The Unquenchable Worshipper – Chapter Six
The Unquenchable Worshipper is written by Matt Redman, author of the song “The Heart Of Worship.” By posting about it, I’m not only sharing it with you but it gives me an opportunity to really digest it and think about it.
Chapter Six – “The Unstoppable Worshipper”
In this chapter, Matt Redman gives some great examples of “unstoppable worshippers.” Here’s a sampling:
- Charles Wesley: In 1744, while holding a prayer meeting in an upstairs room, the floor gave way and 100 people crashed to the room below. Wesley’s response – he starts singing the Doxology, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.”
- David: When he defeated Goliath and when his family hated him for God’s sake.
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Hanged for taking a stand against Hitler and the Nazi party, he left his cell saying, “This is the end – but for me, the beginning of life.”
- Paul: In prison for the sake of Christ, he prayed for more boldness in evangelism.
- Rachel Scott: Asked by the Columbine High School Shooters if she believed in God, her response was, “You know I do.” She was shot through the head.
- Stephen: who continued to preach as he was being stoned.
- And of course Jesus: Redman points out the likelihood that He and the disciples probably sang Psalm 136 after the last supper just prior to Jesus’ arrest. The Psalm repeats the phrase “His love endures forever” 26 times.
The real point of this chapter, however, is to contrast these amazing stories of boldness with our lack of boldness generally in worship. Redman tells a story from his youth, and I could tell several of my own. We are so worried about being labeled Jesus Freaks that our worship is stopped or stunted. According to Redman:
”Unstoppable worshippers are adventurous hearts, taking every opportunity to demonstrate the good news of God to this world.”
