Do we have the right...?
An interesting topic came to mind today. I find myself wrestling with it and its really bothering me. I want to throw it out there; out to the world and see what kind of answers I get. Before I do that I want to give my take on it.
So, here it goes. The question is...as Christians, in the context of worship, do we have the right to say, "I don't feel like worshiping". Let me pause for a moment and let you think about that question. Here is some background to me and where I am coming from with this.
I am a pastor and I see that I need to be an example to the congregation. Like most leaders, the people around us will look to us and gage what they should and shouldn't do. Let me put it another way. If we want to have people celebrate, worship / enter in, pray or what ever it may be, then I think that we need to be the first to do those things. I have heard it called, "leading by example".
Now I know that being a pastor changes things a little bit, but 1 Peter 2:9 says, "But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you." (The Message) When I see this verse, I think to myself "well that sucks". Not only am I a pastor, but even if I wasn't God still sees me as a leader. He has set me apart and requires that I live that out. That sucks sometimes.
Well, what if I don't feel like it? Is there a point that you are allowed say, "No. I don't want to worship". I like how Romans 12:1 says it, "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship". (NASB) It seems to me that we don't have a choice. If we are wanting to move and grow in God we have to see that our worship to Him is a requirement of us. This is hard, because sacrifice is always hard. When we get to Heaven that is all we will be doing is worshiping God. Philippians 4:4 says, " Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him!" (The Message) and in the NIV, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
Worship needs to become a major part of our day to day lives. Maybe even to the point that we can't function without it. God has given us the reason we need through Jesus Christ. Through the example of Jesus' life, His death and resurrection we have no reason big enough to hold back in our worship of God. "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified." Isaiah 61:3 (KJV)
This is my little rant. Do we ever have the right to say I don't feel like worshiping? I can't make that call for you. God has saved me. So, my answer is no I don't have the right.
So, here it goes. The question is...as Christians, in the context of worship, do we have the right to say, "I don't feel like worshiping". Let me pause for a moment and let you think about that question. Here is some background to me and where I am coming from with this.
I am a pastor and I see that I need to be an example to the congregation. Like most leaders, the people around us will look to us and gage what they should and shouldn't do. Let me put it another way. If we want to have people celebrate, worship / enter in, pray or what ever it may be, then I think that we need to be the first to do those things. I have heard it called, "leading by example".
Now I know that being a pastor changes things a little bit, but 1 Peter 2:9 says, "But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you." (The Message) When I see this verse, I think to myself "well that sucks". Not only am I a pastor, but even if I wasn't God still sees me as a leader. He has set me apart and requires that I live that out. That sucks sometimes.
Well, what if I don't feel like it? Is there a point that you are allowed say, "No. I don't want to worship". I like how Romans 12:1 says it, "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship". (NASB) It seems to me that we don't have a choice. If we are wanting to move and grow in God we have to see that our worship to Him is a requirement of us. This is hard, because sacrifice is always hard. When we get to Heaven that is all we will be doing is worshiping God. Philippians 4:4 says, " Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him!" (The Message) and in the NIV, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
Worship needs to become a major part of our day to day lives. Maybe even to the point that we can't function without it. God has given us the reason we need through Jesus Christ. Through the example of Jesus' life, His death and resurrection we have no reason big enough to hold back in our worship of God. "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified." Isaiah 61:3 (KJV)
This is my little rant. Do we ever have the right to say I don't feel like worshiping? I can't make that call for you. God has saved me. So, my answer is no I don't have the right.
posted by one1light at 11:41 AM
4 Comments:
Love and Worship are purposeful choices. If we just do it following a whim, that's not really choosing. What kind of worship is that?
Worship is not just singing.I believe it's a mindset, one of gratitude to God and awareness of his love throughout our days. I believe we can worship God throughout our day whether we're digging ditches, wiping runny noses, playing an instrument, helping a neighbour, shopping for groceries, writing a book, or running a marathon. Yes, I believe we have the choice whether or not to worship--God never forces; we always have a choice - but ideally in anything we do, we should present ourselves as a living sacrifice.
It is not the act of worship that I am talking about, but the attitude in which we worship. Not "feeling like it", is this something that, if I'm honest with myself, I have the right to say. When we have a debt do we not pay it back. Jesus payed for our sins that we might live in freedom, but we in alot of ways need to pay him back with rejoicing, worship, and with our lives. Sure we can say no I don't feel like it, but where is the freedom in that?
Interesting discussion. We have mutual friends down the blog chain. We've not met but I know your wife and in-laws.
There are some pressures unique to pastoral ministry but not so much different from being a parent or spouse. The best example you can give is to continously look to God, when your feelings are in it and when they are not. God can handle you not feeling like worshipping and won't think the less of you. In fact He will delight in your sacrifice of you turning to him. He understands us much better than we understand ourselves. He loves us completely.
We always have to deal with the battle of the sinful nature. All of us have substitute focuses that compete with us yielding 100% all the time to God in worship. Our emotions are valuable indicators of what is going on spiritually. Maybe a question to ask is "why don't I feel like it?"
Jesus didn't always like where he found himself but he always looked to the Father.
May you be blessed as you continue to explore and serve.
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