We worship God, not subjective experience

I came across an excellent little section in Eugene Peterson's book Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work wherein he contrasts the worship of Baal and the worship of Yahweh as seen in modern Christianity.  Peterson writes,

"The phrase 'let's have a worship experience' is Baalism's substitute for 'let us worship God.' The difference is between cultivating something that makes sense to an individual and acting in response to what makes sense to God. In a 'worship experience,' a person sees something that excites interest and tries to put religious wrappings around it. A person experiences something in the realm of dependency, anxiety, love, and a connection is made with the ultimate. Worship is a movement from what a person sees, or experiences, or hears, to prayer or celebration or discussion in a religious atmosphere. Subjectivity is encouraged.

"But neither the Bible nor church uses the word 'worship' as a description of experience. Pastors hear this adjectival usage in sentences like, 'I can have a worship experience with God on the golf course.' That means, 'I have religious feelings reminding me of good things, awesome things, beautiful things nearly any place.' Which is true enough. The only thing wrong with the statement is its ignorance, thinking that such experiences make up what the church calls 'worship.' The biblical usage is very different. It talks of worship as a response to God's word in the context of the community of God's people. Worship is neither subjective only nor private only. It is not what I feel when I am by myself; it is how I act toward God in responsible relation with God's people. Worship, in the biblical sources and in liturgical history, is not something a person experiences, it is something we do, regardless of how we feel about it, or whether we feel anything about it at all. Experience develops out of worship."

Christians, we are to worship God and not worship the experience.

Worship in the Midst of Grief

    Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.-Job 1:20

This morning, I began reading the book of Job again.  If you are unfamiliar with the story, Satan kills all of Job's children, his livestock, and his crops, leaving him with essentially nothing. I have read this book many times, but this morning I was struck by Job 1:20.  Assuredly, part of Job's response is what I would expect.  He tore his robe and shaved his head.  In other words, he was experiencing a deep grief and sadness.  I cannot fathom the pain he must have experienced in that moment. 

But without even stopping to catch his breath, the writer said that Job "fell on the ground and worshiped." He worshiped.  He ascribed worth to the God of the universe.  In modern society, we tend to associate worship with happiness, with good times, but the Bible presents a much more full-orbed view of worship.  God's people worship in all circumstances--sadness, grief, happiness, fear.  In all circumstances, they give glory to God. 

Do you find that it is easier to worship God when you are feeling happy?  What does it look like to worship God in the midst of trial. 

Sing like you mean it

Why do people, particularly men, walk out of the sanctuary when the music begins? Why do they sing hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs in a half-hearted way if they sing at all? Where is their passion for their Savior? 

I have been thinking about these questions lately and privately lamenting the disregard for corporate singing that I see among today's churchmen.  In our church, we open the service with a few songs.  People mingle in the lobby, visiting about the weeks events, or what they are doing that afternoon or something else, neglecting the opportunity to offer praise to God.  As the service draws to a close, we sing again.  Too often, people--particularly the men--head for the lobby again.  Sometimes to retrieve children, sometimes to relieve themselves. Yet few return to sing. 

I suspect part of the reason for this is a tendency to view church in an entertainment framework.  People see themselves coming to church to be entertained.  Their is a failure to see their active roles in corporate worship.  The music is not entertainment, nor a warm-up for the sermon.  It is an integral part of the church service.  It is worship offered to the "immortal, invisible, God only wise."  I would like to see our men lead in this regard--to see them sing boldly to the God whom they profess to love. 

There was an article posted at The Blazing Center today that was a balm for me.  The author, Keith McCracken, writes of his father's passion for singing hymns, loudly, in and out of the church.  He writes, "Though I hold many cherished memories of him, perhaps the most vivid was his excitement over singing certain hymns. By all accounts he possessed at best an 'average' voice when it comes to uniqueness and tonal quality. But he sang his favorites with a conviction that was beyond convincing and was by far one of the loudest and most joyful voices in a congregation of approximately 350. I remember looking up at him and 'checking him out' while he was singing… 'Is he for real?' I would wonder. When he would catch me looking at him he would simply 'lock-eyes' with me and sing all the louder while he broadened his grin to match proportion with his pleasure."  This had a lasting impact upon McCracken and I would commend the whole article to you. 

Dad's, don't minimize the impact you have upon your children's faith.  They need to see you loving God in many ways.  They need to see that Christ is of preeminent importance to you.  Set aside your embarrassment, your distraction, and "sing like you mean it."  

David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brothers as the singers who should play loudly on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise sounds of joy.--1 Chronicles 15:16

Green Worship-insights from House

I enjoy House MD. Despite House's irreverence and specialists working well outside their specialties, the medical mysteries are often enjoyable to consider (right now, I hear them discussing Alien Hand Syndrome behind me). I have also found that they have dealt with moral and faith issues with a modicum of respect, unlike much of Hollywood. Recently, I was watching an episode from season 5 entitled "Saviors." The story line is that there is an environmental extremist who worships the environment. Watch the video below; you will find that there is a sign that reads "What Would Nature Do?"

This was recently addressed by Al Mohler, who wrote a piece entitled "Thinking Green-The New Religion." He discusses the work of Stephen Asma who wrote Green Guilt, a book about how moderns have taken up the banner of environmentalism complete with all of the traditional behaviors and orthodoxy characteristic of traditional religions.

God created in us a heart for worship, though from Old Testament times through the present, there is abundant evidence that people worship the created rather than the creator. God teach us that our true object of worship is You and You alone.