JUST A WORD ABOUT SUNDAY WORSHIP

When we gather to worship, it is not the case that the choir, the singers, the music leader and the pastor are there to entertain the congregation. We misunderstand if we think that those people are there to move us.

Worship is the choir and the singers and the music leader, the pastor and the congregation who stand before God. He is the audience and we are on his stage. What we all do is to please him, not us.

In that time we gather for worship, it becomes a holy place where a holy people assemble and the court of our holy God descends among us. We are before the throne of God. Our congregational singing, our music made by singers and choirs, the words of scripture read and prayers offered and sermons preached are done to please God, for they are done in his court before his throne. When we worship God in his holy presence, there are no bad singers or readers or sermons. It is not about style or the kind of music we sing. It is all about God. We are there to glorify and honor God.

Worship is God’s great visitation. God comes upon us. In that kind of worship, the experience is transformative. We leave a little different than when we arrived because we have been in God’s presence. It is not an experience manufactured by the manipulations of music leaders or skillful pastors. It is what happens when we seek our holy God.

If you go to Sunday worship looking entertainment, you probably will not find it. But if you go ready to be in God’s presence and to express your love and honor to him, not only will you find God, you will find your soul lifted up. You will find that God’s glory touches you like a pat on the head or a touch on the shoulder and the words, “you did well, I’m glad you came, well done good and faithful servant.” Then he sends us away filled with the Spirit who guides us as we live before him.