Does our worship cause us to sin?
December 9, 2005
Connor McRae
In a culture filled with so much noise and meaningless blather, I think Ecclesiastes has much to say to the contemporary Christian worshipper.
Ecclesiastes’ message is that life is an endless circle of ramblings, and is therefore inherently futile. From this theme comes Ecclesiastes 5:1-7, where the Preacher instructs us to “watch our step” when we approach the house of God, and go to listen rather than to offer a “fool’s sacrifice” (vs.1). In verse two, he draws a contrast: God is in heaven, and we are on earth. Therefore, he warns, do not be hasty to utter anything before God. Verses four to six are a warning against making vows to God; it is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. He uses a negative example of a worshipper who breaks a vow and says, “My vow was a mistake,” when it is time to account for his vow (vs.6). The conclusion, stated in verses three and seven, is that many words and much dreaming is meaningless. Out of these dreams and words come vows made in vain. “Therefore,” he writes, “fear God.” Amidst the vanity that occurs, there is meaning in the fear of God.
Too easily, we fill our churches with endless babble. We prove that it’s babble by our own actions. Vows and oaths are anything we utter before God in worship that requires follow-up action on our part. So many songs in contemporary worship are filled with vows that we send up to God. Here are some examples: “Jesus, all for Jesus;” “Never looking to another way / You alone will be my passion.” How can we utter these words before God, who is a consuming fire (Deut. 4:24)? We didn’t pen these songs out of a deep-seated transformation, out of blood, sweat, and tears. For so many of us, these aren’t our words. They don’t belong to us. Yet we go ahead and utter them nonetheless. Why? Because we forget to think. We’re caught up in the hype and emotion that is induced, on command, by our “worship services.” We come into worship, turn on our “worship button,” and then turn it off when we leave. This is the “fool’s sacrifice” Ecclesiastes mentions in 5:1.
Yes, there is mercy. There was mercy for Peter when he disowned Jesus (John 18:27). Yet how many of us go out and weep bitterly when we break a vow, as Peter did (Matt. 26:75)? Many times, we don’t even remember which vow, or slew of vows we just uttered. We use God’s mercy as a scapegoat, a backup plan.
What I suggest is that we take ownership of our worship. Hebrews 10:31 says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” We need to remember that God is a consuming fire. Let us not stand before God and utter anything before him that does not come from a deep transformation within our hearts.
The Church is the Bride of Christ; my intent is not to dishonor her. My intent in this article is not to judge. I merely submit to you my observances in light of Scripture. I do not wish to condemn music, either. Music is a beautiful way to offer worship. My only concern is that we do not trifle with God, as it seems we do regularly. Let our words before God be few and meaningful.
Now you go...
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