Have you ever visited a church in which you are not
familiar with their form of worship? People stand up, then they sit down, they
stand up, they sit down, up, down, up, down, what’s going on here? Is it an
aerobics class or a worship service?
There are many styles of worship to be found in various gatherings of
believers. There is informal and formal
and everything in between. Personally I love them all. I love the freedom of
the informal style and at the same time I love the tried and true style of the set
patterns of the liturgical church, where every reading, every set response, and
every movement has a divine purpose behind it.
The trick is to understand the purpose. I would
suggest that if you belong to a church where liturgical style of worship is
utilized, do a little digging and find out what each part of the service means
and why it is included. It will make your worship more meaningful.
Today, let’s talk about one such custom. Why do some churches
have the congregation rise when the Word of God is read? I suppose there are
more than one reason for this custom, but perhaps it began when Ezra read from
the Word of God in the Book of Nehemiah.
Ne 8:5 And Ezra opened the book in the
sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he
opened it, all the people stood up. 6
And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. Then all the people answered,
"Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their
heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
Ezra is on a
raised platform and before he begins to read, all the people stand up to honor
the Word of God! The reading of the Word of God is a worshipful moment! The
people respond with “Amen! Amen!” Which means, “Yea yea so shall it be!” As
they lift their hands up in the universal sign of surrender, and bow their
hands in honor to God and His Word.
The typical liturgy also has a time of confession,
where the congregation acknowledges that they are sinners. The people of
Nehemiah’s day were broken as the Law was proclaimed: “For all the people
wept when they heard the words of the Law.” (Neh 8:9)
This confession is always accompanied by words of
absolution. ( A declaration of the gospel of forgiveness through the grace and
mercy of God.) They rejoiced greatly because they understood the words that
were declared to them. (Neh 8:12)
The joy of knowing that even though you have broken
the Laws of God, God in His mercy and grace, has forgiven you through faith in
the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. This joy of the Christian is
his strength! And it is with joy that the Christian leaves the worship service
and continues celebrating the Sabbath!
Ne 8:10 Then he said to them, "Go
your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom
nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the
joy of the LORD is your strength."
I think this last part is key! Whether you worship
style is formal or informal, you ought to be leaving the building with a smile
on your heart. Sometime during the worship service, you should’ve been reminded
that you are a sinner, and sometime during the worship service the forgiveness
of God through faith in Jesus ought to have been DECLARED to you. (Formally or
informally)
Hey! Jesus loves you! (Formal worship or informal) Tell
your face about it!
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