Everyone has to start somewhere…
So we had another Starbuck’s gathering tonight. These Monday night discussions are really great and fulfilling a great need in my spiritual/intellectual maturity. They actually cause me to *think* about things…. Question what I believe… Where I stand… And sometimes, I don’t like the personal revelations. Sometimes, they’re kind of unsettling and difficult. Not that anything in particular tonight caused great pain and heartache, I just left feeling kind of …. I dunno … defeated?
Sunday mornin. What’s it all about? Who’s it for? Who benefits? Us? God? Does he need us all there on Sunday to affirm his omnipotence? Are we the ones who need affirmation?
Am I there to fulfill some obligation? Making sure that I check in with everyone and prove that I’m still a Christian? Somehow, by attending worship on Sunday, I’m more holy than the guy who sleeps in or goes fishing?
I mean, what’s the purpose? Is it just a pep-rally so we can all feel good about ourselves and keep us alive through out the week? Is it seminar where we can discover the four tenants of peace through prayer, just so we can cope with daily struggles. Is it all about what we can get out of God?
Man… This stuff always sounds so offensive when I put down in words. Am I really this upset about things? I can’t even find the right vocabulary to describe my feelings at the moment. Frustration… Concern… Worry…Fear…Desire…Heavy
I seriously doubt it is supposed to be this way….
4 comments:
While I believe that both we, as Christians, AND God should benefit from a worship service, I don't think "who benefits" is even necessarily the right question to ask... That's our human/business mindset creeping in.
Does God need us to pray? After all, won't His will be done regardless? No. He doesn't *need* us to pray, but he asks us to. Do we benefit from that? Probably. It pulls us closer to him. Does He benefit from it? Our human minds would like to think so, but no. He doesn't become any "more God."
Does God need us to evangelize, to tell our friends about Jesus? After all, won't the Spirit lead the people that he predestines? No. He doesn't *need* us to tell people about Jesus, but he asks us to. Do we benefit from that? Probably. It helps us grow, gives us boldness. Does He benefit from it? No. He doesn't become any "more God."
I think worship is the same way. Does He need us to worship Him as a community? Does it make Him any "more God?" No. But he asks us to, and we probably benefit from it. I'd even say he's pleased when we do it.
Is there a better way to do it? Yes. There is. Our methods as a group are quite imperfect. To me, that means we work to bring about change, but we don't give up meeting together while we do that. Finding ways to bring about change is the tricky part -- Because I truly think we have to find ways to do it without being overly divisive.
And you can still choose to sleep in or go fishing once in awhile if you want. I promise I won't tell.
Thanks, Scott. I agree with you that God does not *need* anything from us... More like *desire*. In fact, why bother creating a human animal if he didn't want us around??
I guess I'm questioning the purpose of this regularly/frequently scheduled - seemingly required - gathering once a week that seems to be so repetitive and thin. (Admittedly, the last half of that is purely opinion!) If we - as the church - as the body - are truly living amongst each other as brother/sisters, leaning on each other, learning from each other, laughing/sharing/crying with each other - then why isn't it good enough to gather in our groups to worship together on our own schedule? Why do we all feel like we *need* to come together - EVERYONE (even people I *never* have contact with) - to worship? Who is it really for?
Personally - and this sounds harsh - I think its for our own encouragement as a large "church" and for the benefit of the offering plate, just to keep the machine going.
I went off some more on this topic here.
Hmm. I agree that it's true that the actions of prayer, worship, and evangelism do not make God "more God," but I do believe that these actions invite "more of God" into our puny little existence (Imagine the Terminator voice).
I disagree about God needing us to evangelize. Go! Is not an option. It is a commandment. I don't want to be a thumper here, but it's one of the few things that Jesus told us that we needed to engage in.
Just thought I'd interject my heretical, European thoughts into this discussion....
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