There
seems to be a lot of shuffling about these days as churches spend
tremendous amounts of time re-ordering and rethinking worship
services. The Charismatics are moving to highly liturgical services,
and the "high" churches are incorporating contemporary
praise music and PowerPoint presentations, complete with
disappearing screens. Many churches are seeking after the latest
concept that some church growth "guru" says will guarantee
"success". The preponderance of books, articles, and web
sites related to this matter is staggering! Mind you, I am not
opposed to contemporary praise music, PowerPoint presentations,
video projectors, and stuff like that; neither am I opposed to pipe
organ preludes, robed choirs, candle light and incense. What I am
opposed to is when churches adopt methodology utilized by their
neighbor churches with the rationale, "hey, it works for
them!" So then, what is the sure fire answer?
I think this
question can most easily be answered when we realize that our Sunday
morning worship service is only a part of the worship that God
requires of us. One hour a week spent in the same room with a bunch
of other believers, many of whom we don't really know and can't even
relate to, is not much more than a meeting, much less an opportunity
for true worship. We need to look at our "worship" service
as an integral part of our weekly schedule, but not the whole
enchilada. When the "Church", (body of believers) spends
the rest of the week being worshipful, the music style, order of
worship, etc., becomes secondary to why we are gathered together in
the first place.
So.....the
possible answer then becomes a question, how do we worship God
during the rest of the week? Do we take Jesus to work with us? Do we
treat our family members as we wish to be treated? The big question
is this; do we leave Jesus at church on Sunday morning, or is He our
daily companion? Do we pray with our family members on a regular
basis, or just when we need God's intervention? Do we awake and
dedicate the day to God, or do we keep our worship lives and secular
lives segregated? Do we look for divine appointments while we are at
work and play? Think about it. Does God see a separation between our
secular and religious existence?
Worship is
whenever we are being faithful, whenever we are involved in God
sized tasks, whenever we are seeking His face. When we allow
something to dictate our choices other than God, we are being
unfaithful; whether that something is anger, money, fame, or even
doing good things. Anybody can do something good. Even the most
hardened individuals are capable at some time or other of doing
something good. Only those redeemed by the blood of Christ are
capable of joining God in doing God sized things. Only those that
know Him are capable of seeking His face. Only those that know Him
can be faithful. We (the redeemed) worship God, either in excellence
or poorly, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
I attend a
small, rural church that utilizes contemporary praise music sung
along with a recorded cassette in it's Sunday morning worship
services. I love it, it affects me, I am very often moved. This has
an impact on me that very often goes with me all week long as I
attempt to go from being a member of the "gathered church"
into a member of the "scattered church" (Eddie Hammett's
concept, not mine). I was recently invited to spend a day at Duke
Divinity School, sitting in on a Christian ethics lecture, and
attending chapel with the divinity students. The neo-Gothic
architecture, organ, candles, and style of commemorating the Lord's
Supper were in some ways a throw back to days gone by. I loved it,
it affected me, I was moved. It assisted me in going from the
"gathered church" and becoming part of the "scattered
church". God can move whenever and wherever He is invited,
regardless of the style of worship.
In the event I
failed to answer your question; when an unchurched world sees us
worshipping God, they too will be drawn closer to Him. They
shouldn't have to come to church to see it. When we worship God
24/7, He is glorified, He will build the church. Now go, worship
God.