The Church is the Church in her worship. Worship is not an optional extra, but is of the very life and essence of the Church. ...Man is never more truly man than when he worships God. He rises to all the heights of human dignity when he worships God, and all God's purpose in Creation and in Redemption are fulfilled in us as together in worship we are renewed in and through Christ, and in the name of Christ we glorify God.
Interpretation
Worship is essential to the Church and humanity, revealing our true dignity and purpose.
This quote emphasizes the centrality of worship within the Church and its vital role in defining both the Church's essence and human dignity. According to Torrance, true humanity is realized in the act of worship, where individuals connect with God, fulfilling their purpose in Creation and Redemption. Therefore, worship is not merely an additional activity but rather the foundation of the Church's life and the means through which believers are renewed and glorify God.
In practice
A pastor might use this quote in a sermon to underline the importance of worship in church gatherings.
Power invariably elects to go into the hands of the strong. That strength may be physical or of the heart or, if we do not fight shy of the word, of the spirit. Strength of the heart connotes soul-force. Let it be remembered that physical force is transitory, even as the body is transitory. But the power of spirit is permanent even as the spirit is everlasting.
Loneliness and solitude are two different things. When you are lonely, it is easy to delude yourself into believing that you are on the right path. Solitude is better for us, as it means being alone without feeling lonely. But eventually it is best to find a person, the person who will be your mirror. Remember, only in another person's heart can you truly see yourself and the presence of God within you.
Believers are right when they say that to understand a religion properly you need to get under its skin. But to understand it fully, you cannot stay there: you have to take a more objective view, too.
Give a man religion without reminding him of his filth, and the result will be arrogance in a three- piece suit.
It is in the turmoil of chaos that we discover what, if anything, we are.
The individual's desire to dominate his environment is not a desirable trait in a society which every day grows more and more confining.
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