Awe Inspiring Worship

One of the most inspiring things about our world is the stars.  Stars scream of such an amazing, indescribable, and beauty that such poems as twinkle twinkle little star cannot even comprehend.  I have come to believe that we should see worship as this same, awe inspiring moment where words cannot even touch the surface.

Traditionally, worship has been confined to a set system.  We have our church bands prepare, the sermon is written, and the slide-show is prepared.  Much of the preparation of these worship modes often try to fit the latest hip style of culture.  For example, many churches have moved from the hymn books that sat in front of us, to the latest contemporary music.  There is nothing wrong with these songs, but if the church forgets why it is moving on from hymnals, then we have lost the meaning of worship.

It is crucial for the church to not try and entertain the congregation, but bring people to worship God.  This is something that I really appreciate about the MVNU Chaplin.  Every time he gets up to do the opening prayer, he stresses how important it is that the students remain silent, and to seek God into our very presence.  If the latest contemporary music merely focuses on trying to entertain, then we ignore the chance to have God present with us in our services.

This goes back to the very story of Acts chapter 2.  The disciples gathered together, seeking to have the presence of God come to them.  After the Spirit came, they worshiped God.  They did this through the "apostle's teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2:42)."  Imagine being at this scene.  An unexplainable event has just happened, and they began to worship through these acts.  It's something that we cannot even picture today.

I have been reading a book called Art & Faith by Jon Bowles.  Jon talks about the beauty of art in our world and how we have come to ignore it.  When we look at the stars, we see the beauty of them, but then when we look at them again, we do not have the same experience as the last.  We tend to limit ourselves to the great mystery presented to us.

When looking at the Scriptures, there used to be an awe inspiring mystery about them.  Now, people believe that it is all figured out.  That we have God wrapped up in this box that we can carry around and say, "Look!  This is who God is, believe!"  This is not the case, for our words cannot even come to grasp the concept of God.  The Chaplin at MVNU said in a chapel prayer that we should apologize to God because our words cannot even speak of His amazing beauty.

When we worship, we are invited to come and worship a God who is mysterious and loving.  The Scriptures speak of this characteristic that gives humanity His Son, and the Holy Spirit (John 3:16; Acts 2).  We are invited as humans to experience the awe inspiring presence of God in our services at church, and even within our own prayers to Him!