Thoughts On Worship

My Sunday school recently discussed worship in the course of our studies in a text geared for the new or young Christian. Much of our discussion, and the treatment in the text, centered on the historical perspective: what are the origins of the various forms of Christian worship practiced today? We discussed styles, elements and preferences. I was missing, however, one thing in this treatment of the subject by an otherwise stellar reference: Paul’s admonition to the church in Romans 12.1-2: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (NRSV) Certainly using just the word “worship” is not specific enough to indicate whether you are referring to a service of worship or the act—the noun or the verb. The title of the chapter was, however, “Learning to Put God First: Worship.”

Putting God first is a terribly difficult thing. In our time we are prevented by materialism and busy lives. Throughout history there have been other things to keep us from putting God first – in the middle ages it may have been the feudal system. At other times, and even in our time, the distraction has been basic survival – food, shelter and the like. Putting God first or loving Him supremely, Jesus tells us, is the most important commandment, followed on its heels by “loving others as ourselves.”

Are we able to love God and others more than ourselves? Can humans do such a thing? I think very few do. Some have – such as Mahatma Gandhi. He was certainly a self-sacrificing person. Think of his contribution to the world. Gandhi inspired many to follow his faith and promoted peace throughout the world. This sacrifice – was it prompted by love or by a set of values he espoused and would not compromise? Are the effects of his influence going to continue until the earth is destroyed and beyond? Holding unwaveringly to an ideal can be admirable, but I would argue the affects of his teaching and life will not outlast the earth.

Humans are not capable of loving others fully. How can we? Darwin argues that we are all in this thing called life to succeed and produce offspring who will succeed. Certainly we help others if there is someone is capable of returning the favor or we are indebted to another. But true self-sacrifice or agape love of ourselves? I don’t think so.

God wants His children to love others above themselves constantly. This happens to some extent in communities of faith. Children of God give of themselves to teach, minister, offer gifts or to aid financially in times of need for the sake of building the body. Other times these things happen but they do not come from a motivation of love. Things get done, but the joy in sacrifice is missing. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13.3 “If I give everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.”

Watchman Nee’s sermons frequently assert that nothing offered to the Kingdom by way of the “outer man” or the flesh, mind or emotions cannot be effective at all. If we do something begrudgingly, Nee believes it will do no good for the Kingdom of God. In my conversations with thinking and faithful Christians through the years I have come to think that God can use offerings no matter their intention – He even used Pharoah and other leaders to display His glory (vessels for destruction). Why would we, as believers, by our attitute and motivations try to obstruct the work of the Spirit? Certainly we ought to make our work for the Kingdom participate with that of the Spirit rather than against it.

How does one ensure that the work we offer to the Kingdom is not tainted by us? For as Nee says, “Sooner or later a servant of God discovers that he himself is the greatest frustration to his work.” The answer – breaking the outer man. At the risk of sounding or being Gnostic in philosophy, I believe Nee’s practical treatment of a spiritual reality is beneficial. If we are broken God is able to use us as He intends. Our outer man does not hinder His work. Our spirit participates with the Holy Spirit in actual kingdom building. Our work cannot be tainted by poor motivation or even imperfection of delivery. Such a breaking of the outer man and release of the Spirit is a gift given at a proper time after quite a period of time for most believers. In my estimation, this period may parallel a period described by those in the Holiness tradition as progressive sanctification. During progressive sanctification the Spirit shows us areas of our life we were not aware were part of our end of the bargain. This progressive sanctification leads to a moment of entire sanctification, perhaps even this moment of breaking. This bargain I speak of is the one we made when we were saved – to offer ourselves as living sacrifices in exchange for eternal communion with the creator of the Universe – the only one who could satisfy our deepest longings.

Since I am a musician I am going to use my discipline to explore this particular application further. The Inner Game of Music is a work in the tradition of The Inner Game of Tennis. These are secular works to help the athlete or performing artist pull off a routine or piece under great stress. The authors describe the preparation, both technical and mental, required to ensure we do not choke under pressure. In very simplistic terms, these books teach a student to work so hard in preparation that they are able to let (in a rather passive way) their bodies do the performance rather than confuse it with a mind cluttered with instructions and techniques which cannot possibly be recalled in times of stress. Students are taught to let go and let the body’s sensory memory take over. This technique has freed many from stage fright and performance anxiety.

I believe we are able to give this technique a deeper meaning with the background discussed thus far. Simply emptying ourselves of distraction of thought while performing may help us display our mastery of craft, but it does not ensure we will be able to do Kingdom work through our talent. If we offer ourselves, and in this case our gifts, to God in service of the Kingdom and are enabled by His Spirit to commune with God while we are offering our best, I believe our work will be effective.

Worship leading is one such exercise. Musicians and other performing artists have the role and blessing of leading others in a worship service to encounter the Spirit of the Living God in a unique way. “Worship Leaders,” says Andy Park, “must first be worshippers.” One of my Houghton music professors was once asked how she was able to worship herself if she is always the worship leader. The students asked because the Houghton tradition of excellence tends to keep a person from offering music to God through the Spirit. (The Houghton tradition of excellence brings much to the Kingdom of God, but I think now that God does not desire so much to have our works as our lives.) The professor responded that she needs to feed herself in times of private worship rather than expect to be fed while she is tending to the technical matters of her offering to God in the corporate setting.

Now, Houghton’s general philosophy is that if we are working in God’s name, we should be very concerned with the quality of our work. Our work is, after all, an offering given to God just as our bodies are. And since Houghton is an institution of higher education, one would expect its focus to be on the quality of work performed. God certainly can use a routine or piece offered imperfectly. Why shouldn’t we, though, since we have a choice, participate with the Spirit rather than force the Spirit to work in spite of us?

The picture I have painted is helpful to a musician or performing artist. Lets take that concept and expand it.

Just as I have mentioned, everything we are involved in – every moment of our lives is to be offered to God as a sacrifice – our spiritual act of worship. This means that as we drive down a highway, take out the garbage, prepare a meal for a shut in, go about our vocation – all these things are to be done as unto the Lord. In a parallel fashion, I believe we are to be Spirit empowered as we offer God the works of our hands. God’s Spirit cleanses the vessel and the vessel, through God given abilites and talents as well as hard work and practice, is enabled to participate in true Kingdom work. In this way we are able to “put God first” in our lives.

Here is a helpful definition offered at a recent Wesleyan Church conference on the function of the Church in the world: “Worship is faith inspired, grace-enabled, life consuming responses to divine revelation and initiatives that glorify the Triune God and result in the sanctification of disciples in a life-style of reverence, holiness, fellowship, witness and service.”

Notes:
I am indebted to two authors and two specific works for most of my reflections on worship over the past few weeks. Watchman Nee’s work The Breaking of the Outer Man and the Release of the Spirit (some editors leave off the second half of the title) and Andy Park’s To Know You More, and from time to time I will refer to Harold Best’s work Music Through the Eyes of Faith and Barry Green’s The Inner Game of Music. Knowing Christ: Believing is the title of our Sunday School text. Ray E. Barnwell, Sr edited this first book in a four part series.