Both Mind and Spirit
Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 14:6-17
I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.
This passage addresses the gift of speaking in tongues. I do not have that spiritual gift, but many believers do. Paul supports the fact that Christians may speak in tongues, and he notes that it’s also important for the community to understand what is said when a person speaks in tongues. When we can speak and pray and sing and listen with understanding, we use our minds in worship to the glory of God.
Our worship must include both spirit and mind. If the Holy Spirit does not meet with our spirit, our words of worship can be cold, ineffective statements. And if our mind is not engaged in our prayer and singing to God, our worship can become just exuberant blather. Only mindful, spiritual worship is real worship.
Worship should include our whole selves—mind, body, and spirit. It’s also important, then, that worship should be done by the congregation, not for the congregation. Worship is not a spectator sport. So while watching a singer perform can be inspiring, and while hearing a preacher’s sermon can be stimulating, we need to discern that these things truly lead us to worship God.
Worship leaders have a great responsibility. They must direct the spirits and minds of worshipers toward God. They may not dazzle people or manipulate feelings. They must guide whole persons to Christ.
Father, Son, and Spirit, we want to worship you with our whole selves. Help us to engage both spirit and mind as we come into your presence in worship. Amen.
About the author — Kent Van Til
Kent Van Til was a missionary in Costa Rica. He taught theological ethics both there and in the USA. He is the author of four books. The most recent is a spiritual biography of his grandmother entitled, "A Name for Herself: A Dutch Immigrant's Story." Kent likes to fish, hunt, make music, and entertain his grandchildren.
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