My Reflection on Psalm 100

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As December 17, 2017 is Thanksgiving Sunday in Bible Baptist Church-Katipunan, I decided to do a reflection on Psalm 100. Here's what the Psalm says:
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing. 
Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless His name. 
For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.

Thanksgiving is never limited to only when good things happen. The problem is that people focus too much on what the storm has destroyed instead of what the storm hasn't destroyed and how to replace what the storm has destroyed. David always praised God even in the times of utmost difficulty. This is not just worship but also praise. One of the biggest mistakes that some Christians may have made the error of banning certain musical instruments. John Calvin as much as Reformers appeal to his writings made a serious mistake in condemning musical instruments. Charles H. Spurgeon as much as he was a great preacher foolishly condemned the organ. These are mistakes that the Church is called to reject. Nowhere in the Bible are instruments forbidden or commanded in the Christian worship.

Joyful noise doesn't mean to call for worldly style of music in the Church. This is not the call for the use of rock and roll in worship. Having the wrong kind of music leads to the wrong kind of worship. We are to call for godly, edifying music. Many people think that the Christian life is a killjoy for not allowing rock and roll. But do you know that the wrong music can lead to serious consequences? Exodus 32 records the whole unfortunate incident of the Golden Calf. Exodus 32:18 shows us how the wrong music led to a sexual orgy down the camp. The wrong music helps influence helps the wrong attitude of worship.

There is the attitude of gladness. Why do you go to church? Why do you sing praises? Why do you give? It must be from a heart of gladness. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says:
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

You must give not out of grudges but out of love. God wants a cheerful giver. The believer is no longer under the Law but under grace. That means following the law is no longer a burden but a delight. It's already viewed as something that a Christian looks forward to fulfilling. They give their tithes and offerings from a loving heart. This is serving God even when times get difficult and not just when times go easy. One should reflect on David's words in Psalm 34 which he wrote the following in the first verse:
I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Going to attend church with other Christians should be an attitude of being happy that it's finally Sunday again. It's not just going to warm the pew by sitting on it. It's about joyfully worshiping God as a community. This is attending church on Sundays as part of being thankful to God. This is the time to be more thankful than daily thanksgiving. This is setting one day apart to give extra praise to God for all that He has done by allowing both the good and the bad. 

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