People come to a worship service on weekends for all kinds of reasons. Some come from habit or loyalty or guilt or gratitude. Some come to connect with other human beings. Some come because of the music or sermons. Some may even come to be entertained.
In the modern church's quest to "get people to church" the bigger question remains about ways to "get people to worship." Chances are we can get people to come to church for one reason or another. Yet if we seek to find ways to get people to worship, we cannot manufacture such an experience.
The tension between getting people to church and getting people to worship can lead to role reversals in the practice of worship where human beings somehow become the subject and God becomes the object of worship. And so people became shoppers for religious goods and services. People become the Ebert and Roepert of the theater of worship where sermons and prayers and songs are subject to thumbs up or thumbs down depending on the critics choice.
Which begs a question: For whom is worship? Who is worship for?
Soren Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher, brought a healthy corrrective when he he wrote an essay that explained the difference between how many of us tend to worship and how we ought to worship God. Kierkegaard said that many people think of the congregation as the audience with the pastor, worship leaders, and choir as the performers.
However, from the Bible's point of view God is the audience in worship, and the people in the congregation are the performers--singing, praying, listening intently as the Word is read and proclaimed, and giving back to the Lord in offering and praise. The pastor, worship leaders, or musicians are merely prompters to the actors on stage, which is every one who shows up for a worship service! Worship is literally and liturgically "the work of the people."
Therefore, when we leave worship, we should not ask, "How good was the sermon?" or "How good was the music?" Rather, we should ask, "How good was I, Lord?"
Each of us plays to an audience of One in worship. The actions and words of worship provide the script for our various parts.
- In what ways do you relate to this way of seeing worship?
- Why do you come to worship?
- Why don't you come to worship?
Thanks for the posting on worship.
ReplyDeleteLast week Shelley, Lucas and I had the opportunity and privilege,to travel to Rome. We began each day reading from the scriptures from the book of Acts. The praticular chapters we were reading were the ones that lead up to the Apostle Paul being arrested and his journey to Rome, where his life on this earth ended. I feel that Paul might have said something like what Ann Dunwoody said last fall.
On November 14, 2008, Ann Dunwoody became the first female four-star general of the U. S. Army. She had intended to serve only two years after college and then become a physical education teacher. At her promotion ceremony she said, "Thirty-three years after I took the oath as a second lieutenant, I have to tell you this is not exactly how I envisioned my life unfolding."
Near the end of his life, the prophet Daniel might have said the same thing. He never envisioned spending his life in Babylon, serving God as a high-ranking official, interpreting visions and dreams from God. But he walked through each door God opened and accomplished God's purpose for his life. If you are not sure about God's purpose for your life, you can accomplish the most important part of it each day by worshiping Him in spirit and in truth. God is seeking people to worship Him that way (John 4:23), and such worship becomes a part of every Christian's life.
There is no point in seeking God's detailed plan if we are not fulfilling His general purpose of worship and submission. That is the first door God opens for us to walk through—and it is open for you today.
"God made us to be worshipers. That was the purpose of God in bringing us into the world."
A. W. Tozer
God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
John 4:24
Thanks agina for the post it was a confirmation to me.
Bill Aubrey
To answer your first question, "How good was I, Lord?". Is that a trick question?? Can we ever even hope to be even remotely 'good'? I know I'm not capable. Are you?
ReplyDeleteWorship in the church is a lost concept. Serving a Holy God? Most who attend church have little concept of what that means nor do they care. If Christ came back today, I'm afraid many churches would still be full.
I struggle so in church, nowadays, not to my credit, please. I want to stand up on a pew and shout, "We serve a Living God!!! He is Holy! He deserves our total adoration! Get up and get busy!!"
My experience in church, especially with leadership, has been extremely negative. No wonder the sheep have lost their vision of worship. Look at their leaders.
People are leaving the church in droves. I, myself, struggle to attend. The gift of grace has practically left me. I literally, mourn for the church. She has turned her back on her Husband.
Bill, your comment, was a comfort. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit!
Thank you MrsV.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit I have shared some of the same sentiments you expressed in your comments. When we moved to Rockwall we visted every protestant church in town. I felt like a "church shopper".
I recall I would critique those we visted like I was about to write an article as do movie or restaurant critics. I was soon convicted of that attitude, and decided that what I should do is "drop the attitude" and focus more on what I understood the priorities of a local congreagation based on my understanding of the scriptures(which by no means is "all knowing") should be and to pray that God thru his Holy Spirit would lead me and us as a family to where he wanted us to serve more than than the place to be served.
The priorities I/we believed that we should look for were:
Priority One: Commitment to Christ
To Love, Worship, and Praise God is our prime commitment and call from our Lord. we searched for and read the Scriptures testifying to this first priority!
Priority Two: Commitment to the Body of Christ
To love and care for each other in the body of Christ is our second commitment and call from our Lord. What flows out of the first priority is the response to pass it on to those around us as a gratitude response!
Priority three: Commitment to the Mission of Christ
To Love, and care for each other in the community and world is our third commitment and call from our Lord. What flows out of the first and second priority is the response to pass it on to those around us as a gratitude response for what Christ did for us!
And when we found that church we joined and participated and served, and still are.
Though I am not a member of Christ Church in Rockwall I am a friend of this new congregation, and pray for this group of belivers. I believe that Pastor Andrew is very committed and genuine as well as others we know who attend there. So why are we not members? God has not lead us to change and to discontinue our participation and ministry where we are, yet.
All the above is probably more than you expected or wanted to know. I will pray for you that you find the exact church which meets your scriptual priorties where you can worship and serve in grace.
May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be you you as well.
Bill
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my negativity. I was in no way criticizing your friend's church or him, directly, as a pastor. Like, you, I do not attend the church that posts this blog nor have I ever met the pastor.
ReplyDelete