Who Is the Superior In Worship: God or Me?

Imagine being in your assembly's gathering place for a typical worship meeting. As things progress, what is happening?  What is the expectation for decorum?  Is practiced liturgy in keeping with stated polity?  Now that you have a mental picture, ask yourself this: To whom is the attention given and why?  The average person in the pew would likely answer this last question as all being given to God because he is the only one worthy.  While this is a correct answer, it too often reflects the practice of the church as worded but not as enacted.  One can readily look at a worship meeting and ascertain that though the stated purpose of the gathering is to exalt the Lord, everything happening between beginning and end are geared toward the preacher, musician(s), or pew-sitter.  Message, music, and mood are set for the greatest interest of people, not God Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and Jesus Christ, his son, who died and rose for humanity's sin.

Let's examine more closely one facet I want to accentuate.  When we come together to worship and are going about the customary acts with like-minded believers, what are we seeking to convey concerning God?  Is what we do a response to his awesome glory and might, or are we instead seeking to somehow build up the Lord, lifting him up so that he is in some manner more worthy or glorious by virtue of our participation?  The latter attitude has become the modern norm against which Arnobius taught as he considered similar conduct of pagan worship:

But all this conceding and ascribing of honor about which we are speaking are met with among men alone, whom their natural weakness and love of standing higher teaches to delight in arrogance, and in being preferred above others.  But, I ask, where is there room for honor among the gods, or what greater exaltation is found to be given to them by piling up sacrifices?  Do they become more venerable, more powerful, when cattle are sacrificed to them?  Is there anything added to them from this?  Or do they begin to be more truly gods, their divinity being increased?  And yet I consider it almost an insult, nay, an insult altogether, when it is said that a god is honored by a man, and exalted by the offering of some gift.  For if honor increases and augments the grandeur of him to whom it is given, it follows that a deity becomes greater by means of the man from whom he has received the gift, and the honor conferred on him; and thus the matter is brought to this issue, that the god who is exalted by human honors is the inferior, while, on the other hand, the man who increases the power of a deity is his superior.

The Case against the Pagans, Book VII, cap. 14

He points out that “mutual admiration societies” are common among humans but unnecessary in regard to deities.  Men dole out honor for good performance and encouragement with the hope of return.  If gods are indeed made more stately, honored or revered by the worshiper's act, then the worshiper must be considered the superior in the relationship.  As the writer of Hebrews relates Melchizedek's blessing of Abraham: “It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.” (Heb 7:7)

The question may be raised about the following example from Psalm 103:

Bless the LORD, O my soul,

and all that is within me,

bless his holy name!

Isn't David calling for man to bless God, exalting himself above his maker?  In this and other cases, a blessing is being given in response to what the superior has bestowed on the inferior, as noted by the subsequent verses:

Bless the LORD, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits,

who forgives all your iniquity,

who heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit,

who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

who satisfies you with good

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

David calls for returning the blessing that was first received.  These and other acts of divine unmerited favor are recounted as suitable offerings of praise.

We see that the biblical response runs counter to the model espoused by the pagan worshipers.  Kings, psalmists, prophets, and apostles bowed in abject humility before the Lord of glory realizing the they had nothing that could in any way add to the awesome splendor and grandeur of a holy, majestic God.  These words and actions demonstrated an understanding of the Creator-Creation relationship—not one of reciprocation but of complete dependence.  Today's assemblies need to follow the same example by setting aside any mission/purpose statements, programs, and practices that detract from God and his word.

How do we know if these things detract?  Do a self-appraisal.

What is the purpose of the teaching?  An eloquent speaker does not make a faithful teacher.  This past Sunday we had a guest preacher who was somewhat dry in delivery but solid in content.*  Which is more prized in your gatherings?

What is the content of the teaching?  Practical application can be good and useful, but when application becomes the thesis, biblical context becomes lost.  Contextual, expository teaching retains context and puts application in its proper place.

Who is the subject of the teaching and music?  More times than not, when I point out portions of a song or message are unbiblical because it dwells on me rather than the Lord, people look at me like I belong in a carnival sideshow.  Christ said that scripture points to him.  If all things are "from him and through him and to him" (Rom 11:26), should not the subject of the presentation be about him and not me?

What ambience is being manufactured for the gathering?  A gathering's program of events will be governed by formal or informal liturgical traditions.†  Who or what is receiving the prominent place during the gathering: Is it the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, the participants, or perhaps those who are just sitting in the pews?  Is this a performance directed to an audience, or a time for God's glorification?

What are the assembly's plan for the future?  A plan may or may not have an immediate affect on the gatherings, but certainly changes will be made to align with short-term and long-term goals.  Are those plans to exalt Christ or "make a name for ourselves?"  (Gen 11:4)  What is at the root?  How is the plan being demonstrated in the worship?


These are but a few ideas.  More could be asked.  These factors need to be appraised regularly.  Error creeps in slowly, and correction is painful.  In the end, God must be exalted as the only one worthy to receive it.  As obvious as this statement seems, many church groups state that God is prominent but in effect receives little more than a sidebar mention in the overall meeting.

How is your local church doing?



* The message was on judgment using the Christ's separation of the sheep and goats (Matt 25:31-46) as the text.  It has been several years since I last heard a sermon on this theme—long overdue.

† All regular church gatherings have a liturgy of some sort.  Those who adamantly state they have none will quickly reprimand any who might dare change the normal course of events.  Just try it once.