“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:28-29 ESV).
Worship isn’t a service you attend, but one that you offer; not somewhere you go, but something you do. Christians do not gather on Sunday mornings to be a passive audience for a performance by the most talented members: we gather to personally worship God with gratitude, reverence, and awe.
And what is that if not emotion? Sometimes we overcompensate for American churchgoers’ consumeristic tendencies by acting as though our feelings have no place in worship – but that’s wrong. The great commandment of Scripture is for us to love God with all that we are: heart, soul, and might (cf. Deut. 6:5). Placed right in the heart of our Bibles is a God-breathed songbook that meets us in whatever emotional state we are in and invites us to bring it to Him in worship. He deserves it, too. How could you not smile when you remember all the good God has done for you? What could you do except weep as you remember all the painful moments through which He stood by your side? Worship, done right, transports us. We are invited through a door into heaven! No matter where we are or what we are going through, we get to experience God’s presence now.
At the Georgetown Church of Christ…we haven’t mastered this yet. But we’re learning. Since 2018, we have learned new songs – All to Us, Oceans, Join the Song, Shield About Me, O Praise the Name (Anastasis), Goodness of God, and many more – that stir our hearts with words lifted right out of Scripture. We’ve rediscovered hymns with timeless power – like Be Thou My Vision and Jesus, Rose of Sharon – as we practice submitting to one another out of our reverence for Christ (cf. Eph. 5:21). Then God sent us musicianary Keith Lancaster to lead us through a Praise and Harmony Songfest weekend. Not only was an all-time record set of 173 people worshipping in our building at one time, but it stirred us to strive for 100% participation and worship that seamlessly flows with celebratory energy.
And who exudes that energy better than our children? Much like the children in the temple cried out praising Jesus upon His triumphant arrival, our aim has not been to separate or distract our children on Sundays but to integrate and engage them (cf. Matt. 21:15-16). Our Primary Praise class helped us to make great strides with that, teaching our elementary school age students the fundamentals of singing and instilling a heart that wants to praise God in our assemblies – not to mention in our homes, beaches, nursing homes, and even parking lots, as our different events provided the opportunity.
This is what God has done. This is the unshakable kingdom we can and should be so thankful to receive. To God be the glory. Praise God.
