Pretend Worship

After preaching for 43 years, it took some time to become accustomed to sitting in the pews.  What afflicted me at first was a certainty that all the good preachers had retired with me.  Next came a serious case of "there is a better way of doing everything."  One of the things I learned during those years is that it is hard to really worship with the people of God when you are infected with a critical and judgmental spirit.  Every now and again that spirit shows itself when I settle in my place in the pew, but it is mostly gone now except as a memory.    

We do need to be careful what we take to worship.  Jesus points this out to us in one of His Sermon on the Mount teachings.  "So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift."  (Matthew 5:23-24). The prophet Amos spoke of how displeased God is when we come to worship focusing on the external acts of worship without looking at our hearts.  "let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."  (Amos 5:21-24).  

As we hear the prophetic words of Amos, we must remember that righteousness is not some super spiritual condition, but instead is a word that speaks of being in a right relationship with God and those around us.  I remember from one of my churches two men had such ill will toward each other that they would not come to the table together for Holy Communion.  With that in their hearts, I often wondered why they came at all.  What we bring with us to worship is important.  It may be the difference between worship that is acceptable and pleasing to God and pretend worship.