It's All About Him

August 27, 2001
The purpose of worship is to edify God, but it often degenerates into a selfish, self-gratifying exercise. Frequently, Christians enthusiastically worship God with their instruments and voices, not realizing that this lovely symphony is more often centered on the "experience" than on Christ. Parish, an international leader in various prayer movements, cites her own downward spiral into a self-focused worship. As one of several church worship leaders, Parish delighted in the ministry of leading Christians through a passionate sacrifice of praise of Christ. As Parish's team grew more effective they also turned their focus upon mastering their presentation. Not surprisingly, the team eventually disbanded, their misdirected zeal serving as a reminder to keep Christ as the object of all adoration. Parish exhorts fellow Christians to make Jesus the center of their devotions, thoughts and relationships, building bridges to other cultures and new generations. Although much of the book recapitulates familiar refrains, there are nuggets of prophetic originality, as when Parish makes a startling statement regarding Sabbath rest: "Rest was not intended as a reward for hard work. It was the place from which hard work initiated. Work issued from rest, not rest from work." As with everything, Christ remains the source. Drawing upon her worship experiences, personal travels and the stories of Christians such as C.S. Lewis and Tony Campolo, Parish challenges readers toward personal accountability in Christian living.