Worship, an audience of One . . .

  

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“Worship is designed to be entertaining to God to please and delight Him. God is the audience in worship. ―  Peter J. Leithart, Christian writer, and minister

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Worship in every aspect is always for an audience of one. God alone deserves such an honor. Not the angles, or the saints, or even Mary, the mother of our Lord, are worthy of such honor. Jubilant singing is not worshiping unless it is Godward. Christian concerts fall into the same category. The fact is evangelical congregations are drenched in entertainment. Services are planned to satisfy a media-saturated soul with a message full of psychological props, catchphrases, clichés, and comfy morals. Pabulum Christians feast Sunday after Sunday on such soulish trivia devoid of even a hint of spiritual growth, ever-learning, as it were, and never coming to the knowledge of the truth, that is, the full meaning of what it means to bow in awe and reverence before God in the fullness of His Holiness. Of course, there are exceptions to what I have just written; however, they are just that: exceptions.

Check out the average pulpit, hopefully not yours, but the average, and you will seldom if ever hear a word said against the 7 deadly sins of pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth. Not to mention the “lesser” sins of gossip or malicious criticism.

When is the last time you have heard a preacher address cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, temperance and courage (or fortitude) and the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity? Well, to answer that, probably last Sunday at least one of these was touched upon. The point is, those behind the pulpit today are more interested in promoting the positive that warning against the negative. Nothing wrong in promoting the good, if it is balanced against cautioning against the bad.

What, pray tell me, does this have to do with worship? Shall I answer by saying, “Everything!” I say this simply because only those with clean hands may enter His presence. Read what the Psalmist David has to say about that:

God claims the world as his.

Everything and everyone belong to him!

He’s the one who pushed back oceans

to let the dry ground appear,

planting firm foundations for the earth.

Who, then, ascends into the presence of the Lord?

And who has the privilege of entering into God’s Holy Place?

Those who are clean—whose works and ways are pure,

whose hearts are true and sealed by the truth,

those who never deceive, whose words are sure.

They will receive the Lord’s blessing

and righteousness is given by the Savior-God.

They will stand before God, for they seek the pleasure of God’s face… (Psalm 24:1-6)

In essence, what David is saying, as are many others in Scripture, is that the altar must precede worship. Somehow, the church has primarily reversed the order. Repentance is restricted to a written prayer of response at best and seldom do we witness an old-fashioned altar call that invites the sinner forward to the mourner’s bench. How could there be since the user-friendly crowd has taken that away?

So, no, worship is not all about me, it is all about Him.

Now, have a blessed day as you meditate on these words.

JimR /