Ascending Mt. Zion
For the upcoming Lord’s Day April 20th, 2025
The Foolishness of Scientism
In Against Scientism: The Unseen Realities of Christian Worship we will explore worship’s true spiritual context. However first, what is Scientism? Scientism is the belief that science and the scientific method are the best or only way to understand the world and reality. As Christians, we love Science but we reject scientism. The original scientists were staring into the Created order looking for God. They were investigating creations’ intricacies and beauty so that they might know the Creator better. Science is now a religion that is unto itself without an end. Scientism is the religion’s true name. It is ruled by a subjective atheism that proclaims child sacrifice as good for the planet. Also, according to modern science mental disorders like body dysmorphia and transvestism are now normal modes of thinking and being. Scientism reminds me of a particular chapter of Romans:
“Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen (Romans 1:22-25).”
Fools For Christ
Our modern lives are saturated with scientific worldview. Scientism, in all its arrogance, denies the existence of anything that we cannot see, hear, hold, or smell. It requires a theory and reproducible lab results to prove. However, we are fools for Christ. We believe His Word and submit to His authority. Therefore, wherever Scientism crosses with Scripture we are to “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ (Colossians 2:8).”We believe in an entire unseen spiritual cosmic order. Even in the ancient world, we were seen as fools. “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18.”
An Unseen Spiritual Cosmic Order
Christianity believes in the God who “is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth (WSC Question 4.” We believe in a Fall of Mankind, “who being left to the freedom of their own will fell from the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God (WSC Question 13).” They were tempted to that fate too.
We believe in a mysterious angelic Fall in which Satan, the Tempter, a superior spirit, likely an Arch Angel, led a group of angels in rebellion against God. Angelic corruption is total and complete. Fallen angels are unredeemable. After their Fall they became demons. That is what Peter means when he says, “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment (2 Peter 2:4).” Hell began for them the moment they Fell. Their Fallen Nature is fixed. They know and believe in the Savior but that knowledge can do them no good. “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder (James 2:19)!” There is no repentance unto life for them.
From Scientism to Christianity
We need to move from Scientism back to Christianity and the cosmic order. The best place for us to do that is in worship. The best way to do it is by re-establishing the true spiritual context of our worship. What does the author of Hebrews tell us to see by faith when we draw near to God? What is his description of where we go when we take advantage of our Gospel privilege to “draw near to the Throne of Grace (Hebrews 4:16)?” I use the phrase “Ascending Mt. Zion” for our Wednesday blog because I always attach to the end everything you can expect in public worship on the upcoming Lord’s Day at Solomon’s Porch; when we enjoy our ascension in Christ together.
The True Spiritual Context of Worship
Reformed Christians view the Lord’s Day as a Festival Day for the Church. The Day where we meet around the Throne of God, in the spirit, to worship Him together. And, as the Hollywood moguls would say, “Everybody who is anybody is there!” Listen to the guest list. Listen to all who accompany us when we draw near. Hear the true spiritual context of Christian worship.
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel (Hebrews 12:22-24).”
Faith Transforms Private Worship
That immediately transforms your prayer life, doesn’t it? Faith doesn’t pray into the darkness. Faith enters behind the veil and pleads before the Throne of God above. It enters into the presence of those who do not cease to cry, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God hosts, the whole Earth is full of His glory (Isaiah 6:3).” The angels are there, along with the spirits of just men made perfect. That means Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are there with us, with all the saints who have gone before us. “He is not God of the dead, but of the living (Matthew 22:32).” The knowledge of the Holy, our truespiritual context, the truth that God is Present with His saints and angels when we enter in, should make slogging through family worship a little bit easier.
Faith Transforms Public Worship
The Lord’s Day is when the Earth joins Heaven and worships the LORD together. On that day the Gospel is trumpeted, symphonies of praise rise, and prayers and petitions come from every corner of the Earth. The worship of God moves from East to West until the closing of the day. A sweet-smelling savor and incense in the form of prayers and praises constantly rises to Him. We come to Him Who never slumbers nor sleeps. We enter in before Him and the Heavenly Host who bear Him witness We add the voice our Amen to theirs. The public worship of God is transformed by the Truth of the cosmic reality. Worship is only a boring, stodgy old place to those without eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to understand. Scientism darkens our sight and destroys Christian worship. However, for those on whom the Light of Light has risen, who believe and accept the cosmic spiritual order, worship is their soul’s delight.
Thanks For Stopping By
If you are not a member at SPCC, thanks for reading “Against Scientism: The Unseen Realities of Christian Worship.” What comes after this section may not mean much to you. However, I always write a little piece at the front of this missive on Wednesdays so don’t be shy, go ahead and SUBSCRIBE. Every little encouragement helps and I write several pieces a week.
Sermon
This week Pastor Jeremy will be in 1 Corinthians 15
March Memory & Meditation
Memory & Meditation Verses for this week are Psalm 22:14-15.
Read our latest Blog Series, Forsaken For Us All Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 based on Psalm 22:1-15 our Memory & Meditation Verses until we Celebrate the Resurrection.
You can also read our most recently completed blog Series, Christ, His Church, & Marriage Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 based on Ephesians 5:22-33.
March Catechism Questions
Westminster Shorter Catechism: Questions 11-15
Remember that you can present Questions 1–6, our WSC Catechism Questions from last month, to any member of the Consistory during lunch starting this week.
Lord’s Day Meal
Yes, we Celebrate the Resurrection with Breakfast @ 9 am!
Psalms & Hymns of Worship
Psalm 60:1-5 Tune: Martyrdom & Hymn – Christ The Lord Is Risen
Psalm 59:16-17 Tune: Ellacomb Hymn- He Arose
No Midweek Worship
Our next Midweek Worship will be April 23rd, 2025
Yes Remembering the Crucifixion
Friday April 18th @ 7 pm at the Smyrna Senior Center
Join Us for Worship
Finally, come and worship with us on the Lord’s Day. We also meet on three Wednesday evenings a month for Catechism Lesson & Prayer. Another Visit our Homepage or What We Believe for more information. Find us on Google Maps or watch our sermons on Youtube.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord!
Pastor Jeremy
“The Creation is quite like a spacious and splendid house, provided and filled with the most exquisite, and at the same time, the most abundant furnishings. Everything in it tells of God.” – John Calvin
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