True worship liberates!

My attention was attracted this week by an article entitled "The Effects of Liberating Worship: 'Here I Am. Send Me!' with a link to a Pedrito Maynard-Reid's closing presentation at the 2013 Andrews University Music and Worship Conference.  I just had to listen, because it resonated with what I always want to communicate with churches I serve – the reason we come to worship is that the Word of God would move us into mission.  We come to worship to be reminded that our mission is to bring others to worship God.

Our worship is not about us, but about God.  We do not worship our accomplishments but the Great God who blesses us.  We do not celebrate our inclusiveness, but the God of Love who is welcoming to all.  We do not showcase our talents, but offer our best praise to the Awesome God.

Isaiah 6 has been the model for liturgy.  It starts with adoration of God, moves into confession and admission of our sins and need for God, followed by receiving forgiveness “your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” The ancient Hebrew concept/word for message/oracle was same as “burden.”   To have an oracle, was to have a burden (Malachi 1:1).  When a person is burdened by sin, guilt, doubt, blame – one cannot bear God’s burden, cannot hear God’s oracle!  That’s why first sins are to be forgiven, and liberation from guilt and doubt is to be received. This liberation from guilt prepares worshippers to hear the proclamation of the Word.  Do you hear the Word of God in worship, or are you plagued by your guilt, doubts, anxiety, worries?

When we receive the Word, unhindered by our burdens, then it produces the dedication “Here am I, send me!”  Isaiah’s  vision is a descriptive paradigm of all worship.  Notice that success of church worship is not the responsibility of the pastor, or the praise leader, or the prayer leader.  These have all their role and place.  Our praise and music leads all participants to focus on God, to adore God’s majesty and greatness, to see the true God enthroned.  Our Praise time has to move your attention from the world to the heavenly Sanctuary where angels bow down.  You!  Join the praise!  Adore the Lord God Almighty with all your being, your heart, mind and strength!

Our prayer leaders invite you to confess, to lay down your burdens, to receive forgiveness and freedom.  Pour your heart in prayer, let the Holy Spirit search your inner thoughts and let go of all entanglements.  Be free!  Receive by faith God’s forgiveness and justification.

The preacher delivers the word for you!  Hear the word!  Pay attention! So the Spirit can move you into mission.  At every ordination service we sing “So send I you!”  Here’s the question I want you to ponder “Send where and for what?”  Do we know where and for what we are sent?  I’ve heart from some of you, and had seen some responding in prayer of recommitment after the sermon.  Many have felt and responded to the appeal of change. Yet, not many are on the personal mission. 

When you leave the time of corporate worship, are you engaged in the mission?  Has today’s worship moved you to respond “Here I am, send me?”  Thing about your mission as a response to today’s worship!