Robert Nordling of the Calvin Institute of Worship once told the story of taking his five-year-old son Jackson to a young friend’s birthday party:
Jackson is all dressed up and brimming with excitement and enthusiasm as he rushes into his friends’ house to join in the festivities. However, when his father comes to pick him up after the party, Jackson comes out looking dejected and depressed. His father asks, “Jackson, what’s the matter? Didn’t you enjoy the party?” Jackson responds with a terse, “No.” So his father asks,” But you were looking forward to this party so much! Why didn’t you have fun?” And Jackson answers, “I didn’t get any presents!!” To which Dad can only reply, “But Jackson, it wasn’t your party!”
The lesson Nordling draws from this real life parable is real and convicting. As we have stated countless times at CrossPoint, worship is not about us; it is about God. Thus, the worship celebration is not for us, it is for God. Worship is God’s party, not ours! And when we come to worship we come primarily not to receive, but to give. We come to give to God our presents – presents of faith, gratitude, praise, confession, and commitment.
So, how do we look at our gathering for worship? Who is the center of attention? Whose party is it anyway? And how should that affect how we approach worship, and how we begin worship?
Worship is indeed God’s “party.” He is simultaneously the Inviter, the Host, and the Guest of Honor. Coming to God in worship is God’s idea, after all, not ours. God initiates worship, and we, as His children, are expected to respond. Worship is God’s idea, and the centerpiece of worship is the Lord God Almighty.
Pastor,
I couldn’t agree more, but sometimes I wonder what others are there for. I have a tendency to worship and sing very loud. I also am quite confident that I cannot sing worth a lick and could not carry a tune if it were in a bucket. But so what, that does not deter me in the least from shouting to the mountaintops the praise and love I have for my Lord and all He has done for me. But I get the strangest looks. Folks who sat near me last week now have moved three pews away. Even my family looks as if they are embarrassed at times. I have a member of my own family who NEVER opens his mouth one time during the entire worship service! I’m not trying to point out others faults and glorify myself, but how could anybody stand by silent while other worship the Almighty Powerful One Who, instead of killing me dead right on the spot, saved me from my wretchedness. Besides, that’s what clouds are for…..at least that’s what an elderly woman told me once. Clouds are filters invented by God to filter out those who do not sing well. I sing my loudest on cloudy days!
How easy it is to forget these facts and go to worship looking to get something as if God owed it to us…
How easy it is to get preoccupied with all the distractions around a brimming church on Sunday morning…
How easy it is the think that worship is all about the type of music, or the theme of the sermon…
How easy it is to look around the worship center and think it’s all about what others are wearing…
How easy it is to feel indignant because no one spoke to you during the welcome…
Thank you Pastor Ryan for keeping before us the truth about worship and the truth about our Father God!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Once again Ryan you tell it like it is. Thank You
A woman from work who works in another department but lives in the Clay area asked me last week if I still attended Crosspoint. Of course I said yes. She said she was probably going to visit this past Sunday, although I did not see her. I know she attends another church. She said she was going to start looking for another church and then offered up this reason, “because she was not happy with the music where she was attending.” I told her I hoped she would come to Crosspoint. I left wondering why she began attending that church in the first place. I know the music at Crosspoint is spirit filled, but also knew she might be in for a rude awakening. I looked for her at work today, but never ran into her. I wanted to ask if she had attended. I hope for the opportunity to minister to that need in her. Thanks again Ryan for the reminder that it is not about us, not the music, or worship or really any other aspect of us being here in the first place.
The more I learn about worship, the less I know about worship!