Remember the Hebrew & Greek words for “worship” from the first lesson? They both denoted a literal prostration of oneself in reverent humility, even like unto a dog reverently licking its master’s hand (an undiluted synthesis of fear, affection and devotion … aren’t dogs awesome?). But these definitions seem quite foreign in the contemporary Christian church’s “worship service”, don’t they?
How have you come to define worship, personally?
Would you say you worship God at any time during your Sunday morning church experience?
Here’s the outline of a typical Sunday morning worship service at my church:
• Prelude Music • Congregational Singing
• Pastor’s Welcome • Offering
• Opening Prayer • Special Music
• Congregational Singing • Sermon
• Children’s Sermon • Congregational Singing
• Congregational Singing • Postlude Music
• Scripture Reading
• Minute of Silent Confession
Lots of singing, isn’t there? Lots of music. Why would so much music be included in a worship service? What goals do you think are being sought? What is it about music and singing that connects with human beings?
Think about why your worship service is organized the way it is. Consider who plans this order, week after week.
What would you say are the objectives of your church’s worship service, based on its contents?
From the above list from my church, a visitor might conclude the following objectives:
1) Facilitating feelings of happiness, good humor, unity & equality
2) Singing familiar songs together
3) Experiencing pre-rehearsed, live musical performances
4) Educating children in Christian living
Is there ANY part of your worship service where the objective is that you would worship your God?
If yes, in what ways? If no, what is missing?
“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
Jesus declared, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:19-24)
What do you think it means to “worship in spirit and in truth“? Because according to scripture, to worship in such a manner is what “the Father seeks” from us, His called children; we who so easily claim the name “worshiper”.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity…” (John 17:20-23a)
One spiritual entity. One body, though many parts compose it. One head (mind).
Do you consider the hundreds of Christian denominations, conventions and sects to be in keeping with Jesus’ prayer for unity? Even to the degree that we are all indwelt with Christ just as Christ is indwelt by the Father? Or does the existence of all these different “houses of worship” point to a much less noble family of attitudes?
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine…” (John 16:13-15a)
Truth will be made known to us. Truth, as in deep, abiding, unifying Truth from the lips of our Savior through His Spirit in our world.
“The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God … no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:10b, 11b)
Does your church provide an opportunity for worshiping in the spirit and in truth?
Should it? Is it even possible in a corporate setting? Or would it be counterproductive to the preferred objectives of the worship service planners?
