Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Is it possible to 'worship' a God who isn't there?

Scripture Verses that caught my attention today: Amos 5:21-24 I hate, I despise your festivals,
and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
22 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them;
and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals
I will not look upon.
23 Take away from me the noise of your songs;
I will not listen to the melody of your harps.
24 But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an everflowing stream.

Observation: According to the verses above, God wasn't even interested in their 'solemn assemblies' (i.e. worship).

Application: We’ve all heard, with negative tones, the phrase “going through the motions.” So we realize that life is meant to be lived authentically, without pretense. Interestingly, this concept is grasped by believers and unbelievers alike—perhaps even more so the latter. Many (but not all) people who don’t go to church, when asked why, will say that part of the reason they don’t go is because there are too many ‘hypocrites’ there. Like the Almighty, unbelievers can often intuitively sense the disconnect between what is professed and what is practiced.

At this point some would no doubt begin a diatribe about how we should all be more sincere in our worship. And that’s true enough. But a big part of worship is this simple recognition: God is God and we are not God. Period.

One of the benefits of worship is the tangible reminder that we are not to worship ourselves. That was the great error of the people in Amos’ time and is often still the case today. They pretended to worship God but were really just praising themselves.

How bad was it? So bad that even God didn’t attend—or at least refused to listen to their melodies or accept or look upon their offerings. Imagine that: God as a non-attender!

Still, while God might not have looked upon their offerings or listened to their melodies, God did continue to watch for what God was really waiting for: justice rolling down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

I’m not sure God sees such justice and/or righteousness any more today than God did way back when. Perhaps our worship could/should begin with thanksgiving to God for sending Amos and others like him who remind us yet again of what our Lord longs to see.

Although I personally think God is always at worship, in this case God might be more likely to actually WANT to show up!

Prayer: Lord, be present in our times of worship, however imperfect, in order that we might see you and be drawn over and over again into the ways of your kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Scripture readings today included: Amos 4, 5, 6, Psalm 86, Titus 1)

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