Worship
on the Porch or in the Pew?
[Written for the
Pine Belt Gospel News]
Gregg Strawbridge, Ph.D.
Pastor of All Saints' Presbyterian
Church, Lancaster, PA www.allsaintspresbyterian.com
I recently spoke with a young man who said that his personal prayer and Bible study was really more worshipful than getting all dressed up and coming to church on Sunday. Is real worship more on the porch swing or in the pew? Let me be clear, our personal prayer and Bible study is the an absolute must! But this can never replace our congregational worship. Just for a moment let's pull back the veil of our visible world and look to the invisible. The writer of Hebrews says of the congregation,
Earlier in Hebrews, the writer commands "not forsaking our own assembling together" (Heb 10:24). Read the verses which follow this command and you'll see that there is no more serious sin than forsaking the assembly. We should come to the simple acts of prayer, praise, preaching, communion, and so forth with the full knowledge that God is there -- and not only God but "myriads of angels," "the general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven" and "the spirits of righteous men made perfect." If we really thought about that on Sunday morning, wouldn't that change the way we sing and pray and listen? Isaac Watts said it so well,
HOW SWEET AND AWFUL IS THE PLACE WITH CHRIST WITHIN
THE DOORS,
WHILE EVERLASTING LOVE DISPLAYS THE CHOICEST
OF HER STORES.
WHILE ALL OUR HEARTS AND ALL OUR SONGS JOIN TO
ADMIRE THE FEAST,
EACH OF US CRY, WITH THANKFUL TONGUES, LORD,
WHY WAS I A GUEST?
WE LONG TO SEE THY CHURCHES FULL, THAT ALL THE
CHOSEN RACE
MAY, WITH ONE VOICE AND HEART AND SOUL, SING
THY REDEEMING GRACE.