Recently www.DesiringGod.org
has posted a series of blogs on worship. As I was rereading some of them I had
the thought, “How do we move from gathering together to worshiping together?” There
are plenty of times when Christians gather and no worship takes place, even in
so-called worship services. It’s tempting to blame the music, preaching,
environment, and everything else under the sun. I think the root of the problem
is that our focus is on the wrong person. David Mathis writes:
“The answer is that our focus
should not be self-consciously preoccupied with how we’re being strengthened or
what grace we’re receiving. Rather, our focus together is the crucified and
risen Christ, and the incomparable excellencies of his person and work. Which
illumines all the various spiritual disciplines. Corporate worship is a means
of grace not when we’re caught up with what we’re doing, but when we experience
the secret of worship — the joy of self-forgetfulness — as we become
preoccupied together with Jesus and his manifold perfections” (http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/kindle-the-fire-in-corporate-worship).
Worship, in essence, is thinking highly of God and
responding appropriately to His glory. But how can we think much of God when we
are busy thinking about ourselves? It does take effort to refocus our
attention, and worship is called a spiritual discipline for a reason. It’s not typically something that can be
learned through one hour a week. If we spend the rest of our waking hours thinking
about everything but God, then that’s where our thoughts will naturally go. Certainly
the music, prayer, and preaching can help to redirect our thoughts to the One
true God, but there are also times when we encounter God in spite of everything
that might distract us.
I wonder how often we go to church and expect to encounter God there? I confess that is not usually in the
forefront of my thoughts and desires on a Sunday morning (or any other time). I
expect to be welcomed and encouraged by my brothers and sisters in Christ. I
expect to be edified by the preaching and teaching. I expect to praise God in
song and to express my needs in prayer. But I don’t really expect to be moved
to worship God and experience His presence. During the week I pray that the service
will draw people to God, and that the sermon will be God’s words that we need
to hear at this time. But I don’t often think about worshiping the Lord “in the
splendor of holiness” (Psalm 29:2).
Perhaps that is due in part to our overly familiar image of
Jesus as friend and confidant. The majesty of Jesus illustrated in Hebrews 1 is
often foreign to us. On one hand, it’s good that we know we can trust God with
all our problems, needs, faults, and failures, and we can talk to Him at any
time. But on the other hand, it is difficult to worship One who knows us so
well and yet still loves us. We tend to focus on His love to the exclusion of
His holiness, supremacy, strength, and majesty (among other attributes).
I, for one, need to adjust my expectations for “worship services”—to
remember more of Who God is and actually believe that He’ll show up, not
because of anything we say or do, but because we are His children and He
desires to speak to us. I suspect that questions of “worship style” would
become irrelevant if we all came to church expecting to meet God. And the fact
is, He’s there whether we acknowledge Him or have some experience of His
presence or not.
Zephaniah wrote: “The Lord your God is in your midst, a
mighty One Who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet
you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing” (3:17 ESV). May that
knowledge lead us in turn to rejoice and exult over Him, and truly worship our
Creator, Redeemer, and Lord!
“Ascribe to the Lord,
O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord
the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness” (Psalm
29:1-2).
