A prominent medical doctor who had written several books in his field and a well-known “radio preacher” were exchanging ideas about worship. The doctor confirmed that he had no formal theological training, but said he had always assumed that people attend church services to receive some assurance about the after-life, some hope about life after death. The preacher immediately challenged that assumption. “Most people go to church not because they fear death, but they are lonely and want to be with other people,” he asserted.
Do people really come to worship because they fear death or because they are lonely? Is that what worship is all about? Before we become too judgmental we must ask ourselves: Why do we come to church? What are we doing here?
For help in our answer, we can do no better than to refer to the Book of Psalms. This book is not important just because it was a book loved and used by millions of Jews through the ages and now, but because it was Jesus’ own prayer book. His prayer life and worship centered around it and so we too can be guided by its wisdom and emotion. Listen now to the Psalmist:
“Come, let us worship and bow down in worship; let us kneel before the Lord our maker . . . Sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord all you lands. Sing to the Lord and bless His name . . . Wash me through and through from my wickedness and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me . . . The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise . . . Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord hear my voice . . . The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want . . . surely your goodness ad mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Through the gamut of human emotion, the Psalmist is telling us clearly that we are here for the purpose of acknowledging the “worth-fullness” of God. Indeed, the word “worship” comes from “worthship.” The expression of it is built around the acknowledgement that God is the source of life. He is our God. We love Him. We praise Him. We thank Him. More important, God calls us to present ourselves as we are – with all of our joys, fears, and needs. You may be here because you are afraid of facing death. You may be here because you are lonely. You may be here to pray for guidance or for someone else. You may be here because you are discouraged or troubles and need time for quiet. All these reasons are good and valid, but they are secondary. The primary reason is to acknowledge God, find Him in your life and be in His immediate presence.
And as we come into God’s presence and find Him in worship, we are led to find one another as well. Peter DeVries wrote: “We are not put on this earth to see THROUGH one another, but to see one another THROUGH.
But how do we find God in worship? I believe we recognize God’s presence throughout the experience. We can find God in prayer. We can find God in a hymn. We can come into God’s presence through the Sacrament. We can find God as we count our blessings. We can find God in the love we have for spouse and family. Most of all, we recognize God as we live out our journey of faith in love and caring.
In the end, it is here that mother and daughter, father and son, husband and wife, brother and sister, neighbor and neighbor can find each other and appreciate the other’s worth not by chance, but by the grace of God.
Maybe this story can give us a clue about people’s need for worship. An elderly woman who worked hard all week was found each Sunday in Church. One Sunday, an usher was taking a survey and asked her why she was in Church each week. “Is it the sermon?” “No” said the woman. “Is it the music then?” “No, it’s not the music.” “What then?” he asked. “Well,” she said, “it’s just nice nice to come and sit for an hour and not think about anything!”
Perhaps she’s on to something! When we sit and try to pray or meditate, our minds spin off in all directions. Where is your mind right now? Do this: put all your anxieties, worries, and concerns on “hold.” Feels only God’s presence and His Spirit as you worship. You’ll not only find God, but you’ll feel God’s love in your life.
The great Roman Catholic theologian, Bernard Haring, tells of a Lay Brother in a monastery who worked hours in the kitchen. When he was not in the kitchen, he was in the Chapel. “What do you do in the Chapel all the time? he was asked. “Oh,” said the Brother, “I just look at Him and He looks back at me.”
That’s a good thought as we travel through the Lenten season. “I look at Him.” “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.” we answer. “He looks at me.” “My soul waits for the Lord.” we answer. That’s why we’re here now. That’s the essence of worship.
Source: © The Rev. Peter Groschner, March 23, 2014. John 4:23. Reprinted with permission from the author.