It's Not About You...Or Me

"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth" (John 4:24)

She was trying to start a religious debate. She wanted to know if this mountain or that one was the right place to worship. (Really, she was trying to change the subject of an uncomfortable situation.) Jesus refused to enter into the debate. Rather, he turned an uncomfortable conversation that centered on her personal life into an uncomfortable conversation about the true nature of worship. It's not about the particular place, he said. It's about the one you worship.

You see, worship needs an object.

Worship is not a time for learning, though learning might take place. Worship is not a time for building our relationships with others, though hopefully we get to know one another if we share a congregational space and life. Worship is not about getting to sing the things I like to sing.

In fact, worship isn't about me at all.

Jesus pointed this woman back to the reason for worship, because worship needs an object. And if we're not clear on what the object of our worship is, our human tendency is to worship what we know. The building. The location. The order. The lights and the music. And ourselves.

But none of those are the proper objects for worship. The only thing worth worshipping is something beyond ourselves, something bigger than ourselves.

Our word "worship" comes from the old English "worth-ship." Worship is "giving worth" (or, really, recognizing the worth that is already there) to someone or something. We acknowledge, as we worship, that there is someone or something greater than you, or me, or our preferences. Worship is about us taking the time, standing on our faith, and saying to God, "You are worthy of honor, glory, praise." In fact, the worship depicted in Heaven is just like that. The "twenty-four elders" spend all of their time in front of the throne, proclaiming God's worth: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being" (Revelation 4:11).

So when I come to worship wondering if I'm going to get anything out of the service...that's the wrong plan.

Or when I leave worship disgruntled that they didn't do things the way I think they should have...that's the wrong reaction.

When I come seeking a blessing for me...that's the wrong approach.

When I demand that my gifts be recognized, used and honored...that's the wrong attitude.

I'm even wondering if "relevant" is an appropriate word to describe worship, because that, once again, makes it about me. And worship is not about me. (Now, as a sidebar, I believe worship should be excellent, because God deserves our very best, and we ought to use the very best our world and culture have to offer. I'm just not sure we always have the proper end goal in mind...because...)

Worship is first and foremost (and always) about God and the way we honor him...because only God is worthy of our worship...in Spirit and in truth.