Worship

How you do imagine worship? My family has often expressed some wonder, over the years, of why worship is something that fits into my life all the time. By that, I mean, like when we’re on vacation. If we’re away over a weekend, I’ll make a plan to attend worship in some church that looks interesting. If I can’t find one that looks interesting then I’ll just pick a worship experience that’s close, regardless of the denomination. My family has asked, “Why?” a number of times. I imagine that’s because they think of worship as part of my job because I have to preach when I’m the pastor. “Don’t you want to take a break?” I have never made my family come with me, but sometimes they do. For me, worship isn’t about work and it has never been a chore. That’s never been my experience. I don’t go to worship because I have to or because I’m “holy.” I go to worship because I get to be with my best friend and to let him know that he is my best friend. That’s why I love worship. It’s just great to be with God and tell God how great he is. I’ve been challenged to think of worship in other ways. I’ve been told that it should be solemn, serious, and focused on the holiness of God and the sinfulness of humanity. Or, that it should be traditional with a style of hymnody and responsive readings. Or, that it is to be contemporary, with smoke machines, special lighting, and guitars and drums. I’ve been told it should be contemplative, quiet, inner-focused, seeking out the touch of the Holy Spirit. I’ve been told a lot of things about how worship should be. Not a whole lot of people have told me the point of worship… which to me is friendship. Guitars, organs, lights, outdoors in fields, sitting in a circle, written prayers, hymns, songs, dancing, speaking in tongues, intellectual preaching, Biblical exegetical preaching… that’s not why I come. My best friend, my dearest friend, the one who has carried me through fire and storm and never let me go, the one who challenges me to grow up, to change, to enjoy all that he’s created… I get to go and say, “You’re the best,” with a bunch of others who, I hope, are there for the same reason in whatever way makes sense to them. I’m not worried about the pattern. I’m there for one purpose. Blessings, Geoff