Carroll Institute Hosts New Testament Scholar, Dr. Gerald Borchert, during Fall Colloquy, November 11-12, 2013
Dr. Gerald Borchert, Senior Adjunct Professor of New Testament at Carson Newman College, Jefferson City, TN, and Doctoral Thesis Director at the Webber Institute for Worship Studies in Jacksonville, FL, was the featured speaker for the Fall Colloquy on the theme Walking with God in Worship and Life.
Dr. Borchert prefers to amplify the topic as Engaging the Slippery Human Problem of ‘Walking with God in Worship and Life.’
People often have preconceived or even mistaken ideas of what worship is all about. Dr Borchert stressed that it has nothing to do with what we do
in worship – it has everything to do about the One we worship. Dr. Borchert went through the Gospels of Mark and John, giving us portraits of Jesus as the gospel writers described him: Jesus is one whose teachings were shocking,
one who had such authority that even nature obeyed him, the Miracle worker, the I AM,
the one who makes all things new, the one to whom God said Listen to him!
To worship Christ, we must truly know him,
not just know about him, and we can only do that through spending time with him. Our knowing
him must be transformed into believing
him, and we must live our lives accordingly – that is authentic worship. Dr. Borchert also encouraged us to tell the stories of Jesus and make sure people really know who Jesus is.
In subsequent sessions, Dr. Borchert took us through the real meaning of the Roman Road and the processes of justification, sanctification, and glorification. Faith
and grace
are about relationship, not rules. Borchert said, You can either relate to rules or to the Ruler.
Worship is associated with the second stage of our salvation – sanctification – how we walk with God. The problem for us, in the way we walk with God, is that we are not yet perfect. That is why God gives us the Holy Spirit so that we can walk with God through him. Borchert adds, Worship is not about anything more or less than offering ourselves to God
every day –Christ is our model. Borchert used the books of Hebrews and 1 Peter to show us the difficulties of living a life of worship in any period of time or history.Christianity is not an escapist theology,
commented Borchert. Christians must face the reality of persecution and be ready to go outside the camp with Jesus.
Gerald Borchert left with us many ideas and questions for further contemplation on the topic of worship, for example, How we live reflects the God we worship. Where is your major loyalty?
Each plenary session was followed by a time of formal response along with Q & A. Respondents included Dr. Scott Aniol, Assistant Professor of Worship and Church Music, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and author of books and articles on worship; Dr. Sharon Gritz, author of the book “Paul, Women Teachers, and the Mother Goddess at Ephesus: A Study of 1 Timothy 2:9-15;” and Dr. Bruce Corley, Professor of New Testament and Greek at B. H. Carroll Theological Institute and author of many books and commentaries on the New Testament.
Dr. Borchert was accompanied by his wife, Dr. Doris Borchert, who is Professor Emerita at the Webber Institute for Worship Studies and retired Professor of Christian Education and Supervision at Northern Seminary.
View the sessions here
