Worship is an amazing experience -- at least I believe it should be. When we read of "encounters" (worship) biblical characters had with God, we discover quite often their lives and the lives of those around them significantly changed following the worship. As I observe and experience worship in our American churches, I wonder if something is missing. What did those biblical characters have in their worship that we lack? God is the same God. The essence of worship and the primary acts of worship remain relatively unchanged. But something must be missing because people don't appear changed the way the biblical characters were as a result of their worship. But what might be missing? Is it practical, liturgical, emotional? What could be the matter?
Worship literally means to "ascribe worth to." People worship that which is venerated or held in high esteem. Today, perhaps the most common example of worship practiced among most people is what happens in arenas, ballparks, collisiums and race tracks on a nearly daily basis. In the USA, we love sports and consequently we virtually "worship" the teams or players as our favorites. (Since moving to Texas, I have found quite a stir can be made with the mere mention of either the Aggies or the Longhorns. Devotion to either of these teams can border on the fanatical -- and there is much "ascribing worth to" the team one prefers). We actively root for and defend "our team" and few things or people will stand between us and them. Many fans will prepare for a game as much as the players do. Reading statistics, dressing in logo clothing, face (or shockingly more) painting -- and all this before excessive consumptions of alcohol and pretzels (could this be the communion of sporting masses?) -- indicate a certain level of active participation with "our team."
After Moses broke the first two stone tablets, God told him to chisel out two more like the first and God would prepare to write on them. Before God began to write, He told Moses to "Be ready in the morning, and then come up on Mount Sinai. Present yourself to me there on top of the mountian," he said (Ex. 34:3). I find it interesting that God told Moses he had to "prepare" (be ready) in order to meet with Him. Moses had to move into an "active" posture to encounter God. He had to "be ready" to meet with Him and God then, "came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord...Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshipped..." (34:5-8).
Christians spend time each Sunday morning physically getting "ready" for worship, and I wonder if we are as actively prepared "spiritually" for it? God called Moses to be prepared for Him to pass in front of Moses as God proclaimed His nature and character. Moses' immediate response was to "worship" (34:8). God prepared Moses for the experience of encounter and Moses' immediate response was to worship! Moses got ready. Moses got set. God showed up. Then, Moses worshiped!
Of course, worship is more than what we do collectively on Sunday mornings, but is there a principle from which we might benefit for the times we do gather for worship? I believe there is.
Perhaps the fundamental difference between Moses' worship experience and ours is that Moses got ready to "encounter" God? Moses worshiped as a result of being in God's presence, as a direct implication of experiencing God. Moses didn't just start out "worshiping" and then hope to run into God in the process. But I'm afraid that is the way we, far too often, come into the community of worship. Not that worship for worship sake doesn't have some value, I believe it does (God is always worthy of our praise). But transformational worship (people being changed through worship) seems to have a God-encounter associated with it. Chicken vs. Egg proposition? Perhaps. But then again, I'm just wondering outloud...
In our culture, we tend to worship hoping to "come into" God's presence. And sometimes, frighteningly, we may even worship with little or no expectation for coming into God's presence whatsoever. That would be truly sad, indeed if this were the type of "preparation" I bring to worship -- to never anticipate God showing up in a powerful manner. So maybe we should "encounter" God first -- as part of our daily faith journey -- and then see if it leads to transformational worship?
If we spent our week "actively preparing" for an encounter with God, wouldn't it likely change the experience of our worship and we just might leave having been changed in the process?
3 comments:
I wonder which would be better: to spend the week "preparing to enter God's presence"; or to spend the week remembering that all of life is lived in his presence.
I think the problem with corporate worship is not that we've failed to prepare for it but that we've failed to live our lives coram deo and bought into the idea that Sunday morning is the only time we're in his presence.
That makes the stakes too high. We come to Sunday morning with unreasonable expectations and end up disappointed and frustrated when it fails to produce the holy goose bumps we want.
I think another problem is sometimes people come to worship to just punch their ticket so to speak. To make sure they did their duty for the week. There focus isn't on worshipping God when they arrive. Not meaning to be harsh, a lot of people didn't grow up learning what it was to have a relationship with God. I didn't learn that until the last 10 to 15 years. We were taught to always be in worship and always Do! Not that doing isn't good and needed, but the focus has to be on your relationship with God. Without that relationship, it's going to be hard to have an encounter with Him. Good thoughts!
John... I agree with the encompassing nature of worship. Part of the problem is that we "hobby" too much on Sunday AM. How would Sunday change if every day was consciously spent in worship?
Hmm...
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