Remember the Sabbath.
Do we?
Keep it holy.
Are we?
A knot develops in my stomach as I think of the "worship" services I've attended in my lifetime. Many were far from worshipping Jesus Christ. A handful of people performed on a stage singing "Christian" music evoking an emotional response while a crowd stared up at them. As emotions heightened, the performers amped it up lifting their hands higher, waving their arms harder, skipping across the stage at times. The crowd loved this. Lyrics chanted repeatedly flashed up on a screen often reminding us of what we needed to do to be in good standing with God.
As everyone took their seats after the mini concert, a charismatic speaker wearing trendy clothes took the mic. He was very engaging and personable. He told some funny stories, used a few verses from the Bible to support his points about living a Christian life making heartfelt comments along the way to make us feel better about ourselves.
When his talk was done, one left feeling more of a duty to be a better Christian, yet no real tools to do so. There was always the nag to be better. There was never true peace.
You could sign up for service opportunites that had to be filled. You were doing your part if you helped clean up after church, helped with parking duty, worked with the children in their "church", gave of your musical talents, etc. This was called service, and the people who are recognized were the ones who gave a lot of their service.
So, this is what the Sabbath is supposed to be? I don't think so.
It seems to me many churches have lost focus. The focus is turned inward while Christ is used as some sort of banner to adorn the church walls.
The Sabbath is the sign. It points us to Jesus. Our REST! That is what Sabbath means. The Sabbath is about preaching the Word, not a self help sermon with a few Bible verses sprinkled in for good measure. It is about the Holy Word of God that is to be heard and learned. It is about coming together in fellowship to participate in the sacraments.
I think Christian culture has confused what Psalm 26:8 means. "I love the house where You live, O Lord, the place where Your glory dwells." Why are we begging God to come. He is in his house where his people are. If you don't "feel" anything, that doesn't mean he isn't there. That's pretty self centered of us to think that a feeling is what is needed for God to be present in his house with his people.
What happened to the service of loving our neighbors? Service doesn't mean you fill every service slot at church or have to raise tons of money to travel overseas. It means you show love to the mean old man that lives across the street. It means you support a friend who is having a hard time. It means you make time for your own family and their needs. It means you pray for God to mend relationships and change parts of your heart that need tending. You don't have to go far to serve God.
We complicate something that is so simple. Worship cannot be conjured up. We cannot make ourselves better people. We are wretches saved by the miraculous grace of God. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at My Word." Isaiah 66:2
After many frustrating years of filling my obligatory duty, worship on a Sunday morning has become my favorite time of the week. I sit with my brothers and sisters in Christ singing sweet hymns about our Savior, listening to the Gospel being preached, and breaking bread with them at the Lord's Table. I am reminded of my sinfulness, but also reminded that the debt has been paid in full. I am forgiven. Thanks be to God!
"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Acts 2:42
Do we?
Keep it holy.
Are we?
A knot develops in my stomach as I think of the "worship" services I've attended in my lifetime. Many were far from worshipping Jesus Christ. A handful of people performed on a stage singing "Christian" music evoking an emotional response while a crowd stared up at them. As emotions heightened, the performers amped it up lifting their hands higher, waving their arms harder, skipping across the stage at times. The crowd loved this. Lyrics chanted repeatedly flashed up on a screen often reminding us of what we needed to do to be in good standing with God.
As everyone took their seats after the mini concert, a charismatic speaker wearing trendy clothes took the mic. He was very engaging and personable. He told some funny stories, used a few verses from the Bible to support his points about living a Christian life making heartfelt comments along the way to make us feel better about ourselves.
When his talk was done, one left feeling more of a duty to be a better Christian, yet no real tools to do so. There was always the nag to be better. There was never true peace.
You could sign up for service opportunites that had to be filled. You were doing your part if you helped clean up after church, helped with parking duty, worked with the children in their "church", gave of your musical talents, etc. This was called service, and the people who are recognized were the ones who gave a lot of their service.
So, this is what the Sabbath is supposed to be? I don't think so.
It seems to me many churches have lost focus. The focus is turned inward while Christ is used as some sort of banner to adorn the church walls.
The Sabbath is the sign. It points us to Jesus. Our REST! That is what Sabbath means. The Sabbath is about preaching the Word, not a self help sermon with a few Bible verses sprinkled in for good measure. It is about the Holy Word of God that is to be heard and learned. It is about coming together in fellowship to participate in the sacraments.
What happened to the service of loving our neighbors? Service doesn't mean you fill every service slot at church or have to raise tons of money to travel overseas. It means you show love to the mean old man that lives across the street. It means you support a friend who is having a hard time. It means you make time for your own family and their needs. It means you pray for God to mend relationships and change parts of your heart that need tending. You don't have to go far to serve God.
We complicate something that is so simple. Worship cannot be conjured up. We cannot make ourselves better people. We are wretches saved by the miraculous grace of God. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at My Word." Isaiah 66:2
After many frustrating years of filling my obligatory duty, worship on a Sunday morning has become my favorite time of the week. I sit with my brothers and sisters in Christ singing sweet hymns about our Savior, listening to the Gospel being preached, and breaking bread with them at the Lord's Table. I am reminded of my sinfulness, but also reminded that the debt has been paid in full. I am forgiven. Thanks be to God!
"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Acts 2:42
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