Worship Is A Verb Part 4
Scripture: Matthew 12:1-7; Revelations 2:1-4
Introduction:
This morning I will complete this part of the series that was focusing on the hindrances to our worship. So far we have discussed intellectualism, idealism, imperialism, isolationism and institutionalism. This morning we will discuss improperism and illusionism. I know you may be tired of the “isms” but just hang with me through this message.
I. Improperism
The sixth hindrance to our worship is improperism. Something is improper when it is not consistent with truth, fact, or rule. It is deemed incorrect or in error. Let me share a story with you. When we lived in Arkansas, we attended a Church where there were several other ministers attending. One of the ministers thought it was his calling and his duty to make sure that the truth and nothing but the truth was preached and taught in the Church. Now mind you this would be fine if he was the pastor, but he was not. One Sunday after I had just finished delivering a message, he came up to me and said “Rev. Johnson, that was a good message and you told the truth and there was not an error in the message.” I looked at him and said “thank you.” Now this may all sound okay, but here is the problem. The truth in his opinion was based solely on how he interpreted the Scripture and anything other than that was wrong. Now there are people like this man within every Church that feel it is their duty to understand what worship is, how it should be done, and what is or is not proper for the service. The individual operating with this mindset is easily hindered in their worship when they witness something that is improper. Remember my example from last week about the question my sister asked me about people shouting in Church and if that was scriptural, that is also an example of someone who believes shouting should not be done operating with a disposition of improperism. With improperism, worship is improper when it is unbiblical, when attitudes about worship are unscriptural or when we substitute non-worship activities for worship during our corporate gatherings.
Let me share with you an example that Jesus encountered. Turn to Matthew 12:1-7. “At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat. But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, ‘Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath.’ (Vs. 1-2)
The first thing we notice is that Jesus and His disciples were walking in the fields on a Sabbath when His disciples became hungry. Because they were hungry, they reached out and took some of the grains that were growing and began to eat. Immediately the Pharisees lashed out at Jesus telling Him that His disciples were violating the Sabbath by eating the grain. Remember, according to Jewish tradition, harvesting (which is what Jesus’ disciples technically were doing) was forbidden on the Sabbath because no one was permitted to work. So because the disciples were picking grain to eat as they were hungry, they were doing something that was “improper” for those who truly worship the Almighty Jehovah according to the Pharisees. Now notice what Jesus said to them in response. “…..Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions, how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? Or have you not read in the Law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent? But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here. But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire compassion and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.” (Vs. 3-7) Jesus told them that their understanding was flawed because they were judging the disciples based on rules of conduct, not based on what was in their hearts. He told reminded them of what David had done when he and his men ate the food that was only to be eaten by the priests. In both instances you had righteous men violating a tradition and/or rule of conduct. Jesus told them they did not understand that God desired compassion versus sacrifice. Again, compassion comes from the heart while oftentimes, sacrifices comes from the mind. The same things happen within worship services around the world. We would rather give God the sacrifices of our minds versus the true worship that originates from our hearts.
There are many “non-worship” activities that in the past we have equated with worship. In my earlier message I shared with you what some of these “non-worship” activities are, but let me refresh your memory. There is no worship taking place when we give a testimony? God is given credit for what He is doing, but that is not worship. Singing songs of deliverance is not worship. One Sunday I was choosing a song for praise service and Randy suggested another song because the song I had chosen really was not a “praise” song that was focused on God – it was focused on us. Reading the announcement and greeting our visitors is not worship. Taking prayer requests is not worship. All of these things are important to the success of our Church service, but they are not worship. There are other things that we do during our “worship” service that is not worship. In truth, we should call our Sunday morning service what it is, our Sunday morning Church service where we do spend part of it worshipping God. Every congregation has faced this hindrance as they have worked through what God is sharing with them about their services, but the difference in the outcome is what they decide to do about their service. There are things that we do that are not worship, but as long as we understand that and do not confuse the two, we are moving in the right direction.
For the person who is so focused on what is proper or improper for worship, all of the things that I mentioned could become an easy distraction for them. If they are not a distraction in of themselves, they become one if they are not done “properly”. If you are constantly evaluating what is happening around you while you are at Church, you could be operating with the disposition of improperism.
II. Illusionism
The last hindrance is known as illusionism. By definition, an illusion is a false idea and illusionism is the practice of giving an unreal, deceptive, or misleading appearance or false perception or interpretation of what one sees. In worship, illusionism may involve mistakenly identifying successes in one area of ministry as being synonymous with worship. For example, someone may suffer from illusionism when a dynamic commitment to evangelism is equated with successful worship. Remember, worship is a verb and it is something we should be doing “to” God. Although we should be committed to evangelism, having a dynamic evangelism programs does not mean that people are truly experiencing worship during their Church service. Let me give you an example. Turn to Revelations 2:1-4: “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write; The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: ‘I know your deeds and your toil, and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”
Jesus told the Church of Ephesus that they were doing some things right. Now based on what He said to them, you’d think this Church had it going on and truly worship was taking place there. I mean this Church had persevered during bad times and could not tolerate evil men. When someone came to their Church professing to be an apostle, they put them to the test and discovered that they were not. This Church could not be played for a fool – they were on their game. Although Jesus commended them for their zeal, good deeds, toil, perseverance and ability to endure in times of persecution, He had something against them. He condemned them because they had forsaken their first love – God. They were busy doing all of the wonderful things Churches do to practice their worship, but they were not worshipping God. They were busy doing for God but were void of love, worship and adoration for the Lord of Lords. It is an illusion when we equate busyness, zeal, and commitment with worship of God.
Another great danger of illusionism is seen when a congregation, pastor, or worship leader holds the false assumption that worship and sin can coexist. The Holy Spirit’s sweet, gentle prompting are crowded out by the loud roar of disobedience whenever the body of Christ tolerates sin on any level. Genuine worship of Jehovah will not take place when sin is hidden. It won’t take place in a congregation when Church leaders tolerate open sin. It won’t take place when Church leaders and those who are supposed to be leading the praise are living a life characterized by lies and deceit. Sin that hinders genuine worship may take the form of an ungodly spirit toward a brother or sister in Christ, selfishness, gossip, self-centeredness, anger, malice, immorality, idolatry or any number of actions and attitudes that prevent fellowship with God’s people. Colossians 3 tells us to rid ourselves of such things as these (vs. 8). Why? Because men and women who harbor sin cannot worship in spirit and in truth. How can you worship God in spirit and in truth when you are living a lie? How can you worship God in spirit and truth when your actions, both known and unknown, do not match your confession? Like the angel’s message to the Church of Thyatira (Rev. 2:18-29), the Holy spirit is against those in leadership positions who go through the motions of worship in service and deed but tolerate sin.
Still another form of illusionism may be seen in the belief that worship will take place because specific formulas for service planning, organization, and execution are observed. What may work for a worship ministry in Kansas City may not work for a worship ministry in Little Rock, Arkansas. What may be appropriate to the worship language of a congregation in Overland Park, Kansas may no communicate well to the people of West Africa or in San Diego, California. The use of specific songs and order of service does not guarantee worship because worship is individualized to the person. Only the Holy Spirit can prompt the heart to sing out of love of God and with a heart to worship. I cannot make you do it nor can anyone else. Worship is something that you decide to do. Do not be under the illusion that everything is great because the services are crowded and lively or that nothing is going on if the services are not packed and the crowd is small. Many have failed because they were following an illusion versus God.
III. Overcoming Our Hindrances to Our Worship
We have covered seven different types of hindrances to worship. We discussed intellectualism, idealism, imperialism, isolationism, institutionalism, improperism and illusionism. Each of these hindrances to our worship is so ingrained within us that we can only overcome them through the Spirit of God. We do not have the will power to accomplish this alone – because these attitudes are such a great part of who we are. Even as I wrote this, I found these hindrances present within my own life. So you see, as I wrote this, I was talking to myself and well as to you. We are all struggling with the same things yet we will not all make the same decision to deal with them.
Although our external hindrances to our worship may interrupt the flow and momentum of the service, the Holy Spirit is not hindered by our failed plans. The Holy spirit is not hindered by weak attitudes. He is always ready, seeking to help anyone who is willing to enter into true worship of God. God is not hindered by our small problems nor is He impressed by our elaborate plans for worship. What moves God are the issues of our hearts. What moves God is a warm heart that is turned towards Him. It is not about our status in society, our income level or our family background. It is about our willingness to give Him praise and thanks for everything He is doing in our lives. Worship is a personal act that begins with a pure heart attitude; stimulates us in the way we live; and motivates us when we gather at church to relate to God with confidence, admiration, fascination and adoration. It is something that is built into human nature. It is a verb.
I will continue this series next week.
(My primary reference for this series besides the Holy Bible is the book "the Dynamics of Corporate Worship" by Vernon M. Whaley.
