How
God Evaluates Worship
(continued)
Few
things challenge our pride more than the simplest summons to expressiveness.
Such
worship encourages people to "fall in love"
with God. If the phrase fall in love offends anyone
(as it once did me—it wasn't sufficiently "objective")
perhaps we might learn to be equally offended by "reason"
that distances the heart from a passion to simply know
and love God.
2.
True worship humbles the heart. In Isaiah 6:1-8, the
abject cry of a sinful man, "Woe is me, for I am undone,"
was not an achievement of intellectual analysis, but of self-discovery
made upon entering God's presence.
Isaiah says "I
saw the Lord" with neither apology nor arrogance; it was a
breakthrough of grace that produced a breakup of pride. Isaiah,
a member of the cultural, educated elite of Judah, demonstrates
a childlike humility and teachability. His cry, without a vestige
of style-consciousness, reveals an unreserved availability to God.
This is the very thing
to which Jesus calls us all: "Assuredly I say to you, unless
you are converted and become as little children, you will by no
means enter the kingdom of heaven. . . . Take heed that you do not
despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven
their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven"
(Mt. 18:3, 10).
Because of the importance
of humility, years ago I began encouraging people to become more
expressive, both vocally and physically, in worship. Few things
challenge our pride more than the simplest summons to expressiveness.
I carry no brief for orchestrated calisthenics in church, as though
a set of exercises made for superior liturgy. But I have learned
that careful teaching and modeling can help people move beyond self-consciousness
(and challenge the adult preoccupation with self-importance) so
that they can experience a childlike liberty in expressing themselves
in worship.
One of our members,
with the best of motives, once suggested, "Pastor, if you didn't
teach and invite people to lift their hands in worship, I think
our church would grow faster," and then added, "I think
you might injure some people's pride."
"Injure pride?"
I said gently. "Why, I was hoping to kill it altogether."
I want to respect human
dignity, but there is a disposition, ensconced in the church as
surely as in the world, that equates dignity and pride--and it's
a false equation. It is because I value each individual in my congregation
that I teach and model a way for us to "come as children before
the Father." Because pride tends to insist on finding a way
to justify and preserve itself (even in church), I try to help people
learn the humility of Isaiah. Only this will help them view God
afresh and pave the way to deeply felt confession and purification.
3.
True worship sacrifices and then expects something from God.
Hebrews 11:6 puts it clearly: "He that comes to God must believe
that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who humbly seek him."
The text presupposes that worship always brings a sacrifice to God,
that "he that comes," whether with praise, an offering,
or by "laying down" something instructed by the Holy Spirit,
is presenting something of himself to God.
Simultaneously we are
told that the worshiper is to believe something will be given in
return by God himself--something rewarding, benevolent, and good.
Some try to defend God
against human selfishness and refuse all talk of "reward."
But the truth is, God freely offers the reward of his blessing--and
delights to do so. He doesn't grouse, "Don't you dare give
me something and suppose you're manipulating me to give back!"
Instead, his Word simply says, in effect, "Since you come to
me, I would expect you to believe I will reward your quest."
Of course, tithes or
offerings (which are, indeed, appropriate and biblical "sacrifices")
aren't to be a tit-for-tat bargain with God! But God's call to worship
is attended by his own commitment to bless us. The promise of God
in Malachi 3:10 ("Try me now in this . . . if I will not open
for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing
that there will not be room enough to receive it") reveals
a largess in the heart of God toward human giving--and the justice
of our expecting a blessing in return.
Worship is God's gift
to us, intended for our blessing and benefit. He doesn't need it,
we do.
4.
True worship extends God's love.
If God-pleasing worship addresses human need, it also will extend
God's love to others. It is, thus, unsurprising that the "greatest
commandment" issues into "the second, which is like (in
importance) unto it." The vertical mandate, to love and worship
God, is also horizontal, to love the neighbor. This means such things
as:
- Forgiving others,
seeking peace and reconciliation day-by-day.
- Gracious, lifestyle
evangelism in both conduct and communication, living out a believable,
winsome witness.
- Unselfish, servant-minded
attitude in assisting others in need, including a heart to care
for victims of neglect and injustice.
This need for us to
reach out drives the "prayer circles" we have in nearly
every worship service at our church. "Ministrytime," the
formal name, lasts about 10 minutes as we prepare then direct people
to form small groups, to share needs, then pray. This is essential
to our effectiveness as a congregation.
"Ministrytime"
accomplishes four things: (1) it is a pragmatic way to express God's
love evoked during worship, (2) it helps people use their ministry
gifts in the assembly, (3) it allows people to express themselves
personally and to care and pray for one another, and (4) it lays
the foundation for the invitation--it is infinitely easier to invite
people to receive the love of God in Jesus Christ after they have
had a personal encounter with some people who have shown it!
What is birthed in the
heart, then, finds expression in the hands--hands that rise in humble
praise, give in simple expectancy, and serve with gentle grace.
With such sacrifices,
God seems to be well pleased. |
Jack
Hayford Ministries
14800 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, CA 91405-2233