Why Do I Go To Church?
Friday, October 3, 2008
Why Do I Go to Church?, by Sarah Stirman
Newsflash: I don't go to church to worship God.
Oh, I DO worship God when I go, but if MY church were going to be all
about ME and MY best way to worship God, MY church would only have ME
in attendance, and I would be outside somewhere talking with and
worshipping God. I have had the privilege and responsibility of being
in on some discussion about "worship planning" recently. I finally told
the group: "Not gonna happen -- you will NEVER plan a worship service
that is perfect for me, or anyone else for that matter. I don't worship
best in 'the pink room' (what I call our horribly outdated
auditorium)."
Besides not lovin' the setting for "corporate worship," I'm generally
busy. I interpret services for the deaf. That means I'm HEARING what is
said and sung and prayed, but I can only process it in the part of my
brain that translates it into another language, not the part that
absorbs it and lets it transform me or reflect praise to our Father.
Even when I'm not "working" by interpreting, I'm "feeding" signs to the
person who is interpreting. (The very funny part about our deaf
ministry is that we are positioned in the auditorium where the speakers
shoot the sound over us -- the interpreters can't hear a thing where we
are!) Again, even if being surrounded by hundreds of people were my
"thing" for worship, I'm a little occupied.
But, I do GO to church: I'm one of those
"every-time-the-doors-are-open" kind of people. (I'm also one of those
"last-ones-leaving-because-they're-turning-off-the-lights," but that's
a whole other issue.) Even though I am openly professing to not attend
church for the number one cited reason for attending, I think it is a
crucial part of my faith and "Christian walk." I'm also teaching that
to my children. My children know where we will be "every-time-the
doors-are-open," and they know we don't plan events or things that
would interfere with our attending.
So ... you GO to church, but you don't go to church to worship God?
HUH?
So, why do I go to church?
I actually started thinking about all of this for several reasons.
First, the church where I worship has started making an intentional
difference in our two morning services. The second service is "less
traditional" in nature. And our "more traditional" service is
struggling over some bumps of its own. This, as you might imagine if
you are a regular attender somewhere, has ruffled a few feathers and
created some exciting end-of-the-pew discussion. I have also been
included in some committee discussions regarding planning worship. Our
"corporate worship" time has been on my mind lately.
Someone is unhappy with the song choices ... or song tempo ... or song
leader. Others aren't happy with the screens or temperature or preacher
or what-have-you. And -- true confessions -- I'm right there with them
in many regards. As I mentioned -- you can't plan a perfect worship for
me, especially if there are people involved!
While all of this ha-rumphing was fresh on my mind, I sat down and
encountered notes from a worship conference I attended last summer.
This was on the top page:
Evaluating worship based on doing the right things in the right way
or 'did it make me feel good' is having low expectations. Instead,
evaluate worship on whether or not God showed up. There is NO
worship renewal without expecting to meet the Almighty God. (Randy
Harris)
That quote makes me feel better about not feeling like I am really able
to worship at church. Oh, I feel certain the Almighty God is THERE --
but I am only able to worship Him by serving His people while in "the
assembly," not by chatting with Him and listening to Him. The best part
is, I'm not missing my time with God if I don't get it inside the
church building. The Almighty God shows up to talk to me and walk
beside me on my morning walk. He listens so patiently while I fold the
clothes. He blesses us again and again while I pray over carpool. My
entire life -- SHOULD I CHOOSE TO DO SO -- can be a time of worship,
complete with the presence of the Almighty God. Because He will ALWAYS
show up -- I just have to show up, as well.
And while the songs sung or words said and images displayed at church
may or may not stir my soul, I can still worship because I will be in
the presence of the Almighty God.
May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of
my hands be like the evening sacrifice (Psalm 141:2).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I will be in the presence of the Almighty God.
Newsflash: I don't go to church to worship God.
Oh, I DO worship God when I go, but if MY church were going to be all
about ME and MY best way to worship God, MY church would only have ME
in attendance, and I would be outside somewhere talking with and
worshipping God. I have had the privilege and responsibility of being
in on some discussion about "worship planning" recently. I finally told
the group: "Not gonna happen -- you will NEVER plan a worship service
that is perfect for me, or anyone else for that matter. I don't worship
best in 'the pink room' (what I call our horribly outdated
auditorium)."
Besides not lovin' the setting for "corporate worship," I'm generally
busy. I interpret services for the deaf. That means I'm HEARING what is
said and sung and prayed, but I can only process it in the part of my
brain that translates it into another language, not the part that
absorbs it and lets it transform me or reflect praise to our Father.
Even when I'm not "working" by interpreting, I'm "feeding" signs to the
person who is interpreting. (The very funny part about our deaf
ministry is that we are positioned in the auditorium where the speakers
shoot the sound over us -- the interpreters can't hear a thing where we
are!) Again, even if being surrounded by hundreds of people were my
"thing" for worship, I'm a little occupied.
But, I do GO to church: I'm one of those
"every-time-the-doors-are-open" kind of people. (I'm also one of those
"last-ones-leaving-because-they're-turning-off-the-lights," but that's
a whole other issue.) Even though I am openly professing to not attend
church for the number one cited reason for attending, I think it is a
crucial part of my faith and "Christian walk." I'm also teaching that
to my children. My children know where we will be "every-time-the
doors-are-open," and they know we don't plan events or things that
would interfere with our attending.
So ... you GO to church, but you don't go to church to worship God?
HUH?
So, why do I go to church?
I actually started thinking about all of this for several reasons.
First, the church where I worship has started making an intentional
difference in our two morning services. The second service is "less
traditional" in nature. And our "more traditional" service is
struggling over some bumps of its own. This, as you might imagine if
you are a regular attender somewhere, has ruffled a few feathers and
created some exciting end-of-the-pew discussion. I have also been
included in some committee discussions regarding planning worship. Our
"corporate worship" time has been on my mind lately.
Someone is unhappy with the song choices ... or song tempo ... or song
leader. Others aren't happy with the screens or temperature or preacher
or what-have-you. And -- true confessions -- I'm right there with them
in many regards. As I mentioned -- you can't plan a perfect worship for
me, especially if there are people involved!
While all of this ha-rumphing was fresh on my mind, I sat down and
encountered notes from a worship conference I attended last summer.
This was on the top page:
Evaluating worship based on doing the right things in the right way
or 'did it make me feel good' is having low expectations. Instead,
evaluate worship on whether or not God showed up. There is NO
worship renewal without expecting to meet the Almighty God. (Randy
Harris)
That quote makes me feel better about not feeling like I am really able
to worship at church. Oh, I feel certain the Almighty God is THERE --
but I am only able to worship Him by serving His people while in "the
assembly," not by chatting with Him and listening to Him. The best part
is, I'm not missing my time with God if I don't get it inside the
church building. The Almighty God shows up to talk to me and walk
beside me on my morning walk. He listens so patiently while I fold the
clothes. He blesses us again and again while I pray over carpool. My
entire life -- SHOULD I CHOOSE TO DO SO -- can be a time of worship,
complete with the presence of the Almighty God. Because He will ALWAYS
show up -- I just have to show up, as well.
And while the songs sung or words said and images displayed at church
may or may not stir my soul, I can still worship because I will be in
the presence of the Almighty God.
May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of
my hands be like the evening sacrifice (Psalm 141:2).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I will be in the presence of the Almighty God.
