Coming Back to the Heart of Worship by Kabrena Rodda
July 7, 2011
So there I was, sitting in Compline Wednesday night, when Fr Ed delivered a nice big poke in the eye in his homily. He was talking about the fact that many Christians forget that because of the cross we are no longer imprisoned, and we fail to appropriate God’s power in our interactions with other people. We fail to share the good news out of fear. More to the point, we fail to speak up when a person – such as supposed Biblical scholar, Harold Camping—or a whole church, for that matter, turns away from the Gospel in pursuit of something better. Fr. Ed gently-not-so-gently reminded us that when we see this happening, this is the perfect opportunity to remember that the door IS actually open, and it remains for us only to step through the open door and point out the truth, that the other person may turn again toward Christ. But how many of us actually pluck up the courage and do it?
Ouch.
Here’s the thing: the truth that Jesus Christ saves is plenty attractive. God does not need our help in this area. He does not need us to make Him seem “cool” to those who do not know Him. I think what repulses seekers is when we proclaim with our lips God’s saving grace yet we act toward our neighbors with hatred, impatience, jealousy, or evil speaking. If people are to be drawn to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior because of something we say or do, it will be because we are open and clear conduits through which God is able to reach others; not because of anything we do through our own power. So our focus needs to be on relying on Him to help us live according to His teachings, plainly spelled out in the Bible. The problem is that as soon as our focus turns toward doing or saying something to “jazz up” Jesus, we take our focus away from the one thing that can open people’s eyes to the truth: our total reliance on God to help us live out His plan for our lives. What’s at the heart of your worship?
I can think of multiple such gimmicks well-intentioned people have actually used to make church more inviting: liturgical dance, insisting on certain means for providing the congregation access to the words to the liturgy and music (i.e. focusing on implementing a certain tool to do it as opposed to focusing on the meaning of the words themselves), changing the order of service to fit our lifestyles and culture (like never doing Holy Communion in order to keep the service short), and even borrowing from new age traditions to make prayer feel more comfortable. I want to be very careful here and say that I absolutely believe God can use many of these things to reach a person if He so chooses. Nothing is impossible with God. The problem is that at best, all of these things have the potential of becoming things of worship instead of tools to help us worship; they can become THE FOCUS when we should really be focusing on God. Like the words in Matt Redman’s song, “The Heart of Worship,” say,
“You search much deeper within through the way things appear; You’re looking into my heart.”
The thing God cares about most is where our hearts are. He wants relationship with us more than anything. He wants it so much that He sent His only Son our Lord Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins! If we start to care more about a thing than about God, even if it’s a way we think will help us worship Him better, I think it repulses God. As my friend, Rebecca Ford, so eloquently put it recently,
“…faith is not about what WE do, but what GOD does.”
Last Thursday morning, after talking at length with Dan about it the previous evening, I was struck by how the Daily Office readings for Morning Prayer, as well as a couple of Daily Devotional readers I use, clearly spoke to the heart of this very matter. It started with the collect:
“ALMIGHTY God, who showest to them that are in error the light of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness; Grant unto all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s Religion, that they may avoid those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. –1928 BCP”
This collect brings with it some hope. We ask God to help us to “avoid those things that are contrary to their profession” so that we “may return into the way of righteousness.” It also reminds me I cannot do it in my own strength. Then there was the first lesson:
“And it came to pass, as soon as he came near to the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and broke them beneath the mount. And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strewed it on the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.” — Ex 32:19-20 (NKJV)
I find comfort in the idea that our propensity to turn away from God and find a way to worship which we think is better/cooler/more palatable is nothing new to God, and He knows exactly how to handle it. That is not to say that turning away from God is OK, but simply that when I realize I’m doing it, and repent, there is hope for us sinners. The second lesson carried an exhortation:
“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” — Heb 10:23 (NKJV)
This lesson reminds me that although I am confident of my salvation of Jesus Christ, I am to continue in His teachings and not waiver. I am to remember Whose daughter I am and act as an heir to that eternal Priesthood. Oh yeah…then there were the readings from two Daily Devotionals to which I frequently turn:
“Your god may be your little Christian habit, the habit of prayer at stated times, or the habit of Bible reading. Watch how your Father will upset those times if you begin to worship your habit instead of what the habit symbolizes….” — Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
“The challenge continually before you is to trust Me and search for My way through each day. Do not blindly follow your habitual route, or you will miss what I have prepared for you.” — Sarah Young, Jesus Calling
WOW. Both these devotionals pointed out something of a sore subject for me: God wants me to be open to His leadings at ALL times, not just when it is convenient for me, and not necessarily in the way I expect. Since then I have been trying to listen at all times, and to loosen my grip on my “Christian habits.” I am also (again) becoming aware of how much of a control freak I have been toward God. I realize that as long as I clutch tightly to my own ideas, I cannot lay hold of what God has in store for me.
Dear heavenly Father, forgive me for my arrogance of thinking I know best. Please strengthen my resolve to step through doors You open for me, and help me to keep my focus continually on You.
One final note: last night I flew back to Florida to spend the weekend with my husband and stepson. As we made our way back to Satellite Beach, “Heart of Worship” started playing on the radio. I guess God really wanted me to step through this open door and speak up about it!
“I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made itWhen it’s all about You,
It’s all about You, Jesus.” – Matt Redman, “Heart of Worship”
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