Customer Reviews

Created For Worship: From Genesis to Revelation

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dr. Due's work is both breathtaking and doxological! He skillfully leads the reader on a journey through the biblical narrative. Along the way, he insightfully point us to oft-neglected theological mile markers (an organic view of the church, a recovery of biblical eschatology) related to the subject of biblical worship. I found his recurring reflections on "false worship" (idolatry) as helpful as his encouragement towards "true worship." He thinks clearly and writes insightfully, lifting our discussion and the practice of worship above issues of style and form. Dr. Noe is to be commended for articulating the essential, more eternal issues surrounding worship and for calling us all to higher ground in this fine work.

Absolutely, hands down, the best book on worship I have ever read. Due has done an incredible job with book - and it's something every pastor (worship pastor, senior pastor, anything-pastor) should go through. It's not always the easiest read - but the material is amazing.

I think, among other things, I loved his explorations of how the biblical concept of rest plays into worship most. And his concept of idolatry and how it's related to worship is amazing as well.

But note that, as I state above, this is not the easiest read. Don't bite off too much at a time - Due's concepts and understandings are best mulled over and chewed upon for a time. This work, though not exhaustively comprehensive, is very nearly so. And I think he's done an amazing job of focusing in on most all major passages dealing with worship in the Bible. With that understood, it's hard to comprehend how he fit what he did into the 238 pages he has written.

I know I said this is a must for all pastors (and in my mind it is!), but it's also for every worship leader out there. This helps you begin to wrestle with deeper theological concepts of worship. And it's for anyone who just truly wants to dig underneath the hood of biblically and theologically sound worship.

So, have any of you had a very hard time finishing David Peterson's "Engaging with God"? This book is for you. A great Biblical theology of worship, with manages to remain readable and quite interesting at that. Highly suggested for music ministers or anyone interested in worship in general.

Have you ever wondered why Christian's worship God? Are we following traditions, religious mores? Or are there deeper meanings revealed in God's Word that can help us know what worship is?

This book was recommended to me by my pastor along with Peterson's book Engaging With God: A Biblical Theology of Worship. Both have been very helpful in explaining the biblical history of worship, the fulfillment of the Law by Jesus Christ, the worship of the early church, as well as worship in the future described in the book of Revelations.

Noel Due takes his readers beyond the animal sacrifices of the Jewish Law to the daily personal offerings in recognition of Christ's work on the cross and a believer's response to this offering in loving God by serving others. By not going into liturgy and structure, this book reveals the main reason for worship, we were created to worship Jesus Christ.

Both these books are well written and understandable for the layman.

Mr. Due has written a very good book. You won't find the "worship wars" in these pages in the way you may think or heard about the "worship wars." The worship wars fought in this book are those found within the reader. You will find a comprehensive Biblical study on worship, from Genesis to Revelation, which is neither all-encompassing nor exhaustive. But, it is solid, and rich enough to make the reader slow down and savor several passages.

Only two quibbles:

1. A few (very few) proof texts push the limits of credibility, but not far enough to demand an edit in a later edition,
2. At the very end of the book, there is a minor egalitarian issue - Mr. Due wishes that all worship leaders are elders. I don't see the importance of this, and don't find it Biblical. Throughout the book, Mr. Due constantly reinforces the priesthood of all believers, and that access to God is NOT limited by any human agency. It surprised me that the elder-deal made it into Mr. Due's thinking.

What Mr. Due does really well is continually reminds his reader that everyone worships something all the time. I found myself humming Dylan's 1977 song "Gotta Serve Somebody" several times while reading.

Despite the four stars, I highly recommend this book!