Modern Worship

“Thus says the Lord: Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths where the good way is and walk in it, and you shall find rest for your souls.” (rf. Jer. 6:16 MEV)

 

            In the past few decades, the way that Christians worship God has been changed dramatically. What used to be a very reverent time of coming before the Lord with prayers, praise, honor and adoration has in many cases morphed into a time to engage in an emotional display of upbeat music and visible expression, akin to what one would see in a modern rock concert. Where one expected to “have one’s feet stepped on” by the clear preaching and teaching of God’s Word has been replaced by inspirational messages designed to make one feel good about one’s life and to receive affirmation from God. Though this change does not speak of all of Christianity; however, it is an accurate reflection of how much the faith and our worship of God has adapted to fit the present culture. Overall, our adaptations have not been positive contributions.

            Indeed, what we have done in the recent past will eventually come to haunt us as we move into the future. As Hosea states in 8:7, “they sow the wind and they reap the whirlwind.” Truly, in time to come, American Christians will find that they have lost a great deal by following the ways of the world and the culture. They will have lost their appreciation for biblically based authority because they found the source of authority within themselves, making decisions on what they want or like, instead of what God desires. They will have lost decorum and protocol, choosing personal comfort and “dressing down”, rather than being at one’s best in attitude and appearance, coming in worship before the King of kings. They will have lost their hearing, believing that loud music in worship gets God’s attention while physical feeling of the music is prerequisite to their joy and ability to worship, rather than understanding that God is not deaf to His people nor does His Holy Spirit speak to His people in loudness but in “a still small voice” (rf. I Kings 19:12) which can only be heard when His people are quiet. God wants His people to worship Him on His terms and not their own. True worship is not about us being emotionally or physicallly charged up; it’s totally about us being in humility and quietness before Him.

            The “old paths” referenced above speak of the previously confirmed ways that God would have His people live and worship, ways in which the Lord has already shown His pleasure. Nothing about our relationship and adoration of God is left for us to decide. From the beginning to the end of time, God alone calls the shots on how He operates and how He desires for His people to live and worship. Hopefully, modern Christianity will appropriate this truth sooner than later and make the changes necessary that align our actions with His desires. If so, His blessings will soon follow when He sees His people obedient to His will and directions.

 

The Important Concept of Honor and Dishonor

 They opposed Uzziah the king and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful and will have no honor from the Lord God.” But Uzziah, with a censer in his hand for burning incense, was enraged; and while he was enraged with the priests, the leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the altar of incense. (rf. II Chron. 26:18–19 NASB) 

 

            As Westerners (i.e. those who are a part of Western civilization), our frame of reference is exceedingly individualistic. We typically think of actions and motivations in terms of oneself. How is this going to affect me? Will I personally benefit from this decision? We literally take everything in life personally.

            This is not the way the rest of the world perceives reality. Those cultures not in the Western orbit are profoundly motivated by how actions or decisions affect the community with little regard to the individual. This is the perspective that the writers of the Bible had when penning the Word of God in written language. Honor/dishonor were basic and foundational concepts that were in place and, thus, must be grasped if the Scriptures are to be understood correctly. 

            For instance, in the passage above, King Uzziah overstepped his bounds as king when assumed the role of a priest in the Temple. His flagrant violation was an ultimate display of dishonoring the Lord who established these bounds of office. Therefore, in honor of God’s holiness and in payment for his sins, Uzziah was struck with leprosy and could no longer rule his nation publicly. He would be an outcast and have his son rule in his stead as regent until Uzziah’s death. In other words, sinning against God’s Word and commandments is equal to dishonoring the Lord and His holiness. Ultimate dishonor is living a life of sin in defiance of God and His honor, making it a worthy and ultimate punishment in hell. 

            As Christians, we need to move away from this Western, individualistic mindset and more toward the honor/dishonor framework of the Scriptures. As we do this, our actions and decisions will be based on what is best for Christ and His Church, rather than what we personally desire. When our thoughts are on our believing community (i.e. the local church), we will find ourselves honoring the Lord by what we do and say, all the while avoiding anything that might be dishonoring to Him. This is true, not only in our worship of God, but also in the way we live daily. Our focus should always be on how best I can serve and honor the God who by His grace has saved and sanctified us as His own children. Nothing less will suffice.