"And How Did You Do?”

I recently heard a story about the late D. James Kennedy, formerly pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Coral Ridge, Florida.  Kennedy was known for his preaching, as evidenced by the long-running television program The Coral Ridge Hour.  One time a parishioner came up to him and said “Dr. Kennedy, you did so well today!”  He turned and quickly replied “And how did you do?”

Oh, to be able to think quickly on one’s feet like that!  For the truth is, many parishioners think that the pastor is simply the number-one performer at the worship service, with God serving as coach and they as judges.  In this way of thinking, worship for most people is passive.  One comes in, sits down for an hour or so, and then leaves, having done very little.  Oh, they do the responsive readings, sing the hymns, stand and sit when required and perhaps listen to the choir and the pastor.  But that’s about it.  In their minds, worship is something to be received and judged, and the quality of worship is determined by whether they were “fed” or “took anything away”.

With one pithy phrase, however, Kennedy turned that view on its head.  For he believed that in worship, the congregation is the number-one performer, the pastor is the coach and God is the judge.  We come to worship not to receive, but to give.  We come to worship to give our praise and glory to God, and to thank Him for who He is and for what He does.  We come to worship to give our confessions of sin to the Lord, recognizing that this is required of all who come before the Lord.  We come to worship to give our tithes and offerings to the Lord in response to all He has given to us.  And we come to worship to give our attention and focus to the reading and interpreting of His Word.   Worship is not passive, friends – it is active.  Each part of the service requires attention, focus and  participation.  We do not sit like bumps on a log while worship flows over us any more than we come to be entertained.  We do not come to receive, but to give.

So, how are you doing in your worship?  When you sing, are you singing to the Lord or are you listening to the person next to you who is a bit flat? (Remember, friends, we’re not singing for anyone but for the Lord, and God likes your voice.  He made it!)  When you pray, are you speaking to God and listening to what He has to say in response, or are you criticizing spelling and grammar mistakes in the bulletin, wondering why so-and-so wore that ugly tie again and complaining that the sanctuary is so cold (or warm) again?  When you put your offering in the plate, are you thanking God for giving so generously to you, or are resenting that you would have to give at all?  When the Scriptures are read, are you eagerly listening to what God has to say to you, or is your mind wandering elsewhere?  When I preach, are you actively engaged, or are you rating my “performance” (or worse yet, falling asleep, whispering to your neighbor – yes, I see you when you do that – doodling on your bulletin or making your week’s shopping list?).  No, I’m not trying to make anyone feel bad, but as “coach”, my job is to help you (“the players”) do your very best, to make worship the very best it could possible be for the Lord, our Judge.  Remember, we come to worship to meet and engage our gracious and loving God, to grow into and live out the good, full and abundant life that He gives through His Spirit.  So . . .  how are you doing?

May God help us all grow and mature in our worship!  May our worship be vigorous, dynamic and robust!  May we eagerly give of ourselves each and every week.  And as always, to Him alone be the glory!

In Christ’s Love,

Joshua

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