If I were to give a burnt offering
You would not be pleased
The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit…”
— Psalm 51:16-17
Not too long ago, we put a statement up on our church sign: “God doesn’t care what you wear — Come join us for worship.” It reminded me of the old “disco shirt” I had as a teenager. It was synthetic, shiny and silver, but somehow permissible to wear to church back in the late ‘70s. The church members were polite—not only did they not throw me out of the worship service, they didn’t even laugh.
Being Lutheran is dangerous in this day and age, for two reasons. First, because we go against the flow. I remember a family that visited one Sunday morning. They couldn’t believe I was wearing a robe to lead the service. “You guys are like Catholics, right?” They just couldn’t figure out what was happening in a worship service that was so different from what they were used to. Why all the standing and sitting, why the written out prayers and repetitive hymns, what were all those readings about, why all the big deal about a little cracker and a shot glass of wine?
Talking with one of our young members about growing up in church, going through Sunday school, confirmation and youth group, she told me it took a long time before she was comfortable telling her friends how important church was to her, and how much she loved going. We’re a little different, and we know it.
The other danger is that we start turning into our own worst enemy. Jesus was a reformer who came to bring people back to God. The chief priests, scribes and Pharisees were telling the people that there were certain rules they had to follow, certain things they had to do to please God. In Martin Luther’s day it was the Roman Catholic church leaders who were telling people what God wanted from them. Trouble was, just like the scribes and Pharisees, they were mistaken. It’s an easy mistake to make. It’s easy to assume that we know what God wants from us — we might think it’s wearing certain clothes, saying certain prayers, following certain rituals. Often times we believe that the way we were taught growing up is the only way it can be, or at least the way it should be.
But when we open up the Scriptures, God, as usual, surprises us. David is the only person the Bible calls “a man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22). We know he made some big mistakes, particularly after he became king, but afterwards he always repented and came back to God. We also know he had amazing faith and love for God. When the ark of God was brought to Jerusalem, David was so delighted that he danced at the head of the parade of priests, not even in a sparkly disco shirt but totally naked. There is no sign that this offended God, though his wife (one of them) was mortified (2 Samuel 6:20). If he tried to do this during one of our choir processions, I’m sure someone would call 911 (it might be me!).
Earlier in his career, David and his men were on the run from King Saul and entered the holy sanctuary at Nob. With no other provisions for them to eat, David and his men were given — not just bread, but the holy bread that was used for the sacrifices — to eat. One time Jesus was accused of breaking the rules and plucking grain on the Sabbath, he referred back to what David did in the sanctuary and told his critics, “The Sabbath was made for people, not the other way around.” (Mark 2:27).
In other words, our traditions, rituals, and ministries are tools that God has given us to accomplish the things that really please and honor Him. What pleases and honors him? Sometimes we get confused and mistake what pleases God for what pleases us. It’s not our rituals or sacrifices, we are told, but our faith in God and our love for each other (Mark 12:30-31). That’s what pleases God. Only when worship is done in faith and love does it give God glory and honor. I’m not going to suggest we break out the communion wafers for our next snack break, but we should remember that our church building, our worship service, our candles and robes, our altar, traditions and rituals are gifts from God to help us and others connect with Him. They are not God, not objects to worship. They are not Christ, they do not save us — but they are there to help us find Him, and to help us lead others to Him. Keeping first in our minds the purpose behind what we do, it’s easier to keep first in our hearts the God we do it all for.
Peace,
Pastor Scott
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