Home Sermons Why Worship

Why Worship

WHY WORSHIP

TEXT: FROM ISAIAH 1, MARK

INTRODUCTION TO THE SERVICE
This month, we are exploring different styles of worship. (See endnote.) In 1957, the UCC was created by the joining of 2 denominations; Congregational (which we were) and Evangelical and Reformed-more prominent in the Midwest. Today's service slants toward our E&R tradition with a more high-church liturgy. Hopefully this does not mean stuffy or boring--just more structured. And, more dependent on following along in the bulletin.
INTRODUCTION TO THE SCRIPTURE
There were a lot of rules for worship among the ancient Israelites. That was because their identity as a people was all tied up in their practice of religion. If they all did the same thing in the correct way, it helped unify them. But the problem with rules is that they become the thing itself and God also has a lot to say about that. Listen to God's assessment of the worship habits of the people in Isaiah's time.

I'm reading from The Message, a contemporary translation by Eugene Peterson. It tends to retain the hard edge of some of the Bible's language. The passage is entitled, "Quit your Worship Charades."
ISAIAH 1:11-17 ~ QUIT YOUR WORSHIP CHARADES
11-12 "Why this frenzy of sacrifices?" God's asking.
 "Don't you think I've had my fill of burnt sacrifices, rams and plump grain-fed calves? 
Don't you think I've had my fill 
of blood from bulls, lambs, and goats?
 When you come before me, 
whoever gave you the idea of acting like this,
 running here and there, doing this and that-all this sheer commotion in the place provided for worship?
13-17 "Quit your worship charades.  I can't stand your trivial religious games:
 Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special [services]. ... I hate them! 
   
You've worn me out!
 I'm sick of your religion, religion, religion, while you go right on sinning.
 When you put on your next prayer-performance, I'll be looking the other way.
 No matter how long or loud or often you pray, I'll not be listening. 
And do you know why? Because you've been tearing people to pieces, and your hands are bloody. Go home and wash up. Clean up your act.
 Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings 
so I don't have to look at them any longer.
 Say no to wrong. Learn to do good.
 Work for justice. Help the down-and-out.
 Stand up for the homeless. Go to bat for the defenseless.


MARK 12:28-31
One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?' Jesus answered, ‘The first is, "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." The second is this, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." There is no other commandment greater than these.'

I DON'T GET A THING OUT OF WORSHIP
A pastor reports a conversation he had with a disgruntled church member.
"I don't think I'll be attending church any more," the member complained. "I'm just not having a good worship experience."
The pastor was not sympathetic. He scolded the parishioner. "You aren't being fed is because you are supposed to be passing out the food, not eating it yourself. First: What good is a restaurant if the waiters eat the food and the customers go hungry? What use is a church if the members feel good about themselves the no strangers are welcomed and loved into wholeness? Second: Church doesn't have anything to do with your ‘worship experience.' Only God should experience worship, not you. The question you should ask yourself is not, "Did I have a good worship experience today?" but "Did I provide God with a good worship experience today? Don't get me wrong, I love it when I get goosebumps in the service. But I am the worshipper not the worshippee, and as long as God gets goosebumps, it doesn't matter if I don't."
The pastor reports that this encounter had a happy ending ... the parishioner decided not to leave the church.

WHY WORSHIP
Why worship? That's my question for today. This month, we're reminding ourselves that there are lots of ways to put together a common experience of worship. But why do we do this in the first place? The pastor of my story buys into Kiekegaard's concept of worship as primarily an service we do which is directed to God. I'm not so sure; I don't believe it is that uni-dimensional. Yes, we can be nourished by reminding ourselves every week how awesome, loving, and compassionate God is, but there is nothing wrong with gathering to take care of our spiritual needs as well.

HOW IS WORSHIP FOR US AND HOW IS IT FOR GOD?
Frederick Buechner said that there are basically two ways to worship God. One way is to do things for God that God needs to have done-... fight on God's side, feed God'slambs, and so on.
The other way is to do things for God that you need todo-sing songs for God, create beautiful things for God, give things upfor God, tell God what's on your mind and in your heart. In general, ... make a fool of yourself for God the way lovers havealways made fools of themselves for the one they love.

He continues, whether your liturgical style is that of the Quaker Meeting, the High Mass, or the Holy Roller Happening-unless there is an element of joy and foolishness in the proceedings,the time would be better spent doing something useful.

WORSHIP AND ETHICS
I don't think Beuchner means we should choose one or the other, but rather worship should inform behavior and vice versa.

Jesus and the prophets said the same thing. Worship is empty unless it leads to ethical behavior. I don't buy the image of God sitting on a throne relishing our praise, and saying, "Oh yes, thanks for all the adoration, you've made me feel good about myself." I don't think God needs our praise. We do this because we need to remind ourselves that we are not the center of the universe.

Whenever Paul discusses worship practices with the early churches, it is always about how to include everybody, how to behave so that our very worship is a testimony of faith. So they will know we are Christians by our love.

So, what are we doing here?

1. We're creating a valentine for God. Cutting out bits of paper and singing songs and writing poetry (some of it bad) and sticking it in an envelope addressed to God. We do this not because God needs this poor creation of scraps and hot glue, but because we need to express our love in the best way we can. Even if it sometimes looks like foolishness, it's our attempt at loving the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and strength.

2. We're keeping the Sabbath. This commandment was not written for God's benefit, but for ours. We're carving a little space in our lives for peace, calm, and reflection.
I recently read that success can be correlated to habits of church-going. Researchers tie this not to divine intervention but to learning patterns of discipline and self control. Surely the Ten Commandments evolved out of just such an understanding of human nature. Sabbath is not a favor we do for God, it's a favor God does for us-for our long-term health and success.

3. We're submitting ourselves to a higher authority. People who come to church have a tacit understanding that we have something to learn from scripture; that modeling ourselves after Jesus and learning to love our neighbor as ourselves may be a goal worth pursuing. Abraham Heschel puts it this way: "Worship is a way of seeing the world in the light of God."

4. And finally, we're reminding ourselves that we are part of a community. That we are here to love and be loved; to reach out to one another, pray for each other, and to trust each other with our own frailties. We're part of a huge community age-old and world-wide; all of whom hold common truths and values.
In some churches, creeds are recited as reminders of these affirmations of faith the bind us one to the other. Will you stand and say together the affirmation of faith printed in your bulletin.

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH - A NEW CREED

LEADER: We are not alone, we live in God's world.
ALL: We believe in God who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make us new,
who works in us and others by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church:
to celebrate God's presence, to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us.
We are not alone. Thanks be to God.

 

ENDNOTE:
Feb. 1 • Formal Borrowing from the high-church tradition, today we are incorporating chant, sung responses, and a more formal liturgy.

Feb. 8 • Contemporary, Jazz Jazz sax player, Willie Sordillo and poet/liturgist, Mark Burrows lead us in a mellow, contemporary style that is popular with new churches and young congregations.

Feb. 15 • Contemplative Drawing on Quaker influences we will set a quiet, meditative mood.

Feb. 22 • Celebratory Mardi Gras Family service (children included). An informal, upbeat, and joyful service with a little humor thrown in as the last blow-out before Lent.