Lauren Sparks

Diaper rash cream is a good thing.  It gives babies, and Shelby, much needed relief in times of irritation.  But used the wrong way, it made my dog very sick.  And this is where I finally explain why I think worship is like diaper rash cream.  God created us to worship.  It is ingrained in us.  Every fiber of our being longs to connect with something or someone higher than ourselves.  This is GREAT in relationship with God.  As grateful believers in Jesus Christ, we are filled, renewed and complete when we “worship the Father in spirit and truth”.  But if we are not worshipping the one true God, we will worship something because it’s a part of our nature.  Josh Riley’s definition of worship that I used early this week says we worship what we value and treasure in life.  I value my relationship with my husband.  I treasure my time with my kids.  I love my job (best part time job ever).  I am grateful for my car, my home, and the computer I’m typing this on.  But if I place any of those things (or anything else) in priority above my relationship with God and what He would have me do, I am worshiping the wrong thing.  And in the long run, it will make me sick.  Heart sick.  Soul sick.  I fear my deepest struggle is in worshiping myself.  No, I don’t sing songs to myself, or pray to myself; but I am guilty time and again of putting my own desires and my own agendas above what God has for me.  And that’s never good.

In the same way we are meant to worship only God, we are not designed to be worshiped ourselves.  Here is where Justin Beiber comes in.  My daughter Allie’s infatuation with the Beibs, is long over and I am grateful.  Don’t get me wrong, he sings a catchy tune, but his reported behavior of late has been self-distructive, often illegal and narcissistic.  I have heard celebrity apologists state that the fact that he is 19 and has more money than Rockefellar is to blame for his bad behavior.  I think they are missing the point.  This kid has been in the spotlight since he was a pre-teen and he has been worshipped by millions.  Think worship is too strong of a word?  You tube a public appearance or concert footage and see if it doesn’t change your mind.  We are not designed to be worshiped and don’t know what to do with it.  No wonder he thinks he is invincible.

I would challenge you to look at what worship means to you and how you have carried it out.  It has been very interesting for me to spend a couple of days on this topic (maybe it hasn’t been for you, but I never said this blog was all for you ;)).  I’ll finish with the words of Jesus – which is definitely a challenge to me, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord Your God and serve Him only.'”

When I started dating my husband, we looked up scripture together on worship, because he comes from a different denominational background. In the Church of Christ, the prevailing belief is that instruments should not be used in worship. This line of thinking comes primarily from the omission of any mention of instruments in the New Testament. Since there really is no direct mention of whether or not we should play instruments when we sing, Chuck and I came to the conclusion both acapella and accompanied singing were valid and biblical forms of worship. However, we decided to join a Church of Christ together because Chuck was not yet comfortable branching out from his roots. And as far as the doctrine of salvation was concerned, my new church home was pretty biblically sound. So for the first 5 years of our marriage, the worship services I attended were acapella. Sometimes it was beautiful. Sometimes not. The thing that really bothered me, though, was that I was aligning myself with a fellowship that believed my parents’ whole ministry (my mom played piano and sang as well) was wrong. Although they never said so, I’m sure it hurt their feelings.

The church we attend now is a far cry from that first one. Big on instruments and modern praise songs. And I love it. I recently heard an opinion from someone I know and from someone I don’t know (blog) stating that we are straying from the core of our faith if we don’t sing primarily hymns in church. Huh?  Why is a song more “spiritual” if it was written 100 years ago as opposed to 3?  I love and appreciate both. I do think there is something to be said for understanding the words you are singing. Some of the old hymn language is so archaic that its hard to follow – and therefore truly worship God. Especially for a new believer. When looking at a church, there are other things more important for me to consider. I’m much more concerned with whether the preaching is biblical than whether there is a spotlight on stage. I’m more curious about what the body is doing to reach the lost and underprivileged than how many instruments are being used. And I’m certainly interested in how Shelby is treated and accommodated. I’m personally so thankful that there are many choices when it comes to worship styles. If you have a preference, there is probably a church who will meet it. Awesome – just as long as we don’t start to feel like our preference is superior and more spiritual that someone else’s. As long as we are singing to Jesus, He is pleased.

Now, enough about music. In my opinion, the most important kind of worship happens outside the church building. It’s EVERYTHING else we do. Josh Riley says, “Worship is everything we think, everything we say, and everything we do, revealing that which we treasure and value most in life.”  So every conscious moment, we are glorifying God, or glorifying ourselves or someone else.  When I take a meal to a sick friend, I am worshipping God because I am doing something that would please Him.  When I take the time to call a friend who is having a rough time instead of tackling my growing to-do list -I’m worshipping the Ultimate Comforter.  When I choose to limit the TV programming I watch, movies I see and music I listen to because of it’s worldly content, I am putting God above myself – worship.  Even setting my alarm (if it’s to get up and go to church) can be an act of worship.  If it is showing God’s importance and authority in my life, it’s worship.  But can we still worship when times are tough?  Habakkuk 3:17-19 says, “Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.  The Lord God is my strength…”  Right now Shelby is struggling through the second day in a row of bad seizure activity.  And as hard as it is to see her suffering, I can praise God and exult in His goodness.  I can thank Him for the strength He gives me to handle these days.  I can pray for His intervention, because He is powerful enough to heal.  God is good – all the time.  I don’t pretend to have it all figured out.  I consider worship to be a Christian “practice”.  Some days, Shelby’s problems – or something else – can send me into a pity party or a selfish spiral.  But I just keep practicing, thankful for God’s forgiveness and striving to have more days that I am worshipping Him and less days I am worshipping myself.  Worship Him however you feel led today.  “Praise the Lord!  Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty expanse.  Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.  Praise Him wtih trumpet sound; praise Him with harp and lyre.  Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.  Praise Him with loud cymbals; praise Him with resounding cymbals.  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord!”  Psalm 150