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To: Quix

(5) What factors, traits characterize worship?

Silence. Stillness. Listening. Waiting expectantly for that feeling of connection with God and the Angels.

(6) What behaviors characterize worship?

Other than whatever mechanical means we have developed as the short-cut to achieve the worshipful state (i.e.: making the sign of the Cross upon ourselves, or bowing the head and folding the hands, kneeling, etc.), turning inward with the mind, and generally turning downward or upward with the eyes. Stimulus to the eyes distracts. To be silent requires not making noise. To be still means not moving. To be able to hear the voice of God and the Angels within us requires us to dim the overpowering sense of sight. When you want to truly hear music, you close your eyes. When you want to truly remember something, you close your eyes. There is a literal neurological reason for this: eyesight takes up a lot of the brain's attention. It is not the closing of the eyes and standing still that makes for worship, but it gets the body into the background to allow God's voice to come to the foreground. Entering worship is, I suppose, entering hypnosis expectantly.

(7) What priority is worship to have in the life of the beliver?

Once one has been touched by God and heard God, one can never disbelieve again, not convincingly to one's self. And once one has been in the presence of God, one seeks it again. And again. And again. Like a plant's roots seek the water.

(8) What are the hazards of worship, if any?

Too much focus on the world of spirit can detach us from the world of men, in which we very much live and are present, and which is just as important as the world of spirit. After all, God thought this physical world was important enough to inject every single one of us into it. His purposes are inscrutable, and our souls go back to Him when we die, but for some reason God wants to dip our souls in Earth, muddy them up a bit. Perhaps we are works of art which cannot be finished pieces without being dipped in the dyes and fired in the kiln. Whatever the image we use, we must always remember that the real world is real, and God intends us to live here. This world and the next are both important. But, of course, worship will teach you that, because God will remind you of that.

(9) What are the contaminants of worship, if any?

Substituting things for worship. Texts are the biggest problem, because they can very easily engage the part of the mind that likes to sequence things, which is to say the game-playing part of the mind, and the part of the emotions which like to WIN at competitive sports. Texts can be an aid to worship, but they need to be used lightly. Rites, too, can become a distraction and an end in themselves.

(10) What is/are the purpose/purposes; goal/goals of worship?

To communicate with God and enjoy His presence (and, hopefully, He yours), and to remind yourself that He's THERE, when you don't necessarily need his aid, so that you will know where to go when you do.

(11) What is the Biblical result(s) of worship?

There is only one result to worship: to be in the presence of God.

(12) What are the Biblical standards of worship?

I don't know. I assume that the clergy have studied these details carefully and know what they are doing. They seem to.

(13) What is the Biblical model of worship?

To listen. To hear. To obey.

(14) What is the Biblical priority of worship?

Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our Lord! The Lord is One! And you shall love the Lord with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind, and all your strength.
And you shall love your neighbor as you love yourself.

(14) Is there an aroma of worship? If so, what is it; is it like?

For me, there is not.

(15) Is there a spirit, attitude of worship? If so, what is it like?

Silent, open waiting for the contact with God and Angels.
Once IN contact, it is a different thing. Adoration of God, yes. But also challenging God too.

(16) Is there a false vs authentic worship? If so, how so? Is there a behavioral difference or is the difference deeper?

Probably. But I don't know what it is. The hypocrisy of others can appear to be false worship, but who can know the inside of another's heart and soul and mind other than God?
Example: When Henry IV said "Paris is well worth a Mass!" and converted from Huguenot Protestantism to Catholicism in order to become the King of France, it is assumed that this was a completely cynical act, to go with his completely cynical words. Perhaps. But perhaps he was already open to the idea but dared not let anyone know. Perhaps he later became persuaded. Perhaps the experience caused him to see both sides benignly. Who can say? Only God knows.


6 posted on 01/30/2007 3:49:09 PM PST by Vicomte13 (Et alors?)
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To: Vicomte13

Wonderful meaty answers which resonate deeply with my heart and spirit.

Thanks tons.

Am restraining myself from more detailed responses until we have more inputs from more people.


18 posted on 01/30/2007 6:05:17 PM PST by Quix (LET GOD ARISE & HIS ENEMIES BE 100% DONE-IN; & ISLAM & TRAITORS FLUSHED)
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