Sumasamba Ka Ba Talaga?

by Elijah Abanto

Noong ikatlong anibersaryo ng Capitol Bible Baptist Church, ay ipinangaral ng isang panauhing beteranong pastor ang kahalagahan ng pagsamba sa Diyos. Biblikal ang kanyang pagtingin sa kahalagahan nito at kakulangan nito sa karamihan ng mga Baptist na iglesiya.

At ilang lingo lamang pagkatapos nito, ay may isang beteranong misyonero naman ang nagsabi na karamihan sa mga iglesiyang Baptist ay hindi talaga sumasamba sa Diyos dahil hindi pangsamba ang mga inaawit natin sa himnaryo, kundi mga patotoo lamang at pang-ebanghelismo.

Sa parehong pagkakataong ito ay hindi naging malinaw kung ano ba ang tinatawag na pagsamba o worship. At nang ako’y nag-imbestiga, aking nakita na sa kabuuan, ay maraming nagkukulang sa aspetong ito. Maaaring isa ka sa mga iyon.

Si Donald S. Whitney, isang Baptist na awtor ng aklat na Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (NavPress), ay nagbahagi ng kanyang karanasan noong ikasumpung kaarawan niya. Masaya na sana ang kanyang kaarawan, dahil maraming handa, regalo; naroon din lahat ng kanyang pamilya at kaibigan. Ngunit nang sila’y manood na ng baseball, iniwanan siyang lahat ng mga ito at nag-iisa na lamang siya habang nanonood. “Ipinapaala sa akin nito,” sabi niya kaugnay ng kwento, “ang paraan kung paano natin tratuhin ang Diyos sa pagsamba. Bagaman dumadalo tayo sa isang okasyon kung saan Siya ang Panauhing Pandangal, posible na Siya’y bigyan natin ng nakasanayan nang paghahandog, umawit ng kaunting mga alam na nating kanta sa Kanya, at pagkatapos ay lubusan na natin Siyang makalimutan habang tayo’y nakatuon sa ibang tao at nakikisaya sa pagganap ng mga taong nasa harapan natin” (Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, p. 86, translated). At pagkatapos nito, sabi pa niya, ay tingin natin ay nagawa natin nang tama ang ating obligasyon na Siya’y sambahin. Ngunit hindi pala.

Ayon sa Encarta® World English Dictionary, ang salitang worship ay nagmula sa Matandang Ingles na salitang weortscipe, o worthship, na ang ibig-sabihin ay “condition of worth” o kahalagahan. Ito ay sang-ayon sa mga talatang mababasa natin sa Biblia na nagsasalaysay ng mga eksena ng pagsamba sa Diyos tulad ng mababasa natin sa mga talatang ito: ; 5:12-13:

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. —Revelation 4:11

Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. —Revelation 5:12-13

Pagbibigay ng karapat-dapat na pagpapahalaga sa Diyos—yan ang isang kahulugan ng pagsamba.

Sa Webster’s Seventh-New Collegiate Dictionary, ang pagsamba ay nangangahulugang “paggalang o pagpitagan sa isang dibinong persona [tulad ng Diyos]” (p. 1031, translated). Ang “paggalang o pagpitagan” ay isang gawaing hindi nagsisimula sa labas paloob, kundi mula sa loob palabas. Bago ka sumagot sa iyong magulang nang pabalang ay nasa puso mo muna ang hindi paggalang. Bago mo matapat at mahigpit na yakapin ang iyong asawa o anak o kaibigan ay mayroon munang pag-ibig na nasa iyong puso. Ganoon din sa Diyos.

At mula sa panloob nating nararamdaman ay hindi natin mapigilan na tumugon at ituon ang atensyon sa Kanya. Pag nakikita mo ang magandang paglubog ng araw, o tinig ng mga ibon, ay maiisip mo ang kadakilaan ng Lumikha at mula sa puso mo ay mapapaluhod ka, o maiiyak, o mapapa-awit, o makakapagbigkas ka ng pasasalamat sa Kanya. Iyon ang pinaka-ibig-sabihin ng pagsamba: “ang pagtutuon ng atensyon at pagtugon sa Diyos” (Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines, p. 87). Basahin mo ang dalawang siping ito mula sa Biblia ng mga halimbawa ng pagsamba:

And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God. —John 20:28

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

—Revelation 4:8

Makikita mo rin na sa maraming pagkakataon ang mga pinagaling ni Jesus ay lumuhod at sumamba sa harapan Niya:

And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.—Matthew 8:2

While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.—Matthew 8:2

Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.—Matthew 15:25

Mula doon ay masasabi natin na hindi totoo ang sinabi ng misyonero na hindi talaga tayo sumasamba sa Diyos kung hindi pang-worship ang kinakanta natin. Mali din ang aplikasyon ng iba na masasamba mo lamang ang Diyos kung magpe-praise and worship style tayo. Paano ang pipe na hindi man lang makapagsalita? Paano ang mga lumpo at paralisado na hindi makatalon o maitaas ang kamay tulad ng ginagawa ng mga Pentecostal? Ang pagsamba ay higit pa sa pagkanta ng worship song o pagtalon o pagtaas ng kamay na sinasabi nila.

Dadalhin tayo sa pagsamba sa Diyos ng mga pagpapahayag Niyang ito: sa pamamagitan ng (1) sangnilikha o Creation (Roma 1:20); (2) Kanyang isinulat na Salita, ang Biblia (2 Timoteo 3:16; 2 Pedro 1:20-21); at ng (3) Buhay na Salita, si Jesu-Kristo (Juan 1:1, 14; Hebreo 1:1-2).

Hindi lamang pag-awit ang ekspresyon ng pagsamba. Maaaring ikaw ay sumasamba sa Diyos kahit sa pagbabasa mo lamang ng Biblia; pakikinig ng pararangal; pananalangin at pakikinig sa pananalangin; maging ang pagsunod sa Kanya at anupamang bagay na ginagawa sa ngalan Niya, ay maaari yung maging pagsamba. Ngunit higit pa rito, ang pagsamba ay yung punung-puno ang iyong isip at puso ng tungkol sa Diyos na hindi mo na maisip na gumawa ng anupamang bagay. Yun ang pagsamba.

Ngunit, tulad ng aking nasabi, marami sa mga iglesiya, at sa palagay ko’y karamihan sa mga iglesiyang Baptist, ay hindi talaga sumasamba sa Diyos—pangunahin na rito ang mga manggagawa. Hindi porke na isa ka sa mga pinaka-abala sa worship service ay ikaw na ang pinakasumasamba sa Diyos. Madalas ay kabaligtaran.

Nakita ko ang katotohanang ito sa aming mga estudyante sa Bible school. Tandaan na kadalasan ng mga nag-aaral sa Bible school ay mga manggagawa na kani-kaniyang iglesiya. Tuwing kami’y magde-devotion sa umaga o chapel hour sa tanghali ay kita mo ang kawalang sinseridad sa ginagawa ang mga estudyante rito—minsan ay kabilang ako. Makikita mo na dinidiktahan ang nagpapakanta o nangungunang mag-aaral, niloloko o pinagtatawanan ang mensahe o patotoo, nagkikwentuhan ang mga estudyante, at walang paki-elam sa kaayusan ang mga ito. Ang nakikita kong pinaka-sinsero sa ginagawa niya tuwing ganitong oras ay yung isang 1st year student na anim na buwan pa lamang sa Baptist church na kanyang kinabibilangan at galing pa sa Pentecostal. Wala, ayaw-na-ayaw mag-special number, kung aawit man, ay hindi talaga pinaghandaan.

Pag-uwi sa iglesiya, may makikita kang palingon-lingon na ina habang nananalangin; mga kabataang nakikipagdaldalan habang preaching o choir number; mga batang kumakain ng sitsirya habang nagpi-preach ang pastor; mga taong akyat-baba dahil “nasi-C.R.” Ang mga workers naman ay abala sa pagpigil ng ingay, pagkuha ng bilang, pagpapa-fill-up ng visitor’s slip, at pagtatanong kung ano na ang susunod sa “worship” programme. Aawit lang kung kailan naisip, magbabasa kapag sinipag, at ipipikit ang mata kapag ginusto lang. Hindi nga nakikipagdaldalan, ngunit hindi naman iniisip ang ipinapangaral ng pastor. Nakapikit nga ang mata, ngunit sa totoo lang ay pagkain sa tanghalian ang umiikot sa utak. Marami din ang natutulog. Umaawit nga, wala naman sa puso ang kinakanta. Nagbibigay nga, ngunit parang gawa lamang ng responsibilidad. Aktibo nga sa iglesiya, ngunit ang buhay ay hindi tama sa harap ng Diyos. Mga kapatid, hindi ito pagsamba. Ito’y pagpapahiya sa Diyos. Ang Panauhing Pandangal ay gusto na lamang sigurong umalis dahil parang wala naman ang tinatawag na pagsamba. Alalahanin, ang pagsamba ay mula sa loob palabas.

Maraming mga Kristiano na para nang mga Fariseo, na sinasabihan ni Jesus, “Pinaparangalan ako ng mga taong ito ng kanilang mga labi, ngunit ang kanilang puso ay malayo sa Akin. Sinasamba nila Ako nang walang kabuluhan” (Mateo 15:8-9). Ang tawag dito ay ka-ipokritohan.

Ang pagsamba sa Diyos ay pagsamba sa Kanya “sa ispiritu at katotohanan” (Juan 4:24). Sa ispiritu, o sa loob, at sa katotohanan, o sa panlabas. Ganoon ang tunay na pagsamba. Hindi na kailangan at hindi na dapat mang-hiram pa ng musikang hindi sang-ayon sa Diyos para masabing sumasamba ka. Hindi kailangan ng pagtalon at pagtaas ng kamay para masabing sumasamba ka. Ang kailangan ay pagtuon ng atensyon at pagtugon sa kung sino Siya.

Sumasamba ba tayo? Alam na natin ang tunay na pagsamba. Totohanin na kaya natin ngayon? bdj

Ang article na ay isang nerebisa na bersyon ng orihinal na isinulat ni Elijah Abanto, “Sumasamba Ba Tayo? Isang Imbestigasyon Tungkol sa Tunay na Pagsamba sa Diyos.” Unang nilathala sa BDJ, Volume 2, Issue 49 (August 9, 2009). 

If you want to avail a free copy of this BDJ Volume 3, Issue 40, just post a comment on this article.

Too Young: Does Age Affect Our Usefulness to God?

by Linda M. Canup
from In Touch Magazine, March 2006, pp. 28-31.

You hear about one every now and then—a concert pianist by age 8, a programming genius at 10, a chess master at 12—people so gifted at such unusually young ages that they attract international attention and create an energetic buzz in their field.

A few of our favorite believers could also qualify as prodigies in a spiritual sense. David, Jeremiah, and Timothy are just a few who were called and specially equipped to take on great missions at young ages.

While they had God’s support, they didn’t have it easy. Youthfulness has its own set of challenges. These young men often struggled with insecurities and inadequacies fueled by their lack of experience. Societal expectations and assumptions also caused them to be overlooked, underestimated, and downright persecuted for their youthfulness.

Nevertheless, these chosen few remained faithful throughout their early years and became successful as a king, a prophet, and a builder of the New Testament church.

DAVID
When Samuel came to Jesse’s house to anoint the next king of Israel, no one thought to call David in from the sheep pastures. As the lad watched over the flocks, his older brothers were presented to the visiting prophet. “Surely the Lord’s anointed one is before Him,” thought Samuel as his eyes settled on the eldest. (1 Samuel 16:6) But one by one, oldest to youngest, all seven brothers were rejected.

God did not appoint a son with noble connections, great military training, or even brute strength. He selected David, whose heart belonged to Him. (1 Samuel 16:7)

The Psalms written by the young shepherd reveal plainly His pure, steadfast love for the Father. His musical lyrics, which eloquently describe his desire to serve the Lord, boast confidently of God’s ability to deliver him from enemies. David praised the name of the Lord and proclaimed his unwavering devotion and loyalty. When oppressed by sin, he humbly sought forgiveness and pleaded for restoration and renewal. He gave voice to the nearly unexplainable emotions and
whims of the human heart.

While others saw David as a juvenile field hand, God looked within his soul and saw a courageous young man prepared to fight the enemies of the Lord and establish the kingdom of Israel on earth.

JEREMIAH
At a time when the kingdom of Judah was succumbing to sin and temptation, the Lord wanted a messenger who valued His Law and obeyed Him unconditionally. This person would need a passionate love for God’s people in order to persevere; however, he also had to desire divine righteousness so he could understand the need for inevitable judgment. An ideal candidate would be innocent of Judah’s apostasy, yet not so cynical that he would question the Lord’s plan for ultimate restoration of the Davidic kingdom.

Of course, God knew all along that Jeremiah was the right man for this task, but the future prophet wasn’t convinced. “I do not know how to speak, because I am a youth,” he protested when God issued His directive. (Jeremiah 1:6) He was too focused on himself and his inadequacies rather than on God’s plan and infinite knowledge.

The Lord put those concerns to rest by explaining that He would equip and protect Jeremiah. (v.v. 9, 18-19) He spoke to the prophet-in-training about the future as if He were telling an old story and everything had already happened: Jeremiah was already appointed and consecrated, and he would do all that God asked of him. It was a done deal.

The young man could not argue with such undeniable omniscience. He took the Lord at His word, and the rest really is history.

TIMOTHY
Ephesus was a metropolis dedicated to the worship of the Greek goddess Artemis and, as such, was susceptible to heresies. Nevertheless, because it was the capitol of the Roman province of Asia, it proved critical to the spreading of the Christian faith. Paul had a successful ministry in
that city, but by the time he entrusted it to Timothy, false teachers (Hymenaeus, Alexander, and Philetus, to name a few) were spreading heresies in full force, and many throughout Asia wandered away from the faith. (2 Timothy 1:15)

Timothy’s predicament would be stressful for any mature Christian, let alone for a young man who would have to challenge church elders twice his age.However, Paul (and most importantly, God) knew that Timothy was up to the task for at least two reasons: his sincere faith and the work the Holy Spirit in his life. (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:5-6)

Timothy’s mother was part of a long line of faithful Jewish women who loved the Scriptures and desired to please God. Apparently, she instilled these traits inTimothy, for when Paul took him under his wing, the young man had already established an admirable reputation as a disciple. (Acts 16:2) As the two men traveled together, the apostle became well acquainted with Timothy’s strengths,weaknesses, and spiritual limitations. Therefore, when it came time to choose a guardian for the church at Ephesus, Paul confidently entrusted the city to Timothy, even though he had no prior experience.

SPIRITUAL GREATNESS
Oftentimes we romanticize the lives of these biblical heroes and elevate them to an almost mythological level. We believe we could never do anything so spectacular (some of them wrote Scripture!); we act as if the Golden Age of Christianity has passed and we have nothing but monotony to aspire to until the Lord returns.

This is anything but true. While we might perform drastically different tasks in a physical sense, we engage in similar tasks spiritually. Like David, people today are called to government offices and other positions of leadership. The Lord still directs individuals to petition for social changes and urge the culture to repent of its godless pursuits. Many have been entrusted with families, communities, and churches—like Timothy, they shepherd, protect, and teach the truths of Scripture.

In theory, we know that the Lord can use anyone He chooses to accomplish His plan, but in practice, we often get sidetracked. The world places tremendous emphasis on resumes, qualifications, and connections, so it’s understandable that we carry this mindset over to our spiritual lives as well. Even in the church, we assume that only long-standing Christians or those in the right leadership positions can do extraordinary work for the kingdom.

Yet if we honestly look at the way the Lord has used young people, then we will recognize an important truth: When He calls us to a particular assignment, He has already equipped us with the talents and abilities we will need. So stay faithful in your everyday tasks, and leave your insecurities behind, because God seeks spiritual greatness in all of us, regardless of our shape, size . . . or age.

Author Spotlight
Linda Canup is the Assistant Editor for In Touch magazine, a publication of In Touch Ministries with Dr. Charles Stanley in Atlanta, Georgia. Linda's responsibilities include evaluating query letters and manuscript submissions in addition to writing and editing articles. www.intouch.org.
During her long commutes to and from the office, she enjoys listening to NPR and great books on CD. She spends much of her remaining time supporting her husband, Glenn, in his ministry as Minister of Adult Education and Assimilation at North Metro First Baptist Church.