Let’s Do This!

Colossians 3:15-16

A few months ago I sent out an invitation for a walking partner.  I needed the exercise and wanted to lose some weight.  Times and schedules were arranged with the respondents and the journey began. Six months later and twenty pounds lighter my walking regimen has been a success.  Looking back, there were lessons learned.

As you might guess, a partner who encourages and provides accountability is an important key to keeping it going. Of the starting group, one stayed with me and got me out of my chair on those days it just wasn’t in me to get up and out.  I don’t know if I would have stayed with it without my walking partner.  There were days when I was the encouraged and days when I was the encourager.  I am sure many of us can recall a time when a coach, teammate, or co-worker stepped alongside and kept us focused and moving forward.

   

It did not take a large leap for this student of worship to draw some parallels between Christian worship and what I learned from my exercise experience.  I believe the most neglected part of our worship is what I call the “encouragement factor”. I believe we fall short of a more complete worship time because we miss our responsibility to one another.  Commonly, in congregational worship, we strive to focus on God but are much less aware of the presence of others.  Ironically, we strive to close out our fellow congregants.  This is sometimes reflected by our seating pattern in worship which reflects an effort to be alone with God. We spread ourselves across an auditorium as though we are carriers of a deadly virus.  I admit there are other cultural forces at work here, because the “spread formation” is not unique to seating patterns in group meetings. What is disappointing is our seating pattern is truly alien to Christian worship. Corporate worship is about God and us, not God and me. Without going into a long explanation, let me add we gather to do what we cannot do alone. We are called to gather for a reason. (See my blog post: Why We Worship Together)

The “encouragement factor” has a dual role in worship. We can either assume the role of one who encourages or the one who is encouraged.  I hope we can all admit there are times we don’t feel like worshipping. Sometimes the liturgy does not include our favorite song or scripture passage. Other times our minds and hearts are other places and we are just going through the motions. We need to be reminded worship is an intentional act involving more than a passing feeling or moment of inspiration. Corporate worship is a team effort that involves an upward focus as we embrace one another.

Our time of worship together is when we renew our relationship with God as a family.  Our homework should already be done (time alone with God). Intentional worship means we don’t wait for the “feeling”, but we reach out and assume the role of either the encourager or the encouraged.  Embracing and sharing with one another cannot be done if we are spread across an auditorium at “safe distances”.  We need to be close enough to hear each other sing and pray. Our mantra should be, “let’s do this!” and turn to God together in unity.

As a good congregant, don’t be the distraction; be the partner that challenges. If you are the tired or discouraged walker (worshipper) who is ready to quit, seek out a partner who will take you by the hand and pray, sing and seek God with you.  Let’s do this!!

the friar

Flash Mobs and Rock Concerts

Flash Mobs and Rock Concerts

Luke 19: 37-40

When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:  “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”  Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”  “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

I am not a social scientist by any stretch, but I am a student of gathered worship and have tried in recent years to help Christian worshippers rediscover the purpose and meaning of what is commonly called the Sunday morning worship service.

In recent years, a new social phenomenon has emerged dubbed the “flash mob”. Nearly everyone has experienced a flash mob, either live or by video. Some of you may have actually participated in one. Webster's New Millennium Dictionary of English defines flash mob as "a group of people who organize and then assemble in a public place, do something bizarre, and disperse”. The bizarre activity varies from acting, dancing, singing or coordinated demonstration that initially appears spontaneous. It is, in fact, a well rehearsed and choreographed few moments that gradually grow from one or two participants to sometimes hundreds of people in a unified message. I have seen flash mobs that carried patriotic or religious themes, as well as simple celebrations of joy.

I believe flash mobs have an unusual element of social magnetism. They draw us into the experience as a concert or theatrical presentation but uniquely take us by surprise because they occur outside the concert hall or theater. For a few moments we experience our world the way we wish it was; a place where we all know the words and have the audacity to share them out loud (a bizarre thought, indeed).  

Those that followed Jesus into Jerusalem before his crucifixion may have appeared as one of our 21^st century flash mobs. Their declarations and praise were absurd and defiant given their political circumstance. They had little reason for joy while living under Roman rule. Yet they broke out in spontaneous chants of praise. It is also important to note that this group experience was not rehearsed. Their uninhibited joy was born out of inner hope for their future. They erupted in a unified, spontaneous response to a long anticipated event; a new day was here and their king was here to bring it! Had they stopped, the first “rock concert” would have begun.

When we worship together, unity can break out if we are individually audacious in our demonstration of joy, lament, hope or thanksgiving. This Sunday, respond to our Saviour as He brings a new day of reconciliation with God. Don’t defer to the rocks!  

the friar

“Why Worship Together?” Part II

Why Worship Together? Part II

Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  – Ephesians 5:19-20

Most often worship falls into four categories, each having its own unique features. There is what I call “lone worship”, which obviously is that time we spend alone with God. It can be characterized by a scheduled reading of the Bible, praying, meditating, singing and listening. It’s just God and one lone worshipper and is customized accordingly. The worshipper is not an intermediary….he is the worshipper; prostrate before God, seeking to maintain a relationship that clearly identifies who is Creator and who is created.

Second, there is “serendipitous worship”. This is an unplanned, un-orchestrated time that springs from the moment. It might be brought on by a miracle, a crisis, or an inspirational word of another (ex. written thought in a book). Serendipitous worship might involve only one, a large group, or all numbers in between. Its main attribute is spontaneity. It is a response to God in a moment when it was not expected.

Third, there is “lifestyle worship”. Lifestyle worship is characterized by ones’ daily habits that are markedly God-oriented. One sees God working in all aspects of life. The lifestyle worshipper lives in an expectancy mode that is watching for what God will do next.

Finally, there is what is commonly called “corporate worship”. Group or corporate worship has unique characteristics setting it apart from lone and serendipitous experiences (see my post, “Why Worship Together?”). Approaching corporate worship in lone or serendipitous mode is akin to trying a “solo” worship experience among a few hundred people; or waiting for God to show up when He is already there waiting for us. 

Corporate worship calls for an interaction between the worshippers as well as interaction with God. Fellow worshippers are part of our mission. They are not obstacles or distractions to our worship, they are an integral part of it. Our embrace of God should include them.

Christian worshippers are not to sprinkle themselves across a large auditorium or strategically maneuver to a select observation point. We are to move close together where our singing, amen’s, prayers, cries and laughter are easily heard. There is an accountability in worship that requires us to be inclusive not reclusive. Just as I placed my young children on my shoulders to assure they saw a passing parade, so we should elevate one another spiritually to see the activity of God. Our responsibility in corporate worship is not to “silo” ourselves into a holy cell, but to reach out, left and right, and hold one another up to see God in all His majesty. This Sunday, bring strong shoulders to worship and lift someone up, or be prepared to be lifted up.

the friar