Worship

     How do we define worship services?  What qualifies as good and proper worship to God?  Is it a song leader who keeps proper time and sngs well?  Is it a preacher who makes us laugh and feel good about ourselves?  Is it a gathering of people dressed in their Sunday best, acting pleasant to others they see only once a week?  A prayer led by an eloquent and well-respected man?  Perhaps it is the predictable schedule of a song, a prayer, more songs, Lord's Supper, another song, preaching, and a song or two before finishing up with a last prayer?  Do we determine how successful and pleasing our services are to God by these sorts of mreasurements?

     I should hope not.  In Ephesians 5:19 it says, "singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord."  It does not mention how well anyone sings, or whether they are following the notes in the book exactly, or whether they keep proper time.  We are told to be "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit," (Eph 6:18).  It is not a matter of how verbose or articulate the man leading the prayer is, as we know that God hears what we cannot fully express in prayer (Rom 8:26).  We observe the Lord's Supper once a week, as instructed in 1 Corinthians 11:17-29.  We are not told that the plates we use must be shiny, nor is it instructed for us to use lace doilies.  It doesn't tell us how many men must be standing in front to help carry things. 

     We as human beings are prone to falling into patterns.  Those patterns reassure us and make us feel comfortable.  We should beware the comfort and assurance we feel when we insist on the way things must be conducted for worship servies!  Such traditions should not be taught as doctrine, nor imposed as law.  Let us carefully examine why we do the things we do, and reaffirm for ourselves the way that God has instructed us to worship Him.  After all, it is all about and for Him, is it not?