During a recent Sunday School lesson, Brother Greg Byrd posed a comparison between going to the movies and attending church. Although many may see little difference between the two, considering the contrasts helps us focus on what worship is all about.
The first point of divergence arises before either experience begins. To attend a movie, little preparation is necessary in order to have a good time. Most any clothing is acceptable and you only need to arrive, purchase your ticket, grab some popcorn and a drink and enjoy the show.
On the other hand, Christian worship should begin before leaving home. While believers should worship God throughout the week, the opportunity to do so with others should be a highlight that we anticipate and prepare for. We should pray for ourselves and those who will lead, sing, and speak in worship, and we should also consider what type of offering we will make to God. Prior meditation on Scripture prepares our hearts for something much greater than just entertainment.
This underscores the primary difference. God has created us to know and worship Him and we should eagerly look forward to time in His presence with our church family each week. If we don’t miss it when we are absent, we should examine our own heart, for if we truly love our Savior, only extreme circumstances will keep us away.
There’s also a sharp contrast between what happens if we fail to attend either a movie or weekly worship. If I cancel on a movie, the only things diminished will be the theatre owner’s and the movie producer’s incomes. If, however, I cancel on worship, the body is incomplete. Worship can still occur, songs can still be sung, and prayers can still be prayed, but since Jesus’ church is a living organism, it is seriously handicapped because it is missing an entire limb or organ. We fail to realize how Christ sees His Body and how He must hurt when His body parts fail to gather and glorify Him in worship.
The foundational purposes of movies and worship are also entirely different. Although some movies touch us emotionally and may even inspire social action, the primary purpose is still entertainment. Attendees comprise an audience for the actors and actresses to perform for.
Worship, however, is totally different. While many mistake the congregation for the audience and preachers and musicians for actors, this understanding is totally erroneous. When we worship God, each member of the congregation is an actor or actress and God is our audience Whom we should endeavor to glorify and please. Worship leaders are merely prompters to help us in this holy drama. Instead of evaluating the music, sermon, or worship as to how well they suit us, we need to ask how well the attitudes of our hearts, the praises of our lips, and the confession and repentance of our souls all suit Almighty God, for He is the One for Whom they are intended.
This last truth removes worship from the realm of consumerism that infects church worship and attendance. Too often, we ask, “What did I get out of it?” instead of asking, “What did God get out of it?” Whatever we “get out of” most anything will be directly proportional to what we “put into it.” If we spend no time preparing our hearts and minds before the service, and if we do not consciously engage the Holy Spirit as well as our brothers and sisters, chances are very good that we will fail to find worship meaningful. Certainly pastors, musicians, and worship leaders need to prepare and do their parts but we can still worship in spirit and in truth in spite of poor preaching and music.
The next time we attend a movie or a church worship service, let us ponder the many differences between the two and seek to glorify God with our whole beings. Blessings, George