On Worship . . .

We have become accustomed to a sequence of events that constitute worship.In our Protestant tradition, the elements usually include hymns, Scripture reading, offering, prayer and sermon.  These standard activities may be arranged differently and augmented according to denomination or local tradition. 

Each of these actions has a valid purpose: celebration, unity, devotion, tradition, instruction, inspiration - -all important to the worshiping congregation.  But some more basic consideration needs to be made.

First, God does not need to be worshiped.  It is we who need to rise above our daily adoration of wealth, notoriety, stardom, success, and the all-too-human admiration of power and position.  It is we who need to reset our focus on things beyond everyday concerns, to consider timeless things like forgiveness, love, compassion, and justice.  Worship of God frees us from being all wrapped up in ourselves.

Second, our worship is not designed to change God's mind.  It is an opportunity to change our mind.  Worship encourages us to set our priorities in order, to recognize the rigidity, the prejudice, the unfairness in our minds.  It may set some new values; it may lead to our giving up some goals; it may call us to a new level of existence.

Finally, worship does not call on God for a miracle.  Its magic lies in the miracle it works in our own lives.  Worship is a kind of report to our Creator.  That can mean reflecting on what we have done with God's gift -- our selves.  That can mean facing up to the next step we must take in our personal evolution.  And that can move us to a higher level of humanity.  Worship lifts us.

Larry Gruman