This summer at the church of Christ on McDermott Road instead of having a summer series like we normally do we changed things up a bit. Normally we have guest speakers, ministers from other congregations in the area come and preach on Wednesday nights. This year however, the decision was made to use the men of our congregation to preach on Wednesday evening, and I personally think it was a good decision. The topic of this summer’s series was Major Points form the Minor Prophets. Each of us was given a different Minor Prophet to teach on each week, and I know that many of us learned a lot this summer.
Last night was the last night for this series, and it was ended with a great lesson from the book of Malachi. Jim Burrows was the speaker and he got down to the nitty gritty last night. The book of Malachi’s main lesson is that the children of God had forgotten to worship God with their hearts. They were going through all the proper motions, but it had become a habit for them, not a heart felt praise to God. Jim took this lesson and asked us how that lesson fit into today’s worship. To be sure we aren’t guilty of offering up the crippled lamb, or the blind one. But, I wonder if the only reason we don’t is because we don’t offer animal sacrifices anymore.
God has called us to worship him in Spirit and in Truth. He wants our hearts, our lives, our minds, and our souls. When we come together to worship, our thoughts should be of Him, and to Him. Jim asked us to consider our worship last night in light of the book of Malachi. He asked us if we are bringing our focus to God, or are we just carrying out a ritual that we feel we have been commanded to perform?
I must admit I have done my share of “performing” worship. I’ve taken my share of communion without ever giving thought to what, or why I was taking it. I’ve sang my share of songs, and participated in memorized prayers, and daydreamed through countless sermons, and I realize that when I have done that, all I have done is hurt my God, and received a check mark on the attendance roll. I have killed my cow as I have been commanded, and I am good for another week.
Let me ask a few questions. Have we become calloused in worship? Have we become bored with worship? Do we design our worship to entertain us? Do we reach out to the “post modern” world with true worship to God, or with feel good fluff? Seems to me it’s time for me, for us, to wake up and bring to God the living sacrifice He has asked for. Seems to me we should focus, or refocus, our hearts and minds toward God instead of how to make things more “attractive” to the lost.
Till next time,
Grump