As I read one of my chapters for this week last night, I was engrossed by the part about worship. I've always thoroughly believed that worship is a daily, lifestyle thing. It's not just about what you do in church on Sundays. The question was raised in the book, what if the people of God, gathered in one place, ARE the attraction, rather than the preaching or singing that day? AND IS THIS ENOUGH?
That stopped me dead in my tracks. Wow. Whoa. Right between the eyes.
If we, as God's people, are the attraction for the worship service, and someone just stops in to visit one Sunday, what is the impression that's given? What am I communicating? Am I showing that I deserve to die, but because of God's grace I live? Am I showing it in my face, my body language, my actions? Or am I just kind of there, along for the Sunday morning ride? What are we saying collectively as a church?
I am a sinner, saved by grace. My penalty is death. I deserve the sentence I am given. But because God loves me, He intervened, and sent His son to die in my place. I now have eternal life because of what God did for me. In spite of me. That's cause for celebration. That's cause for worship. That should be reflected in my lifestyle of worship, and it should certainly be reflected in my worship on Sunday mornings, or any other time I gather with God's folks.
Are we enough? Is how we worship enough? It's not about the music or the lighting or the instruments or the song choices or the sermon...it's about what we bring to all of that. And is what we bring enough? Enough to lead others to the foot of the cross...
I admit that sometimes, my worship isn't enough. I am still thinking about my own issues, or what someone else is doing, or maybe just too tired to "get into" worship in church. All too often, I find myself worried about the people around me. I get caught up in their experiences, or worried that I might distract them if I "get into" worship "too much." Someone once told me that those around her that clapped and spoke during the service distracted her and made her angry. I've been hyper-sensitive about that kind of thing since.
But worship isn't about pleasing those around us. It's not a horizontal thing. It's a vertical connection. Period. It's me, connecting with God who loved me in spite of me. So I don't care what you think. I am not concerned if you don't like that I lift my hands. I don't even care if you get all offended if I speak out loud. Deal with it. Heaven won't be a quiet place, with angels floating by, softly playing harps. People will be seriously worshipping God...forever. Loudly. So get used to it.
Jesus said that if He was lifted up, He would draw all men to Him. In other words, our worship, collectively as the church, is crucial. We have to focus, collectively and individually, on that vertical connection with Him, lifting Him up. When that happens, others will be drawn to Him.
That's what worship must be. Drawing closer to Him. No smoke machines or fancy lighting required.
