Sermon prepared for Messiah Lutheran Church, Auburn WA
Aug. 23, 2009
Pt. 3 of a worship series: "Worship in Spirit and Truth"
Pr. Jon and some of the staff know that preparing for today's message didn't come easy for me. Dealing with the use of contemporary or traditional music, styles of worship, instruments, personal preferences, clapping, what's appropriate or not. I didn't want to stand up here and try to defend different styles of worship against the various claims that people have hurled about being entertainment driven or too ritualistic, or being fluffy or stodgy or self-centered or simplistic or boring or loud.
I've heard it all, not just from members, but from seminary profs and book authors all talking on different ends of this and sure that theirs is the only really true way to worship. And in our adult forums in the fall, we will talk more about these claims by looking at scripture, hymns and songs.
Let me share a story that's been floating around for a number of years that tries to get at this with a bit of humor, called "The Cows Are in the Corn."
An old farmer went to the city one weekend and attended a large church. He came home and his wife asked him how it was.
"Well," said the farmer, "It was good. They did something different, however. They sang praise choruses instead of hymns."
"Praise choruses," said his wife, "What are those?"
"Oh, they're okay. They're sort of like hymns, only different," said the farmer.
"Well, what's the difference?" asked his wife.
The farmer said, "Well it's like this - If I were to say to you: Martha, the cows are in the corn,' well that would be a hymn. If, on the other hand, I were to say to you:
'Martha Martha, Martha,
Oh, Martha, MARTHA, MARTHA,
the cows, the big cows, the brown cows,
the black cows, the white cows, the black and white cows,
the COWS, COWS, COWS
are in the corn,
are in the corn,
are in the corn,
are in the corn,
the CORN, CORN, CORN,
then, if I were to repeat the whole thing two or three times, well that would be a praise chorus."
Coincidentally, the same week, a young businessman from the city who normally attended a church with contemporary-style worship, was in the old farmer's town on business and visited the farmer's small town church. He came home and his wife asked him how it was.
"Well," said the young man, "It was good. They did something different, however. They sang hymns instead of regular songs."
"Hymns," said his wife, "What are those?"
"Oh, they're okay. They're sort of like regular songs, only different," said the young man.
"Well, what's the difference?" asked his wife.
The young man said, "Well it's like this - If I were to say to you, 'Martha, the cows are in the corn,' well, that would be a regular song. If, on the other hand, I were to say to you:
Oh Martha, dear Martha, hear thou my cry.
Inclinest thine ear to the words of my mouth.
Turn thou thy whole wondrous ear by and by
To the righteous, inimitable, glorious truth.
For the way of the animals who can explain,
There in their heads is no shadow of sense.
Hearkenest they in God's sun or his rain
Unless from the mild, tempting corn they are fenced.
Yea those cows in glad bovine, rebellious delight,
have broke free their shackles, their warm pens eschewed.
Then goaded by minions of darkness and night,
they all my mild Chilliwack sweet corn have chewed.
So look to that bright shining day by and by,
where all foul corruptions of earth are reborn.
Where no vicious animal makes my soul cry.
And I no longer see those foul cows in the corn.
then, if I were to do only verses one, three and four and do a key change on the last verse, well that would be a hymn."
Let's talk about this Bible lesson with David dancing in front of the ark. It was a musical procession into Jerusalem, a huge moment when-after a big setback-the ark that held the ten commandments was finally coming to rest. Huge deal. And in his zeal, David the King, took off his royal garments, his commander and chief uniform. Clad only in a very simple priestly garment, the ephod (which may have looked like a long tank top open on the sides and secured at the waist) he did a liturgical dance in front of the ark as they processed into the city.
Some people got into it, joined him in the dance. But when David's wife, Michal, saw her husband, the king, prancing about with that skimpy robe flapping around, she was not impressed. She did not join the dance. She was not led to worship. She was appalled and embarrassed, and she let him know it.
The problem wasn’t that she didn’t get into or understand it. The problem was that she demeaned his worship; she ridiculed and put David down for it. He had to remind her that he wasn't dancing for her. He wasn't dancing for the maids. He was dancing for the Lord ...in an appropriate liturgical setting, wearing appropriate worshipful, meaningful clothes. And if you read the story, it's pretty clear that God blessed David's expression of faith and rejected Michal's worries over self-image and propriety.
Does that mean that next week Pr. Jon and I will prance down the aisle in front of the cross to start worship? Nope. That's what council presidents are for. What this does is to serve as a reminder that it is not our place to judge acts of sincere worship, just because we don't ourselves get into them or understand or see into the hearts of those worshiping. Whether or not we see it, there is reason, rich and deep symbolic meaning and thought going into it. Instead, we should, as best we can and in our own way, be grateful that it's God who is being worshiped, glorified...because that's what connects us as one Body, across many languages, instruments, songs, dances, raised arms, or bowed heads.
With what did Psalm 150 say we should praise God? The trumpet, the lute (which would be the ancient guitar), harp, flutes, loud clashing cymbals, percussion. Tamborines and dancing, strings and wind instruments. Today, that would include pianos and organs, and if they would have had them, they would have used synthesizers and amplifiers. Other psalms add clapping, not as an option, but as a command, "Clap your hands." Other places tell us to "lift your hands in prayer or praise." Paul in his letters encourages us to lift our hands in prayer.
"It’s not appropriate," some say, but it's all right there in the Bible: “Clap, dance, play, sing, lift your hands.” I didn't put it there. When applause given or hands are raised with sincere thanks to God, responding to his grace, his gifts of beauty, grace, song or message they are appropriate and good for the Body.
But no one should feel pressured or coerced in worship. One person I read as I prepared for this gave good advice, and this can include songs, clapping, and any other part of worship. He said that it should not be done or sung just to manipulate emotions or excite the senses... but always in response to God's grace or gifts.
That's how we obey the many, many times we are commanded in scripture to sing a “new song.” Sure we should be learning new songs, but if we are singing in response to this new day, or to God's grace, if our heart is in it, then it is a new song, no matter how old it might be, or how many times we’ve sung it before! Again, as long as it is sincere, as long as it's worship in Spirit and Truth, that is what Christ called true worship, and that will make it new each time.
However, this story of King David and the psalms does not mean that anything goes. We are not a bunch of individuals worshiping God. We are a body, a family gathering, and we worship in ways that—as much as possible—will include and help all of us worship together.
St. Paul in the Bible dealt with this, for instance, when he wrote about talking in tongues. He didn't demean it at all, but he clearly says that, if you're going to talk in tongues in public worship, do it with order, and make sure someone is there to interpret so that all can benefit. So, for every worship setting, we have order, an order that reflects the ancient church order, and from that frame we are called to learn and stretch, through the lessons, sermon and songs.
You cannot judge a person's devotion, the sincerity of her worship by what you see or hear on the outside. Again, it's got something to do with culture, context, upbringing and personality. When it's a bumper crop that year on the farm and Sven says, "Yah, it's fair to middlin'" what's he really saying? He's saying, "YES!! Thank you, Jesus!"
I'm pretty reserved, but growing up, it took me a long time to realize that no matter how serious people looked around me in worship, most of them weren't bored or just going through the motions. They mean it, sincerely.
It doesn't matter if your singing the ancient Kyrie, or "Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord" this is truly happening to any number of people every Sunday: There are people prayerfully asking Christ to come again into their lives, and to come and be a part of this family gathering.
And by Christ we are a family. As a whole and at each Table Gathering. It's important to remember that, and to know that, where appropriate, if it fits the message, or sometimes to include others, even the minority, each family gathering needs to make room, to include things out of love that not everyone appreciates, but will help a few others to connect more deeply with worship and the others around.
Neither Pauline nor I are morning people. And then there came Mac into our lives who steps out of bed with a bounce. There's only one of him, but don't you think love has compelled us to adjust a bit for his sake ...and for ours, and yet he is also learning that his morning cheerfulness has to be contained, framed by our lack of it.
What I'm saying is that, realizing that there is reason or purpose, for the sake of the day’s message, or out of love for a dozen or more others, we might occasionally include contemporary music or instruments in a traditional setting, or a hymn in contemporary. So, out of a sense of grace, peace, trusting that there is purpose, value and inclusion going on here, you can listen and join in as a part and a reminder that we belong, not just to ourselves, but to a world-wide and ancient Body of Christ. For the sake of connection and continuity, let David dance a little.
I have had people inside and outside this congregation tell me, "Well, ya know, Greg, what you really have are two congregations meeting in the same building." I have also had people inside and outside the congregation tell me, "Pastor, even though you've got two worship times and styles, to me, it really feels like one congregation."
Let me say, especially with a third worship style coming up the end of October, you can divide or categorize any group of people many ways according to prefences or needs or age or what have you. But no, we do not: I am one pastor, Jon is one pastor. We have one staff and one council. We are one congregation that seeks to include many in Christ's worship; We are one congregation and a part of the one Body of Christ.
As I get near the end of today's message, I want to read to you the words St. Paul once wrote to the Colossians, the 3RD chapter. Listen carefully, because every turn is loaded with meaning.
Col. 3:12 (NIV) As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
I recently heard a pastor [Mark Hanson, Bishop of the ELCA, closing remarks after a contentious vote] reflecting on this passage I just read to you, and he summed it up by saying: When it's all said and done, we are one, and we are not drawn together by our similarities or by resolving all our differences. We come together at the foot of cross. Humbled and grateful. We are not divided; all one body...we.
Honoring that truth, as we sing this next hymn, let me know and let God know that you have heard today's message by singing with your full voice. Let your heart and mind respond. Make it a new song of praise that unites you to God and to the whole Body of Christ.
