The following is an example of today’s preaching and
yesteryear’s theological stances which have carried into today. Begin
Transmission: When we study the Bible let’s make sure to do it
systematically—finding out all that the Scriptures have to say on a subject and
deducing our conclusion. In fact, you can even start the process by thinking
about the attributes of God then finding out how the Scriptures fits into your
thinking. Read on, and see how the Scriptures teach that we are to worship on
mountains.
God is high and above all things. He is the God of a thousand hills and over all His creation. How do we react to that fact?
The Scriptures explicitly teach that we are to worship on a mountain. The current state of the Church just shows how bad we have strayed from this clearly taught Biblical doctrine. How can we forget that the greatest event in history occurred on a small mount outside of Jerusalem—where Christ was crucified? God, who is over all, was satisfied with what happened on that hill…how do we respond?
The life of Christ is highlighted with mountain top experiences. He was often seen going to pray at the Mount of Olives (Luke 22:39; John 8:1). He was praised by the multitudes when He came down from the Mount of Olives (Luke 19:37). The time of His greatest anguish, and greatest representation of having His will swallowed up in the Father's will occurred on a mount (Matt 26:30; Mark 14:26). We can even stand in awe, seeing Christ transfigured, His glory revealed on a mountain (Matt 17:1). I don’t think I should even have to mention the greatest sermon ever, spoken on a mount (Matt 5:12).
Oh Christians of Christ’s Church, why have we left the mountains? Why have we strayed so far from Scripture? The [insert historical group] clearly taught this Scriptural doctrine and all these false denominations out here have left us in a desert plain! Why have we forgotten that the Great Commission was “Great” because it was done on a mountain (Matt 28:16)! When Christ was taken up into the clouds with His disciples gathered around Him it was on a mountain (Acts 1:10-12). The very vision of the New Jerusalem in Revelations 21:10 is of that holy city resting on a high mountain!
Learn the lesson of history, people! The Israelites were at their worse when they ignored God and didn’t worship on this mountain or that, but worshipped idols on their high places. This is horrendous because, God is the God of a thousand mountains (Ps 50:10) not these false idols. They had forgotten their calling that God had revealed Himself and had given His Law on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19). Thank God for Elijah who called the people to turn back to God—and he did it on a mountain (1 Kings 18).
We must realize that the Israelites had ignored that holy calling which Abraham received to go up unto a mountain and to sacrifice that which he held dear (Gen 22:2). It was after that sacrifice that he was greatly blessed. How much more blessed will we be when we sacrifice our Churches-on-the-plains and head to the hills, to the very heights of the mountains in our nearness to God. From there we will truly be a city on a hill which cannot be hidden (Matt 5:14). Now, let’s rise and sing “Go Sing It On the Mountain”
End Transmission. This has been a lesson in proof-texting and using deductive reasoning to learn from the Scriptures instead of using an inductive method of studying. What I did here was purely silly, but if you heard it preached with power, it might just make you wonder if it is true. There are many doctrines being propounded on the web (and in churches) as that of the [insert historical group here] or preached by [insert famous expositors and preachers here] then tagged with a Biblical, Pauline or Truly Christian signature to finally authorize it. Deductive reasoning and Systematic Theology are well and good—but don’t solely rely on them for your understanding of truth. They are limited. Read the Scriptures in its entirety and in its context and don’t fully rely on those methods which lead to proof texting.
-r-
Remember, this was satire...but if you have a problem now wondering if we should worship on a mountain you can leave a comment. Also, realize that I borrowed a general outline of this from a dear brother Randy Amos.
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