Worship – Dull or Dynamic?

     What comes to mind when I say the word "worship?" In Playing Marbles With Diamonds (Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1985; p 49), Vance Havner commented on the low quality of much "worship" in modem America: "God forgive us for gathering in His name, not expecting much to happen, praying for rain but not carrying our umbrellas. We pay church staffs to do church work and then gather on Sunday to watch them do it! It is a performance, not an experience. When the preacher stands up to preach, the attitude is, 'All right, preacher, let's see what you've got.' When he finishes we say in effect, 'I move we accept this as information and be dismissed.' No wonder we meet at eleven o' clock sharp and end at twelve o' clock dull." A lot has changed since Havner wrote those words. Many worship services are now anything but "dull." Churches have left no stone unturned in trying to fill the pews and keep people coming. Many church services are built around high-production music performances, drama and so-called "sacred dancing," give-aways, and preaching that seeks to be upbeat and assure you God wants you to be happy, healthy, wealthy, and to always feel good about yourself. But The New Testament hasn’t changed. It still directs every worshiper to worship God "in spirit and truth" (John 4:24). Jesus warned, "These people draw near Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:8-9)." A careful study of these passages on worship reveal that we ought to be concerned to do what God wants in worship, but also with the way we go about doing it. We who worship are, in the final analysis, in charge of the quality of our worship. If we are dull, worship will be dull. If we as worshipers are dynamic, worship will be dynamic too.

Revelation 4:8-11 describes a worship scene in heaven – "Four living creatures ... do not rest day or night, saying: 'Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!' Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 'You are worthy, O’ Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.' " Worship in Heaven is not dull. And it is not about me and it is not about you. No one there is saying they don't get anything out of the worship. No one is bored or calling for "worship renewal." No one is asleep, texting, wandering the halls, talking in the foyer, or in a hurry to get out and leaving during the closing song. No one is engaged in any of the many distracting things some people do during worship here on earth. In Heaven the congregation is not worshiping praise or praising worship. They are worshiping and praising and thanking and adoring God for who He is! The worship there is dynamic – not dull. Not empty ritual, mindless habit or grudging obligation. Not about being entertained. The focus is on the Almighty, eternal, creator God. If everyone worshiped the way you do, would worship be dull or dynamic? Let us worship according to God’s word, and do it in spirit and truth.

  Dan Gulley, Smithville, TN