This past Sunday I had the interesting experience of attending two different worship services in the morning. One of them was in the church we had attended for over 20 years but no longer attend, and the other was in the church we have been attending since.
It was a dramatic shift in church for us, moving from a small church struggling with growth barriers to a large church struggling with space issues. We went from a church where 150 would be a full house to a church where 1,500 is the average attendance at a service. We moved from a church with limited leadership resources to one with an over-abundance of gifted people. We left a church where “involved” was our middle name to a church where we don’t need to be involved at all if we chose.
I attended the old church to support my daughter and our friend. They were still involved in the girl’s ministry there and their girls group, GEMS, was participating in the service. I had not been back since we left at the end of the year except to attend a mid-week funeral. I did not feel out of place; this is, after all, still my church. Many people came up and welcomed me, let me know they missed me, asked when we were coming back. There were lots of hugs and lots of handshakes. I felt that warm sense of family that we initially felt when we began to attend this church.
I sat with one of my friends during the service. It was a typical worship service, following the order of worship carefully. The Pastor gave a good sermon, not very emotional, but carefully following the text. The girls sang well but definitely were reflecting the quiet mood of the crowd. Afterwards I hugged my daughter and her friend, chatted with another old buddy then drove home to pick up my wife and son and head to the other church.
We got to the other church early enough to find seats on the main floor. No one hugged me, only the usher shook my hand. People were friendly but not beyond your normal friendliness. Then the worship began and led us in powerful ways into the presence of God. The music was solid and contemporary and meaningful, led by gifted musicians giving their best to God. The worship leader could feel the flow and let the music and spiritual mood continue a little longer. Prayer time there was emotional and moving. By the time we got to the message we felt like the doors of our hearts had heard Christ knocking and had been opened to him. We left the church with almost no one speaking to us personally.
I reflect on those two services and I ask myself; which was more meaningful worship? Both are valid forms and styles of worship, both have the potential to be meaningful, but which was more meaningful to me? That led me to another question; what am I truly looking for when I go to church? I loved being hugged and welcomed but the worship left me flat and uninspired. I loved being lifted up in powerful spiritual emotions but it would be nice for someone to recognize us; we have been going here consistently for 4 months.
Which brings me to this understanding; Rick Warren was right, it’s not about me. It’s about God. God was glorified that morning in the small, family church that morning. And God was glorified in the large church, too. Too often we define worship as good or bad based on whether we liked or disliked the service. We need to redefine our definition; what did God think of the worship service? Was it done to his glory? Did people bring the best of what they had to worship Him? Was there evidence of the Spirit in worship? Did it stir up a deep longing in your soul for the imminent return of Christ and fuel the desire to stand in worship for all eternity?
The question isn’t one of style, it’s one of substance.
