The Sage on the Stage
Posted by: randalm <randalm@...>
forthright.antville.org
Tim brings us an excellent perspective on worship.
May you be especially blessed by it.
The Sage On The Stage
by Tim Hall
An article last year in "Newsweek" magazine
interviewed several experts on the future of
education in America. One professor advocated that
we move away from having teachers stand up and
lecture to the students, and do more interactive
instruction. Her desire, she said, was to have "a
guide on the side" rather than "a sage on the
stage".
This professor made a valid point. There are times
when a lecture, or a sermon, accomplishes a great
deal. But there are also times when it is good to
stand to the side and guide the student in doing
things. We're seeing more of this in classrooms
across America. It seems to fit in with the
general trend of interactivity.
There is an application of the same principle in
worship. When the church gathers together to
worship God, what do we expect? Do we look to one
or a few individuals to "do" worship for us? Or do
we rather look to these individuals to guide us as
we offer the worship for ourselves?
Sometimes it seems people come looking for the
sage on the stage. "You do the Bible study for
us," we may say. "You're the scholar, the one with
the degree. You tell us what to believe, how to
worship, what decisions to make." Certainly we
should have respect for those who have been
through formal education and have attained
degrees. But should we hand over to them the full
responsibility of interpreting the Bible and
establishing acceptable doctrine?
That would be a mistake. Any person -- educated or
ignorant -- is prone to errors in judgment. A
preacher may have a deserved reputation as a
trusted scholar in God's word, but still can be
wrong on a given point. What God expects is for
all Christians to be engaged in the task of
studying the word and making proper applications.
Acts 17:11 clearly points to this: "These [the
brethren in Berea] were more fair-minded than
those in Thessalonica, in that they received the
word with all readiness, and searched the
Scriptures daily to find out whether these things
were so." (New King James Version)
We don't expect the song leader to do our singing
for us; he is our guide on the side, helping us to
offer worship to God for ourselves. Let's apply
the same view to the preacher, to the one leading
public prayer, and any others who may assist in
the worship service. They help us do what God has
commanded every Christian to do. They certainly
don't do it for us.