John's Heart
In a church era where it seems that everyone plays guitar and sings these “worship” songs would it not be fair to propose that our Father in Heaven is potentially receiving more praise or glory in our time then ever before from His bride, the church. I would love to join in with the masses at this point, raise my hands, my voice, my all, and proclaim yes this is the case, yet I’m reluctant to do that. For some reason, and I pray that this is not wholly true, many in our church culture have decided to place this word “worship” simply in regards to music and songs or a time allotted before a sermon in any particular service. But, as many of you reading this are probably well aware of, the Bible never really refers to songs or to music when referencing worship. This word “worship” is normally synonymous with service to others or of our service to God. Romans 12:1, which is a testament of true worship, has nothing to say about guitars or microphones or fog machines (maybe I’m getting a little extreme) or light shows, or bulletins for that matter. Paul simply says, “in view of God’s mercy, brothers I urge you”. So right there we realize that what he is talking about doing is simply a response to something that has already been done. Something has happened during some time that is worthy of a response…but what? He pleads with us to look at God’s mercy, His redemption, His love, His forgiveness, LOOK at what He has done, and in view of all that, in view of what’s happened, what Christ did in His life and on the cross, the response must be to: “offer your body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, for this is your spiritual act/service of worship”. We are to, or should I say we must respond to His love in the way we live your daily life, not just scheduled church meetings, but in the in between, that is what a pagan world needs to and is waiting to see from believers/church goers.
Please don’t hear me preaching or saying this as if I have it all together or that I’m this constant “walking worship service” because Lord knows that is not the case, but I feel that as a music guy it is something I should address. Worship is so much more than mere music. I know I’m a failure at this and I realize more then anyone my own limitations and inadequacies but I also know of God’s love, forgiveness, and kindness and I how I must now respond to that. Quick story: I currently serve at a church that provides a day care for kids whose parent’s work during the day. My favorite thing in the world to do is go and play with these kids when they come into the gym/family life center (this is where my desk is) for their “play time”. I almost want to call it worship time instead, because more then once I have been taken back and overwhelmed by God’s presence simply by watching the running around of 4 year olds. The Father is intertwined amongst all things and to watch a child play, in my mind, is to watch innocence worship, even before they know what they are doing or before they are a part of any committee or denomination or have any theology of their own, or an opinion on the rapture (or lack thereof), women in the ministry, predestination, or hymns vs. contemporary songs. These kids have it all together, or have nothing together which is another trait I know that God loves to see from us, and it humbles me when the Creator opens my eyes to see a glimpse of what I would describe as rare purity on this Earth. “Thank You Lord for these kids, for their smiles, their laughter, their tears when they fall down, and their ability to somehow jump right back up and keep going on about their playing as if nothing ever happened. Thank You Lord that they don’t care about what they are wearing or what the other kids skin color is or what anyone thinks, they are simply themselves they are simply Yours. Allow me to learn from them and to worship as they do.” Amen
Responses come in different forms and I pray that all of you reading this with your various gifts and fields of interest would not look at who you are as weird or unusable because you may like to skateboard, or draw, or collect bugs, or pick your nose (joke), or journal, or whatever. I urge you also in view of God’s mercy to offer your interest and your gifts to God as a spiritual act of worship. If you are still reading this please hear me on this one: You are the way you are for a purpose, and you have been created to like the things you like so that you in turn may draw people in your field of influence to the worship of a worthy God. I would have a hard time witnessing at skate parks because I can’t even roll down the road on a board, so I would look like a big dork standing there out of place, but those of you out there who are into that have an avenue of ministry there and I hope that you realize your gifted for a purpose. My gifts or lack thereof are in other areas and I have the same responsibility to witness/worship in my arena or life.
I say all that to say that God is still in the business of making a difference in the lives of individuals and He will never get “un-good” (I know that is not a word, but it fits) at healing the broken and saving the lost. He’s a pro, but what we have to do as His church, His witness to the world, His ambassadors, His friends, is get in the business of worship. That one word is the purpose of the church. Not missions, or evangelism, budgets, discipleship, or committees, or board meetings, or sermons, or music, but simply worship, though that word is not simple at all. Following Christ in this living sacrifice form of worship can be rough and there is a haunting tone in what Dietrich Bonhoeffer says when he wrote, “when Christ calls a man, He bid him come and die”. Apparently and obviously this is no easy task but one that all must take on if we are to call ourselves His. So, the church is for no other purpose but that. I didn’t make it up, I’ve heard this truth from many different authors and preachers, and I believe it with everything in me. With this in mind and in “view of God’s mercy” I pray that we as the body of Christ would join together and bring to the His throne, His throne of grace, more then songs, but our very lives.
