| FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK...
|
|
Why Worship Matters “Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deed, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another … Through Jesus, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God” (Hebrews 10:24-25; 13:15-16) One of my former seminary professors, Dr. Powell, often tells the story of a conversation he once had with a student about worship. The student told the professor that he hadn’t settled into one congregation because he thought that most worship services were boring. He would attend Bible studies, but not worship. This piqued the interest of Dr. Powell, so he asked the student some questions to learn more about his boredom in worship. Hearing how much the student loved Jesus and loved being a Christian, Dr. Powell asked: “Would you die for Jesus?” The student enthusiastically replied: “Yes, I would give my life for Jesus”, the student proclaimed. Dr. Powell replied: “Then why won’t you be bored for Jesus?” The Letter to the Hebrews in our Christian Bible was written some 60 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus. Scholars debate over to whom the letter was written, but it is clear that the letter was written to a Christian community that had existed through several generations of believers. At the time of the letter, Christians were facing various threats from political, cultural, and economic forces. The excitement of Jesus’ resurrection was wearing off, especially in the face of social ridicule, shame, and abuse toward those who participated in Christian activities. The result was that increasing numbers of Christians stopped going to worship. The Greek word translated “neglecting” above has a much stronger meaning: Christians were “abandoning” worship altogether. Among other things, Christians were abandoning worship because they didn’t feel that worship was necessary for personal faith, particularly if worship meant having to face ridicule from neighbors and friends. The Letter to the Hebrews was included in the Bible as a reminder to all Christians that worship with other Christians in the house of God is necessary for Christian faith. It is something that God expects and desires of us. We Americans often feel that worship is a personal choice – a personal freedom – made by the individual and the individual alone. The author of Hebrews knew better, though. Worshipping God with other Christians in a common space is necessary in our relationship with God. The past two years have been a struggle for St. Paul Lutheran. High hopes turned to disappointment in calling a new pastor; economic troubles that cause us to be afraid about our future; family, friends, and neighbors we have had to say goodbye to: there is much to be anxious about. But, worship is not one of them. Worship is about service to God and to God alone. The words in Hebrews ring just as true today as they did 2,000 years ago: “let us not neglect to meet together, but encourage one another”. In times of trouble and anxiety, give yourself over to the worship of God. Your whole self, not just your Sunday best self. God wants your boredom. God wants your frustration. God wants your anxiety. God wants your worship. Pastor Johnson |