Most things in life are a means to some end or server a larger goal. In fact if you just look at something like a house payment, you spend a lot of your day working to accumulate hours in a day, days in a week, at the end of the week a paycheck, at the end of the month a portion of your pay to your house payment, that portion is one of MANY that fulfill the task of buying your house and owning it. All these hours are a means to the end of owning a home. Lot's of things are like that, so it's easy to be in that mode. Worship isn't.
I was reading John Piper this morning and a page just jumped out at me. I'll do my best to paraphrase. John says, worship is not a means. It's THE end goal. We don't have worship on Sundays as an outlet for musicians, we don't worship to make people feel better, it's not to attract larger crowds. We don't worship to raise money or get better or heal relationships. We worship for one simple reason. It's to express our deep satisfaction in the Lord and give Him glory. It's so simple. How about participating in something that is an end goal in itself!
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I see you are a "Worship" Team Leader. You are probably not thinking in this way, but I would just like to make us conscious of what we in the church often mean by the term "worship" and state that I don't think Piper is here restricting himself to that.
ReplyDeleteBy worship we often mean that certain part of a church service attended by musical happenings, whether it be vocal or instrumental. I think Piper here is referring to worship in the broader sense of a heart actively adoring, leaning on, praising, cherishing, trusting, etc. in God.
David
I couldn't agree more. Driving to church, playing ball with your kids, choosing to do the right thing are all acts of worship.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment!
What a great reminder that all I do, think, feel, say should be an act of worship! Thanks Jason.
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