The next few newsletter articles will tackle the subject of “worship.”  For now, let’s start with what was heard at a popular local Christian church not very far away . . .

 “when you go to a Justin Timberlake concert…you are worshipping:  showing love, admiration, affection…Lucas Oil stadium…same thing…the question isn’t whether but what you will worship?”

“your church experience will only be as good as what you bring to it”

“you were made to worship…you were made to love and show admiration and affection”

“God is worthy of the WOW that is already in your heart”

“aim the WOW in your heart toward the one that is only worthy of it”

“you are already worshipping so direct it to Him”

“aim your worship…to God”

“life is hard and challenging….worship your way through it”

The underlying premise of this “sermon” is that true worship is standing, dancing, clapping, praising, exactly how you see done at a concert or football game.  The pastor even went so far as to say that God commands such worship and that humans beings are created to do just that.

Let’s start with John 6:28-29, Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

The highest form of worship is FAITH.  Not what you do or how you do it, but belief in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, crucified and risen for your sins and the sins of the whole world. 

The local pastor went on to claim that “you were made to worship” and that you are doing just that at a Colts game or Justin Timberlake concert.  Since this is worship, you merely need to “aim your worship at God.”  This is also false on many levels:

1. Man is spiritually dead in his trespasses and sin.  He is not made to worship, he is so infected by sin that even Jesus says in John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires.There are many passages that speak to our inability to worship God or that we can control or aim anything.  Here is another from 1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.  
2. Many Christians assume that the word “worship” is the same as the word “praise.”  This is why many churches, even Lutheran, have a “Praise Service” or a “Praise Team”.   The first word for worship that occurs in Genesis actually means “bow down.”  This is quite different from the definition of worship I shared above.  Bowing down is quiet and reverent and submissive.  I suggest we start a “Bowing Service” and a “Bowing Team”!  Just joking.
3. God commands that we only worship Him, so if what we do at a Colts game or Timberlake concert is the same thing, then following the logic from this popular local Christian church, it would be sinful according to Scripture! Consider these passages where God commands worship of Him only:  Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’”  Deuteronomy 6:13 It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.

So we see that the definition of “worship” from this big box church is incorrect, from Scripture.  Furthermore, how do you deal with sin in your life?  This church falsely tells you to “worship your way through it”.  This puts ALL the work on you! 

Our Divine Services as Lutheran-Christians focus on two things:  humbling ourselves before the almighty God with reverence and awe, but an awe that bows down before Him, which is so different from the way the world worships.  We don’t worship God like we do the Colts or Timberlake, because we have nothing to offer Him.  We are sinners.  Thus, the Divine Service is not about us coming to God, but rather God coming to us.  Forgiving us.  Which reminds me, Jesus commands (mandates) the Apostles’ and the church that follows them John 20:19-23, On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”  When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.  Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”  And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

I watched the entire service of this local church.  Never once did I hear the pastors speak these life-giving words of Jesus: I FORGIVE YOU.  Why don’t they do that?  Jesus commands it. 

Luke 24:46-47 Jesus said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Forgiveness of sins was mentioned once or twice, but it was not the main thing in the “sermon”.  They never mentioned the Gospel in terms of what Jesus did by living a perfect life, dying a death as the once for all sacrifice upon the cross, and rising to new life in His resurrection.  This church is trying to get you and others to believe a false gospel, that you can and should worship God in a certain way.  This is all Law.  I am saddened to hear such drivel and fear for those who may be led astray.

And if we are going to talk about what God commands, what about Jesus also commanding the Lord’s Supper?  We do it every Sunday.  And not just because He commands (mandates) it, but because we also need it and desire what He forgives:  forgiveness of sins, life and salvation.  I did not see nor hear this emphasis at this local church.  Luke 22:19-20 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”  And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

Lastly, disciples are NOT made by teaching them to worship or aiming their worship at the right person or place.  Hear again the words of Jesus, Matthew 28:18-20, And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Disciples are made first by baptizing, not worshipping.  Which is one of the reasons we baptize our infants.  They, as sinners, receive God’s grace and mercy.  They do nothing, He does everything.  Then we teach.  We catechize.  I did not hear this emphasis from Scripture, at this local and popular “Christian” church.  They are preaching a false gospel and twisting God’s word to appeal to you and others, leading them away from the gifts of Christ.    

The crux of this first newsletter article on worship is this:  we have nothing to offer Him, but He gives everything to us through Jesus Christ, through His Word, through His Sacraments.  It is not sinful to celebrate at a Colts game or Timberlake concert.  True worship is faith and quiet submission, which should bring to mind the story of Mary and Martha.  Martha is busy working and doing things for Jesus.  Mary is sitting quietly, at Jesus’ feet, listening, learning and receiving.  Jesus commends Mary’s faith and actions, not Martha’s.  Let us first receive His gifts of Word and Sacrament and then get busy with all that needs to be done this side of heaven.  How we worship, what we say and do, does matter.  More to come in the next newsletter article.

Forgiveness of sins, life and salvation are freely yours through Jesus Christ your Savior!

Peace be with you,

Pr. Mackay