對崇拜的阻礙Stunting Worship
[每日靈修] 1/9/2018, 駱鴻銘編譯
舊約會幕和聖殿的陳設和建築所帶來的視覺衝擊是很令人震撼的。我們的眼目因上帝的光輝而眼花繚亂。
對舊約崇拜來說，聲音是至關重要的。對聖靈來說，詩篇的合唱作品是很感人的。它們伴隨著琴瑟、長笛、號角所提供的完整和音與節奏。鋼琴和管風琴是美妙的樂器，但它們不能製造其他樂器所提供的聲音。有更大的管弦樂編制時，讚美詩和合唱曲會大大得到增強。
舊約聖經的崇拜涉及所有的五種感官。在大多數新教的崇拜中，缺少觸摸的元素。靈恩派團體強調按手，這滿足人類對神聖觸摸的強烈需求。早期的基督徒崇拜包括了牧師在祝禱的時候按手在每個人身上。當教會變得太大，無法一一提供這種個人的關注時，這個行動就讓位給一種象徵性的姿勢，即牧師用伸出的雙臂說出祝禱。這是模仿按手，但實際的觸摸則丟失了。
舊約聖經的崇拜也包括味覺和嗅覺。燒香的馨香之氣給人一種獨特的感覺，這是與上帝的甜美有關的特殊香氣。耶穌躺臥的馬槽，底下的第一批禮物之一就是乳香。大多數新教徒拒絕燒香，卻沒有給出任何實質的理由。
味覺是舊約節期的核心，也是新約慶祝主的晚餐的核心。 「你們要嘗嘗主恩的滋味，便知道祂是美善」（詩卅四8）的命令植源於敬拜的體驗。上帝的子民「嚐過天恩的滋味」（來六4）。
也許我們藉著把上帝曾經包括在內、並認為重要的元素排除在敬拜之外，因而阻礙了敬拜。
活在神的面光中（在神面前禱告）：
請反思你在個人靈修中敬拜上帝的方式。
進一步研讀：
詩一五〇3 要用角聲讚美祂，鼓瑟彈琴讚美祂！ 擊鼓跳舞讚美祂！用絲弦的樂器和簫的聲音讚美祂！ 用大響的鈸讚美祂！用高聲的鈸讚美祂！
Stunting Worship
The
visual impact of the furnishings and the buildings of both the Old Testament
tabernacle and temple was awesome. The eyes were dazzled with a sense of the
splendor of God.
Sound
was vital to Old Testament worship. The choral compositions of the Psalms were
moving to the Spirit. They were accompanied by the full harmony and rhythm
supplied by the harp, the lyre, the flute, and trumpets. The piano and the
organ are marvelous instruments, but they cannot produce the sounds that the
other instruments provide. Hymns and choral anthems are greatly enhanced when
they are supported with greater orchestration.
Old
Testament worship involved all five senses. The element of touch is missing in
most Protestant worship. Charismatic groups emphasize the laying on of hands,
which meets a strong human need for a holy touch. Early Christian worship
involved the placing of the pastor’s hands on each person with the
pronouncement of the benediction. When congregations got too large for such
personal attention, the act gave way to the symbolic gesture of the benediction
spoken by the pastor with outstretched arms. This was a simulation of the
laying on of hands, but the actual touch was lost.
Old
Testament worship included taste and smell. The fragrance of burning incense
gave a peculiar sense of a special aroma associated with the sweetness of God.
One of the first gifts laid at the foot of the manger of Jesus was that of
frankincense. Most Protestants reject incense without giving any substantive
reason for its rejection.
Taste
was central to the Old Testament feasts as well as the New Testament
celebration of the Lord’s Supper. The injunction to “taste and see that the
Lord is good” (Ps. 34:8) is rooted in the worship experience. The people of God
“tasted the heavenly gift” (Heb. 6:4).
Perhaps
we have stunted worship by excluding elements that God once included and deemed
important.
Coram
Deo
Reflect
on ways you might involve your physical senses in worshiping God in your
private devotions.
Passages
for Further Study
Psalm
150:3-5
