Did you know that when you go to church, you are actually meeting with the God of the universe? Not just symbolically and not just mentally as you review and rehearse things in your mind, but in actuality and in reality. Yahweh, God is present in the worship service at your local church each and every time that people gather there in His name. Now you will not be able to see Him with your physical eyes, although it is possible to sense His presence and furthermore you can see the evidence of His presence there if you will look for it. Granted, many people miss the reality of God’s presence but that does not mean He is not there.
Did you also know that when you gather with other believers in the name of the Lord, not only is He there, but He is also speaking to all who will listen? This is not just about remembering the words of the Bible or bringing to mind Creeds, Traditions and Bible/Church History, but in actuality, the Creator God who lives and reigns over all is actually, presently speaking every single time that you gather in His presence in a worship service. Of course His voice sounds different than the other voices that clamor for our attention in life and the majority of the time you will not hear His voice audibly, but nevertheless, I can declare to you with absolute certainty that God is speaking to you in every single worship service you attend, but you will have to listen.
I wonder why so many people in worship services do not sing out? Or raise their hands or even mouth the words to the songs? Is it that they have nothing to be thankful for? Or is it that they don’t think God needs or wants or deserves their praise? Or is it that they are thinking more about the people around them or about what they will be doing next after the service is over? I definitely don’t know the reasons, but it surprises me how many people come to a worship service but then don’t participate in it. It’s almost like they think they are simply there to be informed or entertained. I sure hope not! To me it would be absolutely tragic to think Church was more about sitting and listening to humans on the platform than about being present, engaging in worship/thanks/praise and listening to voice of God Himself.
Furthermore, if God is the One speaking to us, I am really surprised that more people don’t respond to Him outwardly. I don’t just mean in the worship service (though what better place to openly and outwardly worship, praise and express faith?) but I also mean in their every day lives. Of course I know that each of us respond differently to things that we learn but if God has spoken about how to turn from our sin, how to be saved, how to receive blessing and walk in abundance and live a flourishing and abundant life, I am shocked by how many times people simply ignore what God has said and go back to their own foolish and self-injurious choices and behaviors. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not judging people for this, I am just curious why we as humans so often hear and know what God’s will is but instead choose a different path.
Finally, I wonder why we are so often seemingly bored with Church, so uninterested in what is going on there and so anxious to leave? Obviously not every sermon is going to be amazing, in content or delivery and not every song is going to be superb and excellent. But I just wonder why in general so many people seem less than enthused and more excited about leaving than coming? Is it that we are that tired? Or under that heavy of a burden? Or is it that we feel like Church is just another obligation that we have to tend to not a gift that is given?
I have more questions than answers in this post. But I just feel like God has far more to offer us as we gather with other people in His presence and in His house than we sometimes ask for, expect or look for. I wonder, would you pray with me that God would stir something inside of each of us so that we would look at Church differently and that God would do something new and profound in us and in the worship service the next time we gather?
Pastor Michael Johnson 