May 25, 2016

I am continuing to examine the 7-step discipleship process that was originally published in 1934 by Forward Movement, and today we arrive at Step 6.  As a reminder, the first five steps in this process were Turn, Follow, Learn, Pray and Serve.

Today we examine Worship.

In our baptismal covenant, we are asked, “Will you continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?”

This question has to do with worship.  More importantly, only one of those things can be done alone – prayers.  All the rest – teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread – all happen corporately.  We learn together, we live together, we break bread together.  And while those things can be done in a variety of contexts (bible studies are not necessarily worship, neither are potlucks), there is a clear implication that worship is at the core of these activities.

I’ve heard many people tell me that they don't need church; they can, in fact, worship God just as well, or better, when they are up on a mountain, or by a river, or at the beach, or anywhere other than church.  I would argue that that really isn't worship.  What that is is more likely adoration of God, appreciation of God, thankfulness to God, idolization (in the best sense) of God, or even prayers to God, but it isn't worship.

Worship certainly involves all of those things, but worship is also more than those things.  Worship takes us on a journey of prayer and praise, meditation and vocalization, repentance to forgiveness, hunger to satiation.  And worship is done in community.  Visions of heavenly worship involve angels, archangels, cherubim, and Seraphim.  Our worship joins us with that heavenly chorus, as well as with prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and those in every generation in our unending hymn.  Worship is something we do together.

Together we sing.  Together we hear God speak to us.  Together we pray.  Together we acknowledge our sins.  Together we reiterate our beliefs.  Together we share the peace of God.  Together we share a meal.  Together we are sent out into the world to love and serve the Lord.  Worship is something no other social service agency or advocacy group does.

Our worship of God should be joyful.  I'm not saying we need to always be like those screaming Beatles fans you see in old clips, but we should certainly act like we want to be there.  In our worship, we should offer our best, our first fruits of our being, to our God and creator.  In our worship, we should see ourselves as actively participating with the whole host of heaven in that great mystery we call Holy Eucharist.

There's a reason that we worship in the morning on the first day of the week.  Our worship should reflect our desire to reflect the primacy of God in our lives.  Our worship should reflect our desire to come together in community to celebrate our relationship with God.  Our worship is important.

How do you see worship?

Amen.