True Worship

Last Sunday we looked at Isaiah 1:1, 10-20. The theme of my Word of Hope was “True Worship”. I said that there are two parts to this reading:

1.     Real or Ritual Worship – when we gather together.

2.    Living True Worship – beyond the Church doors.

We looked at part 1 on Sunday. On 24^th August we will look at part 2.

I quoted Jesus’ words from John 4:24 - “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in Spirit and in truth.” I suggested that we need to be careful that our Worship does not become mere Ritual. Are we worshipping out of duty, or out of a desire to truly worship a God who is Real to us?

Ritual can creep into Worship very easily. In my first Parish I was rudely confronted by a man who rarely came to Church. When I read a passage from the NIV he immediately spoke up: “You should be using the King James version!”. I told him that I had not grown up with it and that the language was strange to my ears. He told me that I should learn it! An apocryphal tale says that a woman once said of that version: “That was the language which Jesus Himself spake”.

The Bible version, Hymn book versions, Songs versus Hymns, the old or new versions of the Lord’s Prayer, the Creeds, the placement of Notices (before, during or after Worship) and how we conduct Holy Communion are all ripe for Ritual. In one Church I visited, the musician played music while a person was leading the Prayers of the People. I was horrified. But that was their Ritual. Do our Rituals honour God: Really?

I wonder what Ritual, if any, you have before Worship? Do you pray before you get to the Church? Do you do any Bible reading? Do you invite the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and heart and spirit to the message? Even when you’re sitting in Church waiting for the Service to begin, what is your Ritual? Quiet reflection? Receiving the music being played by the Organist or Pianist? Catching up with friends? Or discussing vital matters like the football?

I am guilty of not having a good Ritual before Worship – apart from actually preparing the whole service. That’s God’s challenge to me. What is God challenging you to do?

With hope and joy,

Rev. Frank (Van Der Korput), Supply Minister