It was a state campground near Old Walker Mine in late September. My father and I pulled in about 11:30 at night and setting up camp what I remember most was the night sky. It was black, not dark but black. The stars were clearer, huge, close and more brilliant than I’d ever seen them or could have imagined them. Now I had seen stars before but somehow something was different about this night. I wasn’t spiritually awake enough to thank God for the beauty that night. But maybe you can recall having seen something so magnificent that it demanded a response of praise? Maybe you marveled at the look on the face of a newborn baby and its tiny features so exquisitely shaped. Perhaps it’s a sunset so spectacular it takes your breath away to recall it. Or you look into the eyes of a loved one and you are awed that you two could be so much in love. Perhaps words are unnecessary, maybe impossible but such wonders demand a response from us nonetheless.
That’s what worship is—a heartfelt response to the beauty, majesty, and love of God, shown to us in Jesus Christ. Worship is not just wishful thinking on our part but a response to beholding the majesty of Christ and a response to hearing the voice of God. Worship takes place when we step away from the same old expectations and discover the unexpected, when what we’ve taken for granted becomes precious.
By chapter 17 Matthew, the disciples had become a bit accustomed to Christ. True, he did miracles, and that set him apart. But in many ways, he probably started to seem very human. Chapter 17 begins with Christ leading Peter, James, and John to a high mountain. “There he was transfigured before them,” What does this mean? It means he was changed. Moses had seen God’s glory and his face showed it. But he was merely reflecting what he’d seen. Jesus, himself, was transformed. “His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.”
Along with this transformation Moses and Elijah appeared too and was, talking with Jesus.” Can you imagine the thoughts going through those three’s brains? Whatever they had begun thinking about Jesus was stripped away in that moment. And then as the cloud covers the Jesus, Moses and Elijah they hear THE VOICE. ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!’”
Facedown and terrified. That’s where the disciples ended up when the voice was done and the cloud lifted. They probably recalled Isaiah’s situation and felt unworthy and doomed being in the presence of the Lord. I know I’ve been like those disciples in the past. I’ve grown accustomed to Jesus so much that he became invisible at times. What does it take so that we can see Christ in a new way? What will it take so that we are constantly aware of Jesus’ presence in our life, in our worship and among us as the Church?
Worship seems to be pendulum swing between the “same old; same old” to an “exciting experience”. Rev. Bill Richardson, an Episcopal Priest, makes this comment about a worship experience he had. “Have you ever been in a worship service where you thought or said, ‘I wish that could have gone on forever’? Awhile back I was in a church setting where I cried through a portion of worship every Sunday morning. There was a strong sense of God’s presence, and none of us there wanted to leave.” I know how he felt. Peter’s felt that way too. His suggestion to build three tents is an act of worship. The mistake is that he makes Jesus equal with Moses and Elijah and fails to see the uniqueness of Jesus. Later in the letter he writes Peter says, “We were eye-witnesses of his majesty.”
When we see the unseen guest, when we perceive Jesus as the only Son of God it moves us to humility and lets us realize how unworthy we are to be in his presence. I would not be surprised to find us face down on the floor, kneeling or cowering near our pews should we see Jesus. Jesus’ presence let us see ourselves for who we are. That is why Isaiah finds himself doomed as he comes before God’s throne.
Worship doesn’t leave us lying liked whipped cur dogs. Worship also invites God to touch us. God’s touch cleanses Isaiah and Jesus touch restores his disciples. There is something about the “touch of God” that has healing, restorative, and cleansing power. Richard Foster says in true wholehearted worship “Spirit touches spirit,” and we are not the same. Our worship is not the same.
God’s voice calls and we are overcome. His touch restores us. And lastly our worship becomes an expression of thankfulness, obedience, and reliance on the goodness, mercy, grace and forgiveness of Christ.
In the past it’s been pretty easy to divide the Church into three different camps when it came to the idea of worship. The head worshippers were mostly concerned with hearing God’s word. They were verbal, educationally oriented and looking for information about God. Occasionally God would touch people and transform them when the Bible became real to individuals. There are also the heart worshippers. These folks are into the emotionalism of worship. If they aren’t overwhelmed, in tears, or excited by the work they do at worship then they haven’t really worshipped. Next are those who are hands worshippers. These are tired of talk and no action. They are hands on, in the street, in the fields doing God’s work. Worship for them is presenting the Kingdom to those who haven’t heard about Jesus. It’s all about giving a cup of water, visiting, clothing and feeding those in need.
All three groups are present in every denomination and tradition. All three groups are right in their view of worship. And all three groups are wrong in their understanding of worship as well. Each of these honor Christ, are done in obedience to Him, and exalt Jesus as Lord and Savior. But when the perception, idea, way of worship become more of an issue than Jesus they end up missing Jesus entirely and their worship becomes meaningless even when it’s well thought out; exhilarating, and doing good.
Nowhere is this clearer than in the new praise music congregations are confronted with. In music the Church is undergoing something as radical as when it broke away from Gregorian chant or when the King James Version of the Bible because replaced by the Revised Version.
“Boomer” praise music, like As the Deer and Lord I Lift Your Name on High is just the tip of the iceberg. Today there is music in every genre cascading on the scene, which is as worshipful as any written by Fanny Crosby. In that music whole congregation are being touched by Jesus and transformed. I read about a church that offers prayer services every morning. The largest group is 20 year olds on their way to work. Candles light the sanctuary, a large screen rotates through classical pieces of art that encourage meditation, while rock praise music plays through the sound system. It’s not been done as way to get young people to come to church. Such worship flows from those who have heard God’s voice, been touched by Jesus and have sought for meaningful ways to express their love to Him.
During this Spiritual Adventure we are to take a brave new step and that is to prepare our hearts for meaningful worship every Sunday. That can mean different things to different people. It might be as simple as going to bed early enough so that you’re awake and aware of God’s presence. Maybe it will involve fasting, prayer, or even worship services in preparation of coming together. Your journals have great ideas for us to try. It is my belief that as we come together ready to worship, as we make ourselves available to Jesus during our Sunday mornings we’ll begin to see Jesus present with us and find our worship and our lives changed.
