Written by Dawn Rutan
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).
