy and love on your part which by the way, is part of that same apostasy you mentioned.
Mt:24:10: And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Mt:24:11: And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mt:24:12: And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
In conclusion:
Proverbs 3:5-6 ~ "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths".
Proverbs 3:5-6 does not mean you won't feel lousy from time to time or be in a miserable circumstance in life. Nor does it mean that you won't die or will never want to die.
What it does means is that if you continually seek the Lord, He will direct your paths whether those paths be through green pastures or through deserts and valleys of struggle.
There's one thing Solomon left out in the Proverbs. If you are in Christ, and you do not trust in the Lord with all your heart, and you do not acknowledge Him in all your ways, He is still going to direct your paths. You'll just be dragged kicking and screaming as you go. Why? Because our heavenly Father disciplines His children whom He loves.
Love Begg's preaching! Always truth, straight forward and unapologetic. I think the gripe is that with the contemporary church, SOME people are going to church to be entertained and have their ears tickled. They want beats rather than hymns of praise. They don't want to be told of their sin or of hell. They want to have a family place to go, have fun, be entertained, don't tell me anything that offends me and I'll be on my way, thank you very much. That's why a lot of times a church that is true to the Bible and its teachings may not have a big congregation at all. Now, there are people who like that type of worship in today's church. Different folks, different strokes. In the end it's all about where your heart is. And God only knows our hearts. But Allistair is right. Don't ask me how I "feel". It's what I know about God and my relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Because any true Christian knows, if we were driven by feelings and emotions only. We wouldn't make it. We would give up. But the Lord is our strength. He who began a great work will bring us to completion
I want more...Every contemporary worship leader (including ME!!) needs to hear this, and be aware of it on a constant basis. Thank you for sharing.
This Preacher' s Truthfulness is growing on me. ❤
Christianity is not a feeling it is a relationship. When we don't feel close to God he is still there.
I watch this clip every week at least once.
Just come across it - I will too! Great 4 minutes!
You still do to?
You still do it?
He nailed it right on! I'm so sick of chatty scripturally ignorant worship leaders singing the most dreadfully written songs of no biblical concept or spiritual benefit.
I'm not a demonstrative worshipper. God forgive me if I'm wrong but I'm not demonstrative. It's thoroughly distracting to me and I don't feel like it's my job to scream and throw myself around to prove to God that I'm here and I care, etc. I like songs of reverence and that speak to truth spanning the ages, not just about how I feel today.
I must say that I feel blessed to attend a church where I can be HONEST about my feelings and not expect to be rejected or looked down upon, but rather PRAYED FOR. Thus, when I'm asked "How are you FEELING,"? I can answer HONESTLY and say, (if its true for that day/week/month, etc) "I feel like CRAP! And the upcoming week isn't shaping up to be much better! I'm fighting with my wife, the job situation SUCKS, and one of our (extremely strong-willed) kids is driving me up a wall!" "THAT'S how I FEEL!" And thankfully, my stronger brothers and sisters in The Lord, will remind me of God's ETERNAL TRUTHS, and I will be reminded to "PREACH to Yourself," (vs talking/listening to myself) and POUND INTO YOUR MIND the reality of God's UN-SHIFTING and ETERNAL TRUTHS. Thank You Alistair Begg for this message, as I need to be constantly reminded to make my emotions subordinate to God's Truths!
This is one of my favorite clips on all of youtube... I think I've watched it like 20 times scattered across the 8 years its been up haha
If we are honest with ourselves there are times when we don't feel peace and joy, even as Christians. Sometimes we don't feel like worshiping. Of course that happens to us. We are human beings. The Psalms are full of times when David felt anguish and pain. Alistair was making the point that it's not about our feelings. It's about the truth of God's Word. That's what will cause us to worship Him not how we feel. I understand what he was saying and I agree with him.
I had the great privilege to meet this man. One of the highlights of my life.
Thank you Mr. Begg for a lifetime of service
Thank you Father for Alister Begg & R.C. Sproul and others
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). So even if you feel like garbage if you'll lift up your hands and praise him, you won't be feeling rotten for long! The reason for this is that the Lord inhabits our praises (Psalm 22:3). So praises from the heart, soul and spirit are exceedingly important and just as important as engaging our analytic minds to listen to the WORD itself.
Awesome. One of the best preachers in America today.
Years ago I left a church that turned worship into entertainment. The LOUD music, the search lights, the strobe lights, and the straw that broke the camel's back, was the introduction of the fog machine. I snapped my Bible shut, looked at my beautiful wife, and said, "We're done here!" So long Calvary of Albuquerque.
Fog machine. Funny yet not funny. You made the right choice!
Would that be Calvary Chapel of Albuquerque?
Good call
@@jchis9852
Yes, with Skip Heitzig.
@@docholliday6285
Thanks. What a charade I was part of. The list is long. I went to the Strange Fire Conference at Grace to You and experienced real worship, and the most solid teachers. I long to find a church like that in Albuquerque.
Oh I used to lead in this "feeling worship". I used to push others to it.....then He knew me!!! then all of this feeling stuff went to knowing stuff and being known. I left many who are still there! I pray for them
I think It's because they can relate to him. I laughed as well because I've felt this way for years and always wondered if something was just wrong with me lol. Its reassuring to see someone else get your view point, at least it is for me personally.
When you read through the songs of David and the other musicians in the book of Psalms, there are emotions expressed in the songs including joy, sadness, godly anger etc...there are long songs, there are looooong songs, there are short songs, some songs have different kind of instruments accompanying it, some had repetitive lyrics (Pslam 136), many didn't, would David's inspired music survive this scrutiny?
Yes our worship / songs used in worship should come from knowledge and understanding of Gods revelation.
Hello Church, What do you know this morning? (Rhetorical Question)
Lets Begin the service today with this song, Psalm 136.
About time our leaders start to confront and fight for an ending in all that entertainment around the beauty of the Holy Scripture.
Job well done !!
Praise God! I'm coming out from among a congregation headed increasingly towards heresy. Only surface knowledge there. I'm an elder who is ostracised by all other leadership, a lone voice among the eldership (some are women). One secular rock song is chosen each week to play just before each ear tickling sermon. Pastor says, "It makes people joyful." I responded, "That's not the joy of the Lord, it's of the world." I've stayed 10 long years out of love for the flock, teaching the sole adult class, but now they've added another class, where food's the attraction & each person shares on each verse of scripture what it means to them. Everyone is right? None share sound doctrine or the glories of our Christ, nor do they ever call for repentance-just say the sinner's prayer & you're in. When I speak truths straight from God's word in elder meetings, eyes roll-"Not this again!" is the obvious attitude to truth. Now I'm simply cut off in mid-sentence. Please pray for the sheep-my heart breaks for them! Anyone near Indianapolis need an easily entreated bible teacher? I serve for no monetary compensation, but love, encouragement, exhortation, accountabilty partner and a sound mentor would be great.
I believe you should leave that church. You can be better used somewhere else for God's glory.
I'll pray for you. It could be time to shake the dust off your shoes and move on. Your love for the flock is admirable, though.
I really love all this. Thank you
Thank you for preaching the truth! Excellent teacher, all glory to God! His word is glorious 'Sanctify them through Your truth, Your word is truth' John 17:17
This is a preacher I trust and respect.
Truly experience is so subjective. But notice his argument is as experiential as that which he's reacting against. And since a loving heart & Godward desires are essential keys to authentic worship God accepts over appearance or knowledge acumen, one has to wonder. I remember when I would have agreed with him. Now I would chalk up such an attitude to being the older brother (Lk 15) than to being pious. Real? Yes. But really needing the Holy Spirit's awakening. It cuts both ways, head and heart.
Isaiah 1
14“I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts,
They have become a burden to Me;
I am weary of bearing them.
15 “So when you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide My eyes from you;
Yes, even though you multiply prayers,
I will not listen.
Your hands are [f]covered with blood.
16 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight.
Cease to do evil,
17 Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Reprove the ruthless,
[g]Defend the orphan,
Plead for the widow.
Alistair was correct in saying we should be leaning on the word and the truth as it comes from God. This is a comfort as we will all have peaks and valleys in life, and an important message because the evil one uses feelings to make us believe lies about God. He'll try and convince us that God is angry with us to keep us from praying, he'll encourage us to move away from our Father, keep us out of the word or keep us away from His body of believers. "God doesn't want to hear from me right now" or "I can't go to Bible study feeling like this" or "I can move in with my boyfriend because God would want me to feel happy" or "it cannot be wrong get this car I cannot afford because it feels right". Proverbs 3 tells us "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding".... "not to be wise in your own eyes"... and that "the Lord disciplines those he loves", and these are truths we must lean into. That being said, I would imagine the worship leader was trying to get people excited in worship, but it can send a bad message. We should be careful in trying to get people all charged up with "how we feel" in a worship environment because a lot of us are broken, and a lot of us would "fake it" in that situation. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to send the message that it is right to be in church, to worship, draw near to God and stay in His word when we are broken, in despair, feeling angry, have been crying all night, guilty, hopeless, sad and the like. Feelings are not truths, and I appreciate Alistair Begg speaking to this.
Holy holy holy Lord God of Host heaven and earth are full of your glory hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the lord
He speaks truth
Good to remember.
If what you “know” about Jesus doesn’t make you feel something, you don’t know much! That’s the most exciting subject the world has ever known!
Hopefully MOST of the folks are coming to church ALREADY filled with "knowledge" and THEREBY so GLAD to be
in the house of the Lord!
As far as the "Countdown" goes, reminds me of a "Countdown" visualized song for kids we have, put out by Child Evangelism Fellowship ...........let's be ready cuz Jesus is coming soon!
I'm a liberal Quaker. Thanks for this clip. I never could express fully why, in our faith, we are suspect of "emotional religion." Why did our foremothers and forefathers look with suspicion upon the "emotional religion" that swept across this country? We might cry in worship, or stand in praise of God, so I couldn't figure out what the Quakers-of-old meant. You just explained it. Thanks. It's what Christ opens to us, the Truth we find in the written testimony and the Inward Testimony that His Light reveals in our hearts and >minds
Our entire bodies and hearts and minds and souls will be so utterly affected by Jesus. His holiness, His glory... Truly, words are worthless. He will come again. I think that when He comes again, we will instantly see our sin, our own deception, our own pride, INSTANTLY. His holiness is terrifying to me.
"What do you have for me." 💞🙏
I listen to Alistair often. He has good points and sticks with the word. Not sure about the authenticity of making fun of worship leaders or repetitive church music that some may prefer and others may not. In similar fashion I would be weary of a worship leader making fun of a pastor's "boring" or "repetitive" message or hand shake greeting. I'm sure the example was just something used to assist him in getting the point across; that we are live in accordance to what the word tells us and not just by our feelings. God did, however, give us feelings and emotions for a reason. To deny or ignore them would be like applying a band aid on something that may need cleaning out. It's easy to say things like this (the message and the comments) while resting in our cushy comfortable churches with high cultural demands of a church atmosphere often intertwined with the expectation of being entertained. Where is God and real righteous living in all that?
Good question , I love this guy !
*Truer words have never been spoken by ANY Pastor!* Thank you, Pastor Allistair Begg! Praise God! "WHO like thee whose praise we sing" indeed!! \o/
This man is a good pastor.!
God created us in a unique way that we think and feel, you can’t ignore your feeling but we should pray that as much as I know him as much is he leads my thoughts and feeling to get me close to him. He is a good father who cares about his children, imagine if your son is suffering and not feeling well for any reason but he is feared to express his feelings because he doesn’t want to bother you!! That could be the worst relationship ever between a father and his son. May the lord open our heart and eyes to get to know him and let him change us
Worship without theological content regresses to heresy and idolatry; worship without emotion regresses to dry bones. Worship fueled God's word, by intellectual content - the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ - energizes the emotions and transforms the individual, society, and the world!
Dan Musick that is the first time I've ever heard somebody refer to a worshiper of Jesus as an idolater. So what you're saying is somebody that cries out to Jesus in worship and praise will be called an idolater by God when here she stands before Him for judgment? Well so long as that worship is done in modern music right? Amazing.
I feel sooo good and soo glad about God all the time and it is sooo glorifying to God who lives within me!!!
Couldn't agree more!
Christ, my bedrock & the only one who has interceded for me so that I may know him forever. 💯✝️
I find this quite interesting. Alistair may be exaggerating to make a point but he seems to have judged the worship leader quite quickly. The worship leader didn’t say that what a person knows about the truth of God in His word is unimportant, they just chose to ask about feelings first. Personally I find this quite helpful when entering into worship, I can acknowledge how I am feeling, know that God sees me and accepts me with all my feelings and then offer them all up to God and better focus on Him. In fact I think a lot of the psalms follow that pattern, first crying out to God out of desperate feeling, then, having expressed them, begin to better focus and magnify the attributes of God. That is a very good journey of worship IMO. Obviously we don’t want to focus on ourselves but starting from a place of honestly acknowledging how we are and how we feel before God is a beautiful thing. At the very least I think that perhaps Alistair is expecting quite a lot of self reflection and preparation from people before they enter into worship - that’s not a bad thing of course but surely people should feel able to acknowledge how they really feel in these moments - and it’s quite nice to be invited to do so.
Emotions are a fleeing thing and can't be trusted, put your emotions to the side and worship the Lord your God in spirit, and in truth 🙏
Wow! Amen! Its nice for me to come across this video. He speaks the truth! I lead the singing in the church and they like the touchy feel good music. I prefer the hymn with a message.
That church more than likely got to that place by having touchy, feely fed to them a spoonful at a time. Now that's all they know. So why not reverse it? Feed them hymns, a little at a time; while explaining the origins of the song? Use, ''It Is Well With My Sou''l for example. Or even use hymnal words to popular praise music. There's ways to get back to the basics.
@Katrina Wylie you are right. I stayed with songs with meaningful messages rather than repetition over and over to stimulate emotions.
Preach man of God!!!!! My feelings is flesh! I walk the spirit not flesh! I worship in spirit & truth...not in flesh & feelings!
More substance in four minutes on RUclips than many experienced in a half hour sermon this weekend, great share.
What a truth bearing servant of Christ Alistair is! 😇
Bravo, brother!!! I thought I'm the only one in the world who Feels that way about today's "worship".Unfortunately it has become a part of show/entertainment up front and only about 20% of people actually sing along! When I approached our pastor with this issue he told me " Its ok to entertain people during the service"! Sad!!!
Love Alistair Begg!!
*Truer words never spoken by a Pastor!* Amen amen! Praise Christ and Him alone! NOT in nonsense repetition as Jesus spoke against!!
Wow are you pompous......amazing. You are arrogant and judgmental. Begg is trying to throw under the bus an entire style of worship because HE thought it was the David Letterman Show.....I grew up in a dead church, like Begg's and was going straight to hell as a result. Just sayin....
I love Alastair so much, child of the 60s as I am. Wonderful truthful personality
A nice 'scottish' preacher THANKS the Lord
Emotions could (and arguably should) be a result of the worship of our holy God, but it should never be the controlling factor or the purpose of worship.
So well said. I knew there was something wrong but could not express it. We have dumbed worship down. God is not anything like us.
Absolutely amazing! As Sinclair Ferguson has said, the person beginning worship always said these four words, "Let us worship God."
Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven
To His feet thy tribute bring
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven
Who like thee His praise should sing?
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Praise the everlasting King!
Fantastic words. Looking away from ourselves to Christ - looking away from rottenness, looking to perfect Holiness.
PTL for this man of God.
Excellent points.
AMEN! AND AMEN! HALLELUJAH TO THE LAMB OF GOD! ON HIS FEET ALONE I BOW DOWN .
From my understanding so far in Christianity, the role of balance of different aspects of doctrine and practice plays a pretty key role. If we unbalance elements of scripture and doctrine, (I'm assuming these things are biblical of course), then we get an uneven level of these different doctrines. Relying on experience alone is heresy; but we understand the holy spirit works in us, even before salvation, and leads us in godliness.
I love watching this video. I find myself cheering him on ! You go Begg !! Those of you who are critical because you think he's being judgmental.....could it be because he's pointing to the kind of worship music you like ? Maybe ask yourself....why do I like that kind of worship music ? Is it because it's got a catchy rhythm or melody ? Because it makes you feel good about yourself ? Because it gets your emotions all ramped up and makes you want to dance ? ......none of those have anything to do with worshiping God....and that is the purpose of "Worship Music"....to worship GOD....to turn our eyes to HIM and off ourselves. If the theme of your favorite worship tunes is I, I, I,....and Me, me me........then your worship is going in the wrong direction. Rather than focusing on how much Jesus loves "ME".......how bout asking ourselves...."How much do I love Jesus?" ...that puts the focus of worship on the right person....Jesus...
Daniel, I totally sympathize with you brother. I have been in full time worship ministry for one month and that is my heart as well. May God be glorified in our churches and may we be faithful to leading his church to him and not to us.
That is so true! We not only need faith over fear but faith over feelings. Feelings flee but faith is for ever. If you ask me how I feel, by the time I answer my feelings may have changed and therefore my answer.
This is such a great simple but profound reminder for us Worship Leaders! Thankful! 🙌
Oh how this is so true! Thank you Alistair for being faithful to teach truth.
It always amazes me that nearly every person in charge of a church believes it is their responsibility to bring people into the presence of God. It's basically what Mr. Begg says here. Interesting that when he's visiting a church, he's expecting someone to get him properly involved in worship. If he were a "knowing" man, he would know that it is NOT the worship leader or the song leader or whatever you call the person standing in front of a congregation who is responsible to "get things started." To get us engaged. WE KNOW that 1 Corinthians 14:26 says, "What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you . . . " WE KNOW that Paul says in this passage each person is to come prepared to participate in the service. Before darkening the door of the meeting house, a KNOWING Christian has - to the best of their ability - come ready to share what God has put on their hearts and minds. Nothing. Not dog nor parking place stealer nor how ridiculously the worship leader opens the service - nothing dissuades the KNOWING Christian from their appointed contribution of the worship of their living God. The KNOWING Christian comes to edify - to build up - their fellow believers.
My grandmother had pointed out to me years ago, people were always using the phrase “I feel like ..” or “I’m feeling..” as opposed to ever saying “I think…” or “I know…”. So I consciously try to phase my wording like this whenever I’m in a conversion with someone
Amen, looking away from yourself! Thank you Alistair.
I've been listening this clip many times ,it's still really getting my attention and make me examine myself!
This is so wonderful 😃
First of all, why was this message only presented as an 'excerpt'...Alistair Begg always makes sure we have the complete biblical reference in his message....so much of his sermon was left out, including the scripture he was using. It was in II Corinthians ...along with what he lists as Chapter 5, verse 1. I know he had so much more to this message that would tie all this together beautifully. I want to hear the full message. Even in just the excerpt, he spoke truth about our entering into worship before the Lord not just by feelings, but by a knowing faith....our minds in tune with our praise and why we praise and Who we praise. Understanding Christ and knowing Him and loving Him for ALL that He has done for us by being our Savior and Lord, then only can we truly or will be truly give praise from our hearts in thankfulness. Beautiful melodies and perfect words are meaningless unless we truly have a relationship with Him and cry out from our hearts our praise for Who He is! As Alistair said, 'it's the RANSOMED, the HEALED, the RESTORED, the FORGIVEN' who can truly worship God....''Looking away from yourself and looking out to Christ. In this, our praise is fueled!' Those who are not HIS may enjoy the excitement of the moment, but only those who are His will truly be uplifted by His Spirit. Thank you, Alistair Begg, for your kindness in making us aware of how shallow our worship is in His sight, if we do not worship Him in Spirit and Truth.
Even though Alistair may be a cessationist, he makes a very valid point - I've been to services like that where the Holy Spirit isn't there, just peoples emotions, almost like a pep-rally, with people exalting their need over exalting the Almighty God in praise and worship. Whether your experience is subjective or objective, that doesn't matter, when we are renewed in our minds by the Word and the Holy Spirit, the Lordship of Christ is foremost in our expression of worship.
I agree !!! I am so tired of these so-called "worship leaders" singing the same ol' lines over and over, thinking they are doing wonderous works. There is a difference between "emotion" and "the Holy Spirit", you might want to learn about the latter since your "emotion-filled songs" are not saving souls. This KLUV pop christian music does not invite the Holy Spirit in, in fact, he waits until you are finished singing, THEN he sometimes makes an appearance in these churches because there are a few people in these churches he is trying to get saved while there is still time. He won't linger anywhere near this human "emotion-fest". The truth hurts, doesn't it?
💯% correct 😎, if someone wants to get around the presence of God,,, be there when the Gospel is preached to the lost 😎
My experience is that the other extreme of emotionless, repeating of 6 hymn verses is much more prevalent. And some absolutely terrible theology in many old hymns. They arent sacred by any means.
Great stuff, as always from Mr Begg :))
Good evening from Singapore! I hope you'd have a great day =)
Awesome word! GOD BLESS!❤👍🙏
Awesome! The passion with which this is delivered gives lie to the assumption that focus on truth makes our hearts dull. If truth does NOT warm our hearts then we should examine our relationship with Christ. Are we truly saved, or just religious? Has the Gospel entered into our minds and stopped there? Or has it journeyed to the depths of our soul?
It would be worth it Alistair for us to all to start church at Noon. ;)
Love is expressed mutually in a relationship!!
Wonderful video
In our church its all about how you feel... While preaching, if you don't tell your audience about how you feel, you are not AUTHENTIC. It's it that what is all about?
Love it! So true...
Amen!
"Ask me what I KNOW!"--------I know that my Redeemer lives. I know Whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to take that which I have committed to Him until that day. I know Who You are---the Holy One of God!
Hosea 4: 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee
Amen
This is so true.