Lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi is an axiom of ancient Christianity, meaning, “The rule of worship, is the rule of belief, is the rule of life.” That is, the way we are oriented in worship (whatever it might be that we focus on most devotedly) orients the way we believe and the way we live.
We are told through the Old Testament that the Israelites always went back to the idols of the cultures around them. As American Christians we sometimes are no different. We are immersed in a culture that tells us to beautify the gospel, don’t mention sin, don’t remind people how far they are from God. We need to be aware of where we are in our walk with Christ.
I get off track in my own life. I know what it is like to watch to much television I used to love politics and I would get caught up switching back and forth between Fox News and CNN and waste two or three hours a night. We can so easily get lost and focus our worship on a cult of personality, or the television, or a new car that we just have to get because ours is three years old.
We can even worship; worship, no joke if you have been in church over ten years you have probably seen your churches worship service change. Both sides of that argument are worshiping something other than God when they go into those sanctuaries.
My point is this. What ever you focus your worship on is what is going to set the way you see yourself, others, and the church. Are you studying your bible daily, are you praying and memorizing scripture, or are you putting junk into your mind? This week turn off the t.v., turn off the computer and fill your mind with a little more scripture. Get some 3×5 index cards and start memorizing it as well.
(1) Jill Carattini, A Slice of Infinity daily email Newsletter January 23, 2009. Jill Carattini is managing editor of A Slice of Infinity at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia.
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