The Heart of Worship

22Feb07

I had driven by the local theater previous to the release of C.S. Lewis’ “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” so I would be prepared to take my family and I noticed that several showings were already sold out. It hadn’t even come out yet and they were sold out. At the opening of the new Star Wars movies, people camped out on the sidewalk in order to get a ticket to the debut. It was the same with the J.R. Tolkien series from the “Lord of the Rings” and with the release of each new Harry Potter film. Around the country, people wait in line literally for hours, some with children in tow, some dressed as their favorite character from that particular film, to get a ticket to see a movie. The anticipation is all around – and yet it is to see a movie on a screen.

Sunday mornings are a somewhat different scene. People drag themselves and their families out of bed with just enough time to get to where they are going – that is, if they decide to go; if they are not too tired, if the weather is right, and if other qualifications are met. There is no waiting in line and in fact, you’ve timed it just right if you get there right when it starts. For some there is anticipation – but for most, it’s just what they do. And yet, this is not to see a movie – this is to meet with God.

During a movie, every person is focused on what is taking place – riveted to what they are watching. After the movie, people discuss the ins and outs and how close the movie was to the original book. Many even wax philosophically with their friends or on the internet applying the principles of the particular movie to life or discuss how it related to life today.

On Sunday morning, wives are elbowing husbands to stay awake. People fight to keep their mind from wandering to other more pressing matters. And after the service, people return to their normal conversations and only some discuss how the sermon was the exposition of the original book.

Why is it that Sunday morning worship is not one of the most exciting times in our week? Why is it that we do not find the same anticipation and motivation to enter God’s presence in a service of worship as we do to see a movie or watch a ballgame? Many blame the preacher, or the style of worship, or the kind of music – it’s just not….entertaining. Yet, I believe the fundamental reason why many do not anticipate, look forward to, and are excited about worship is an issue of the heart. How many times have I heard the question, “How was worship this morning?” What is really meant is, “How was the music?” The question that should be asked and answered is, “Did you worship this morning?” Many view “worship” as what they see someone else doing rather than as something in which they participate. So many today do not understand what corporate worship is. We do not grasp the weight of that in which we are engaged. As we look in Scripture, we find that corporate worship is where God reveals His glory and we respond by giving glory to Him. That word glory is from the OT word, “kabod”. It literally means “to be heavy”. This word corresponds to the NT Greek word, “doxa”, as we read in John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory.” Indeed, we do not understand the weight, the glory, the heaviness, of that in which we are engaged. We do not properly understand the glory of God.

In our culture, Sunday services have become more centers of evangelism than the corporate worship of God. The focus has been taken off of God and directed toward man but when we do that we lose the very thing that is best for man. If we focus on man we lose sight of our great and precious God and Savior. But if we focus on our Lord Christ we find the best for man. You see, if we focus on man, we get neither. But if we focus on the Lord, we get both. The Lord Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords. He presently sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty ruling and reigning. He deserves our worship. He doesn’t “need” our worship like, as C.S. Lewis says, “a vain woman in need of a complement”; He deserves our worship. We do not come to worship God to question His wisdom but to hear and receive His Word. We do not come to worship to counsel God, but to be counseled by the Word of God. We do not worship Him as if He is one of many from which to choose. He is not a product from a shelf from which to be chosen – He is the One and Only Creator God who deserves worship from His creatures. When we understand this, it changes how we view worship. When we come to worship the Almighty God we never cease to be refreshed and encouraged. God, indeed, is so good. Not because He does good things for us, but because He is good by nature. He defines what is good, so whatever He does, whether it is seemingly for our benefit, or if it is difficult for us, it is still good. God is good. But He’s God.

In the book, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” Lucy asks about Aslan and Mrs. Beaver responds, “Who said anything about safe? Safe, no, but he’s good.” We serve a great, awesome, and sovereign God who “works all things for the good of those who love Him.” We serve a gracious God who has given His Son as a propitiation for our sin. We serve a loving God who cares for His own. We serve a holy, just, and righteous God who deserves our worship. Our Lord is the Great Shepherd; He is also the Lion of Judah. “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28-29). Dear brothers and sisters, it is only when our focus is on God and His glory revealed in His Son Jesus Christ that worship, declaring His worth and giving Him glory, is exciting, passionate, and motivating.

Chris Miller
www.trinitygrace.org

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