Change the Subject

Luke 18:9-14

In my first post, “Why Worship Together”, I wrote about the community aspect of worship. The most neglected part of Christian corporate worship is its communal nature.  We have forgotten how to worship together. Often worshippers are more dedicated to separating themselves across an auditorium than the acts of worship itself. Corporate worship needs an intimacy that is not only vertical, (between us and God) but also horizontal (between worshippers). We avoid one another because we carry that Garden of Eden virus called shame and would rather hide than be truly known.

The lack of community in worship does not go unnoticed by worship leaders. In an attempt to bring congregations closer together, worship leaders will sometimes use “icebreakers” to promote community.  At best, the leader will offer a time for the congregants to share a greeting with one another, sometimes called a “fellowship time”. At worst, something akin to a comedic monologue is offered to relax and engage the worshipper.  

More often, congregations will take matters into their own hands and engage in light conversation prior to a worship time to either meet their need for intimacy or satisfy curiosity. Subjects such as sports, clothing, weather and hairstyles are discussed at varying depths. Unfortunately, we have not shaken free of worldly cares and gained the courage to verbally share our common heritage (adoptees of the Creator of the Universe). We are afraid to get close to one another and share both holy praise and lament. Our pride keeps us strangers at the altar of grace.

The parable in Luke 18:9, contrasts men of different hearts who came to the Temple to speak to God. One stood proudly while the other fearfully cowered at a distance. One gave thanks for his supposed righteous stature while the other asked for mercy. One rejoiced in who he was not, while the other contritely admitted who he was.

This Sunday, engage fellow worshippers in more than small talk and shake loose from the language of the world that keeps us strangers. We need to change the subject.  We need to tell our stories and listen to the stories of others. The horizontal dimension of worship is realized when we recognize that God is the change agent in the stories of our peers. When we look into the eyes of our worship family and see the joy and pain of their stories, worship happens communally.  Remember the men in Luke 18: 9. Is our pride keeping us in separate pews or are we embracing others who are just like us; sinners in transition?

the friar