“Preacher, is this a trick question?” Well, maybe a little, but it does present us with a good place to begin a conversation about how we should feel after we have come together to worship. Should we “enjoy” the worship? Or just “endure” it because we “have to” be here? What does the Bible say about that?
First, “enjoy” needs to be defined, and Webster does so in these terms: To find pleasure in; to have a pleasurable experience.
It is not uncommon for those with little experience as a Christian to expect something from worship that was never intended by God. They may want to have a mountaintop experience from every song, every prayer – even every sermon. If they find themselves not as “thrilled” as they hoped, they may be greatly disappointed.
Many things enter into our response to our worship of God, however. Some worship in the midst of stress or physical pain. Perhaps they argued with a family member before they arrived for worship, or they may be facing financial or family troubles. It is hard to be “thrilled” under such circumstances.
Also, some many expect that which God never promised. Merely mouthing the words to a song, or bowing one’s head in prayer is not magic. The heart must be attuned to what is said or what is taking place. If my mind wanders during the Lord’s Supper I may not be “discerning the Lord’s body,” 1 Corinthians 11:29.
It is not unusual today for some to embrace the notion that worship should entertain us, that we will “enjoy” it as we might a movie or a concert. Religious groups often advertise that those who come to their assembly will “enjoy” themselves. The orchestra, the choir will make a “pleasurable experience”. Is entertainment what God has authorized in worship?
Unless you enjoy seeing lambs being slaughtered you would not have called it “entertainment” in Moses’ day. Nor was it in the early church. Worship was – and still should be – a time for God’s people to praise Him and be edified by His presence and by the encouragement from fellowship with others of “like precious faith,” Ephesians 5:19-20, 2 Peter 1:1, Colossians 3:16. When we discover what the Bible says we realize that God must be the object of our “worship”, not ourselves.
Therefore, what we expect to experience in worship may keep us from what God intends. But does that mean there is no “joy” in our worship? Of course not! There is more to the word “enjoy”, and looking at the rest of a definition we find there is more to it than just “have a pleasurable experience.” Webster again on the word “enjoy”: “To benefit from a desirable condition or situation; to receive the full benefit of something.”
From this part of the definition, our worship should bring us to “enjoy” it in the way God intended. Yes, we “benefit” from the opportunity of coming before the throne of our God, to speak to Him, to praise Him, to pour out our hearts’ desires and needs to Him. And, knowing He loves us and wants the very best for us, our worship gives us the full benefit of our relationship with God.
Yes, we should “enjoy” our time of worship, our time when we assemble together. Paul said it is a means by which we “consider one another”, extend our love to one another, and doing so by “not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together,” Hebrews 10:24-25.
I find myself favoring some songs over others because of their melody or the music itself. How much more beneficial it would be to me if I paid at least equal attention to the lesson within the song. The same can apply to a sermon, prayer, even the beauty of our surroundings.
Jesus’ statement in John 4:24 is the linchpin for our worship: “…in spirit and in truth.”
That includes our spirit/attitude, along with our respect for the truth revealed in God’s Word. It will never be enough to worship with sincerity if we ignore what God’s truth says our worship should be, 1 Samuel 15:22-23. On the other hand, it has never been enough to worship in exactly the mode God prescribes if our heart is not in it.
Should we enjoy our time together? Of course we should, for we are brothers and sisters together God’s family. Will our worship always be a mountaintop experience? Perhaps not, depending on other factors. Regardless, we will be better for having respected and given homage to Him. Let’s be full of joy in worship.
