Praise, Culture and Judgementalism

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Short Summary
The discourse explores the concept of the “Ancient of Days,” emphasizing God’s eternal nature without beginning and highlighting the importance of sincere, heartfelt praise over mere ritual. It distinguishes various types of praise—from indifferent to divine—and stresses the need for spiritual growth, love, and humility in worship, while cautioning against judgmentalism and cultural rigidity in expressions of faith. Ultimately, true praise honors God reverentially and reflects a deep appreciation of His attributes and providence.

Long Summary
Detailed Summary of the Discourse on “The Ancient of Days” and Praise

Introduction to the Ancient of Days
– The speaker begins by reflecting on the concept of the “Ancient of Days,” highlighting that this title refers to God, the Heavenly Father, who is eternal with no beginning.
– Emphasizes the idea of “everlasting to everlasting” (Psalm 90:2 implied), underscoring God’s eternal nature—having no origin and no end.
– Raises the common question children ask: “Where did God come from?” and encourages listeners to ponder this profound truth.

Praise, Culture, and Judgmentalism
– Introduces the themes of praise, cultural differences in worship, and the dangers of judgmentalism.
– Defines praise as expressive, vocal, and celebratory reverence towards God, citing Isaiah 25:1:
> *”O Lord, thou art my God, I will exalt thee. I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things: thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.”* (Isaiah 25:1)
– Shares personal experience traveling to Africa, noting differences in praise expressions between East and West African brethren (e.g., clapping hands accepted in East Africa but not in Ghana).
– Illustrates that cultural variations in worship practices exist and warns against insisting that one’s own method is the only acceptable way.

Biblical Example of Judgmentalism
– Refers to 2 Samuel 6:20-23, recounting how Michal, King David’s wife, criticized David’s joyful dancing before the Lord, which may have contributed to her lifelong barrenness.
– Defines judgmentalism as harsh, critical opinions based on personal standards, which the Spirit-begotten should avoid.
– Cites Matthew 7:1,4-5 from the NIV:
> *”Do not judge, or you too will be judged… How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?”*

Brother Benjamin Barton’s Classification of Praise
– Draws heavily on Brother Barton’s discourse “Praise and Is Found in Pilgrim Echoes,” which categorizes praise into eight types:
1. Indifferent Praise – Mechanical or thoughtless worship (e.g., singing hymns without feeling).
2. Selfish Praise – Gratitude focused on material blessings (health, wealth).
3. Appreciative Praise – Acknowledges the giver (God) as greater than gifts; references Psalm 19:1-4:
> *”The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork… Their line is gone out through all the earth.”*
4. Anticipatory Praise – Hopeful praise based on expectation of God’s future acts, inspired by scripture prophecy (Genesis, Revelation).
5. Submissive Praise – Joyful acceptance of God’s chastening and discipline, supported by Hebrews 12:5-11, emphasizing that chastening is a sign of being God’s child.
6. Concentrated Praise – Focused praise recognizing God’s hand in all life circumstances, even trials, leading to rejoicing.
7. Spiritual Praise – Worship from those begotten by the Holy Spirit, characterized by love and transformation; cites 1 John 4:20-21 and 1 Corinthians 13:3 to emphasize love as essential.
8. Praise that Weigheth for God in Zion (Perfect Praise) – Divine praise associated with perfect intentions and motives; achievable fully only by Jesus Christ and the 144,000 who will possess the divine nature (referenced from 2 Peter 1:4).

Key Scriptural References on Praise and Love
– John 4:24: *”God is spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”*
– Hebrews 12:5-11: Emphasizes the importance of accepting divine discipline as a form of love and growth.
– 1 John 4:20-21: Command to love brethren as evidence of loving God.
– 1 Corinthians 13:3: Without love, even great sacrifices profit nothing.
– Psalm 65:1: *”Praise waiteth for thee, O God in Zion; and unto thee shall the vow be performed.”*

Cultural Sensitivity in Worship
– Stresses that human beings are not qualified to strictly define how God accepts praise because of cultural differences and varying expressions.
– Encourages reverential worship motivated by the desire to glorify God above all else.

Conclusion and Summary
– Summarizes the discourse by affirming that praise is multi-faceted and influenced by culture, maturity, and spiritual development.
– Emphasizes that true praise must come from the heart, with appropriate motives, humility, and love.
– Ends with a quotation from Reprint 2031 titled “David’s Gratitude to God” referencing 2 Samuel 22:2:
> *“The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer.”*
– Highlights that Psalms and other scriptures abound with fervent praise and thanksgiving, calling all creation to glorify God.
– Quotes Psalm 33:1-3:
> *”Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise.”*

—

Summary of Key Bible Verses Mentioned:

– Isaiah 25:1
– Acts 8:36, 39 (mention of Ethiopian eunuch, a spirit-begotten individual)
– 2 Samuel 6:14, 20-23
– Matthew 7:1,4-5
– John 4:24
– Psalm 19:1-4
– Hebrews 12:5-11
– 1 John 4:20-21
– 1 Corinthians 13:3
– Psalm 65:1
– 2 Peter 1:4
– 2 Samuel 22:2
– Psalm 33:1-3

—

Overall Themes:

– The eternal nature of God as the Ancient of Days.
– The diversity of praise expressions shaped by culture and personal development.
– The necessity to avoid judgmentalism and embrace tolerance.
– The progression of praise from indifferent to perfect, spiritual praise.
– The essential role of love in true worship.
– The hopeful anticipation of future divine praise after receiving the divine nature.
– Encouragement to worship sincerely, reverently, and with the right heart attitude.

This discourse encourages self-examination regarding one’s praise and worship, and an appreciation of God’s eternal nature and merits, drawing from scripture, personal experience, and theological insights.

Transcript

So I’m going to talk about the ancient of days and you know who the ancient of days is. You know, a lot of us talk about ages and different things. It’s so interesting. During the intermission, I was talking with someone who said that they had a truck that was in 1971. You know how long ago that was?

It still works.

But we’re going to talk about the ancient of days because he goes back so far, he had no beginning. Think about that. Think about that.

And so when we think about the ancient of days, and I often say the heavenly Father did not need us at all. Did not need us at all. You know, if you are from everlasting to everlasting, you know, I, you know, if you know what everlasting past I can get a hold of everlasting, the future things will never end. That’s I can sort of gather. But everlasting past means you had no beginning.

And if you have children, what do you tell them when they ask you, where did God come from? I’d like to hear your answers. Okay, so as has been announced, maybe I’ll talk about one other thing because brethren are always so very helpful. So I’m, I was speaking to one of the sisters that’s present. I call her my big sister because she’s two years older than I am in this auditorium.

So you figure out who it was. But I’m an old timer and my son says, you know, dad, you’re the only person I know that uses 8.5 by 14 for your discourses. So if any of you have any 8.5 x 14 hanging around and you want to know how to get rid of it, just see me. I’ll give you my address, okay? I am not going to change, you know, certain things you don’t change.

Okay? Praise culture and judgmentalism. You know, concerning definitions, praise is often expressive, vocal and celebratory as it relates to what our attitude should be towards God. For example, we read this in Isaiah 25:1. Isaiah 25:25 1.

O Lord, thou art my God, I will exalt thee. I will praise thy name, for thou hast done wonderful things. Thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

Culture is an interesting word and I will introduce it into my comments by citing one of my experiences having traveled to Ghana, West Africa numerous times. I’m not going to tell you how many times I’ve been there, but there numerous since 1999. You know, there are us brethren, by the way, who have been to Africa prior to my Maiden voyage there.

And some of them have noted a distinction in terms of how praise is rendered among those living in East Africa from West Africa. I have to say this because sometimes in my discussions, brethren say to me, brother Homan, when are you going back to Nigeria? And I say, you know, haven’t been there yet.

Haven’t been there yet. Although it’s West Africa generally speaking, though those who are from West Africa at least are now here as well as maybe other parts have their origins in the nominal church. Although scripturally, you know, the Ethiopian eunuch was likely a spirit begotten individual in the early church, as per Acts 8:36, 39. Acts 8:36, 39. He’s from East Africa, by the way.

But coming back to culture, you know, I have invited numerous invitees to the Pan African Convention, and of course, if you want to know when the next one is, there’s newsletters out there. I don’t know if I put the date on this, but I will probably not forget it because the memorial is Tuesday, March 31, and Lord willing, Wednesday I’ll be on the plane from Kennedy, a direct flight to Aquagonum, where it’s going to be held the fourth through the seventh, and I was inquiring of one of the sisters that’s in the room. I said, have you booked your flight yet? And she said, no, but she’s coming.

Okay, so I’m going to hold it to that. But any rate, I can recall a brother from East Africa who came to Ghana to West Africa, and he was very expressive and he was saying, praise the Lord.

And the individual from West Africa said to this individual, he said, brother, we don’t do clap hands here in Ghana. So I guess that’s part of the problem because we all do things a little differently, and that’s a good lesson to learn because sometimes we think that you got to do it the way I do it, or otherwise it doesn’t count. Okay.

Incidentally, 2nd Samuel 6:20-23, 2nd Samuel 6:2023 recalls a critical moment in the relationship between King David and his wife Michelle, who is the daughter of Saul, and after David brought the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem with great celebration, he danced before the Lord with all his might. Second Samuel 6:14. Second Samuel 6:14. This is the king now.

And Michelle observed his public rejoicing, and she derided David for his behavior, suggesting it was beneath the dignity of a king, and perhaps having chided her husband, the anointed, maybe that’s why she remained barren throughout her life.

Judgmentalism that’s described as the tendency to form harsh or critical opinions about others, often based upon our own personal standards. It seems to reflect a lack of openness, tolerance toward different points of view or behaviors, and this appears to be a quality that the Spirit begotten should try not to have. This is not one of the put ons. Okay, let me reference Matthew 7:1 4 and 5. Matthew 7:1 4 and 5, and I’m reading from the NIV and it says, do not judge or you too will be judged.

How can you say to your brother, let me take the speck out of your eye, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye, you hypocrite. First take the plank out of your own eye and then you will see clearly. Remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

We’re now going to lean heavily upon some of brother Benjamin Barton’s comments in a discourse entitled Praise and Is Found in Pilgrim Echoes because we believe it gives some insight on this subject that we don’t always necessarily view the same way.

But I found his expressions to be a blessing to me and trust that part of my paraphrase will enable you to find it a blessing for you as well.

Brother Barton defines praise as a form of worship or means of expressing reverence that may consist of feelings from our hearts, words from our lips, or thoughts that lead to actions that become expressions of praise, you know, as we expand upon this matter, he suggests that there are a number of things that we might do which reflect a life of praise. But more than that, he has categorized praise into eight distinct levels, and there are nuances to consider that relate to our motives for giving praise. Let me first just list these eight types first, and we’ll then make comments about each of them subsequently. These include indifferent praise, selfish praise, appreciative praise, anticipatory praise, submissive praise, concentrated praise, spiritual praise, and praise that weigheth for God in Zion. Do you know all those kinds of phrases?

Indifferent phrase could be the singing of a hymn in a thoughtless fashion, or rendering a prayer in a rote manner, or the formal reading of a scripture without any consideration of its import.

If these activities are not from the heart, then we suggest that maybe the Heavenly Father doesn’t really receive them. We’re told in John 4:24, John 4:24 that those who worship the Father must worship him in spirit and in truth.

You know, there are times that our minds can wander even in an assembly of God’s people. Look, let me go off script for A second. I enjoyed Brother Rick’s discourse this morning. He set the table for us for the entire convention, and I told him the following because he was busy having some fellowship, and I waited patiently and I had some questions that I wanted to ask him privately.

But I said, you know, Brother Rick, there’s one thing about having a discourse just before lunch is that you don’t get the questions, and, well, what did you mean by that? Because the brethren ready to eat. So thank you, Phoenix, thank you.

But let’s continue on. We could be singing a congregational hymn to the glory of God, but if we do not consider the sentiments of the words, are we really praising our Creator when giving thanks for our temporal food? The provisions, do we ever grumble, I don’t like this stuff.

Now, these are all matters for personal self evaluation, not for anyone making judgments as to what anyone feels about these things.

But they do illustrate perhaps indifference, and it is to be hoped that since we are working in progress, as Brother Rick mentioned, and we don’t, you know, we don’t change immediately, we keep going, going, going. It is hoped that as we get closer and closer to the completion of our course, that there’s less and less of this hopefully. What is selfish praise? Well, it is praise that is sincere and beautiful, but it relates to primarily to things of a material nature, such as gratitude for our measure of health, for our economic success, for the love we receive from others.

One of the problems with this type of praise is that it’s possible to become so absorbed with temporal matters that our focus is not sufficiently directed to towards the things of the spirit, and quite possibly this is a developmental matter. As we grow more and more in maturity, our appetites become increasingly weaned away from earthly or natural in favor of the spiritual appreciative. Praise is manifested when we get beyond the gift and acknowledge the giver, and so as we note the temporal blessings which we receive, we’re reminded according to Scripture, that every good and perfect gift cometh from above, from the Father, with whom there is no variableness or shadow of turning.

Appreciation recognizes that the giver is greater than even the blessings received.

Let us read Psalms 19:1 4. Psalms 19:1 4. It tells us. I appreciate Brother Lin telling us about when we look up at the sky at night, what you will see. Yeah, I’m going to look.

I’m going to look. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Day unto day utter speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There’s no speech no language where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth in their words to the end of the world.

In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun.

As we reflect upon the majesty of the One who ordered all the affairs of the universe, we begin to praise him with appreciation, not merely selfishly, for the things which we have received, but from its attributes of wisdom, justice, love, power, and, you know, when I have this discussion with brethren, I say, you know, we have said that the Creator has four attributes. I always begin to say, you know, and I like the 136th Psalm, because the 136th Psalm says, and his mercy endureth forever to all generations. Every single verse says that. So I kind of think that mercy is one of his attributes.

But beyond that, can you quantify the Heavenly Father and say how many attributes he really has? Can you do that?

Anticipatory praise follows next. In other words, as we appreciate what we have been given in discerning God’s character, we begin to reason, what is he going to do next? In the past, yes, he sent His Son to die for us, for all the human family, and then we begin to think, well, what’s going to happen when this night of sin is over? What’s really going to occur?

And this prompts us to search the Scriptures to see what they reveal. You know, we have a hope that it’s based upon the sure word of prophecy, and we are convinced as we study the fall of man that is recorded in the early chapters of the Bible in Genesis and compare it to the time that is described In Revelation, chapter 20, 21 and 22, we rejoice in the prospect that, you know what, righteousness will exist perpetually. Sin will be a thing of the past. You know, perhaps as we look at others and we look at the service that brother so and so, or sister so and so has, we begin to think, gee, I wish I could do what they could do.

We’re told that our Heavenly Father, he will supply all of our needs according to his riches in glory through Christ Jesus, and if we anticipate the truth of that passage in our lives, we will surely grow in our appreciation and our ability to praise him.

Submissive praise. We’re told that our experiences are overruled for our development, and therefore we should willingly, joyfully submit to the various chastenings, prunings, without murmuring, and perhaps we can apply as a text in our life, one found in Philippians, that in everything, in everything, give thanks with meaning.

Hebrews chapter 12 is a whole subject in and of itself, but we’d like to quote selective portions as it relates to submissive praise. 12:5 12:5 and ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as children. My son Despise not the chaste things of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him. Verse 6 For whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 if ye endure chastening, God deals with you as sons and daughters.

For what son or daughter is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 what if he be without chastisement? Whereof all our partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons or daughters?

11 now no chastening, for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous nevertheless. Afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness, and to them which are exercised thereby, when we can identify that such experiences have had a beneficial effect upon our Christian walk, in that we have submitted ourselves to these influences and have drawn more closely to the Heavenly Father and manifest greater obedience in following his principles, that indeed will be cause for rejoicing on our part. Yes, faithfulness in terms of acquiescing to these disciplines will assist towards receiving an incorruptible inheritance with our Lord.

Concentrated praise basically means that we’re beginning to see the Lord’s hand in everything we do.

So often we greet one another, maybe at a convention like this, and we ask, well, how are you doing, my brother, my sister? And sometimes you get a one word answer, Rejoicing, rejoicing.

Of course the question might be asked because we may have some knowledge of the trials that they have gone through, experiences, health, suffering, bereavement or whatever which may seem outwardly unfavorable.

But to the degree that they are able to immerse themselves into doing the Heavenly Father’s will, they receive strength which enables them to rejoice exceedingly.

I happen to love hymns also, and one that applies to this verse that I really appreciate is all for Jesus, and I can hear the words, since my eyes were fixed on Jesus, I have lost all sight of all beside, so enchained my Spirit’s vision. Looking at the crucified point is that when our praise concentrated, the Holy Spirit directs our focus that our desire is to do everything possible that we can do to bring glory and honor to his name, and then Brother Barton describes what he calls perfect praise, and it relates to perfect intentions, desires, or motives. You know, I know that in the flesh that you cannot do anything perfectly.

But our efforts to please the Heavenly Father are so pronounced that we will come to the place where we can love our enemies, do good to those who persecute us or who desire to do something that is displeasing. You know, I often think about the memorial and, you know, if you read volume six and studies and scriptures, and while it says there’s no specific guideline, the pastor gives some suggestions, and one of the things he says, you know, in the beginning, pray for the general assembly of all who are going to partake this evening. The question I would ask is, do you really pray for brother so and so or sister so and so? If they haven’t spoken to you in 30 years, do you really do that?

Oh, you’re on the road then if you do that.

One of the things we do know about our Lord and Savior is that he loves us, and if we’re faithful, maybe one of the things that we will ask is, you know, back in the day, during your three and a half year walk to Calvary, what were you thinking about when those who opposed you smote you, said all manner of evil of you, drove spikes through your hands and your feet, and yet we know that he loved them supremely because he gave his life for them. He had no spirit of retaliation. You know, I, I think about Peter, who was not one of those.

But remember when, after his resurrection, because it was Peter before who said, oh, Master, I will never leave you, and you know, three times before the cock crowed well, upon his resurrection, he told the sisters, go tell Peter. Because you know, if you have, if you have denied your master, wouldn’t you be kind of ashamed? You say I blew it. I knew I could do it.

But that was before. Spirit begetto spiritual praise. Now, can you, Can I render spiritual praise while we’re in the flesh?

You know, those who have been begotten with the Holy Spirit. We heard Brother Rick talk about newness, new mind, new way of doing things, transformation, all those kinds of things. We have an earthly body, but we’re to be spiritually minded, and I think that we are all here today because we believe that we came to meet with other members who are striving to be part of the body of Christ.

We’re here to increase our spiritual understanding, and where can this better be achieved than in the assembly of the Lord’s people? And we hope that our presence here will give us increased ability to, to magnify our love for God, for Christ, for the truth, and for Our brethren, you can’t have love in some of these areas and not the others. It’s a package, brethren. It’s a package.

A very pointed scripture in this regard is 1st John 4:2021. 1st John 4:2021 says, if a man say I love God and hate is his brother, he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment have we from him that he who loveth God, love his brother also.

And then there is 1st Corinthians 13, 1 3. Now just read verse 3 for sake of time, and though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned and have not love, it profit me nothing, nada.

So I think as I understand it, that the apostles acknowledging that it’s important to have an intellectual understanding of the truth. You got to know what scriptures teach. But if you do not have a demonstration of agape self sacrificing love, it’s really not an evidence that you’re going to make it without the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. You know, it brings forth fruitage. You got to demonstrate fruitage in life.

And so again the generous spirit that we might have, which would allow us to bestow all of our goods, all of our possessions to give to those who have need. Though we should even be martyred. You know, there are some individuals who are martyred. They’re not going to be part of the body of Christ. You know that.

All these things might be byproducts of our experiences as we seek to follow Christ if we do not have agape love.

Let us read a text now from Psalm 65:1 that’s about the praise that we were mentioning before, and it reads Psalm 65:1 Praise waiteth for thee, O God in Zion, and unto thee shall the bow be performed. This refers to divine praise rendered by divine beings, 2nd Peter 1:4, 2 Peter 1:4, whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these ye may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption of that which is in the world through lust. You know, in volume one studies and the Scriptures there’s a chapter entitled Nature’s Distinct, and in it we learn there are intelligent beings from the human plane on the lowest level to those who will be part of the divine nature.

Has the divine nature at the highest rung, and when the ages of bliss commence, there’ll be billions, I’m sure of human beings There’ll be countless angelic hosts, cherubim, seraphim, principalities, powers. But apart from God, who originally possess the divine nature, as far as we can glean from the Scriptures, only Jesus Christ and the 144,000 members of his body will possess the divine nature. Today, with our limited abilities, it is not possible for us to render divine praise. But if we prove faithful unto death, we will be part of that select company of divine beings who will have the capacity to render divine praise, unfathomable praise as a means of giving perpetual adoration to our dear Heavenly Father.

Let me summarize. We have concluded or we have considered the topic of praise, recognizing that there are various ways of. Of dealing with this subject. There are different cultural norms, which makes sense that there’s only the way I do it that would prove to be acceptable to the Heavenly Father. According to the Scriptures, however, humans are not qualified, based upon their experience and conception, to define how the Heavenly Father views the matter.

When the offerer has as his highest motive reverentially glorifying the Emperor of the universe for all that he’s done for us.

We’re going to cite a portion of Reprint 2031. Reprint 2031. To conclude, it’s titled David’s Gratitude to God. The golden text is from 2nd Samuel 22:2, and it reads, the Lord is my rock, and my fortress and my deliverer, and here’s what the pastor writes.

This entire chapter is one of David’s songs of praise and gratitude to God for his goodness and his loving providence, which has been so manifest towards him ever since his anointing by Samuel the prophet, and doubtless before that as well, it calls to mind another expression of one of his Psalms. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous. For praise is calmly for the upright, and that’s Psalm 33:1,331.

Indeed, the writings of David, and all the prophets and apostles as well, abound in fervent expression of praise and thanksgiving to God. They not only praised the Lord themselves, but lovingly and gratefully, recounting all his mercies. But with impassioned eloquence and holy enthusiasm. They call upon all the sons of men and everything that hath breath and even inanimate nature, with laud and magnify his holy name. The worshippers are bidden to bring with them to the concert of praise every musical instrument of human device and grateful reverence exclaims.

This is from Psalm 33:2 and 3. Blessed be his glorious name forever, and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen.

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