Dangerous Worship

Can you imagine that worshiping God would ever be a dangerous endeavor? I mean, isn't worship supposed to be comforting, healing, encouraging, and pleasant?

Recently I have been reading a book entitled "Dangerous Worship", written by a Presbyterian pastor in Berkely, California, Mark Labberton. It is a very challenging look at what we call worship in our churches. I have really appreciated his insight into what we might sometimes refer to "dangerous worship" and what really is dangerous worship.

Of course worship should be comforting, encouraging, and full of hope. But if all we want God to do is meet our needs, and make us comfortable, that truly can become dangerous. Dangerous in the sense that we will be guilty of putting God in a box, our box of convenience, and not allowing Him to meet us as He truly is...GOD!

You see, what Pastor Labberton says is really "Dangerous Worship" is encountering God. When we truly encounter God, at times He will comfort us and give us a real sense of peace in His presence, but at other times He will come in a very uncomfortable way.

When God shows for real, we are changed. We normally like the status quo, and like to feel good about ourselves. But when we encounter God it is a meeting of sinful people coming face to face with a holy God. As it says in Isaiah 6:1, Isaiah says, "I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple." Around the throne flew angels, or seraphim, crying out "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!" And the whole place was shaking and filled with smoke (now you know where we get the phrase 'holy smoke!').

At that moment Isaiah responded, "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips (foul mouthed), and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!"

Then one of the angels flew to Isaiah and touched his lips with a burning coal to purify his unclean mouth and said, "Your guilt is gone and your sins have been taken away." Then Isaiah heard the very voice of the Lord Almighty say, "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us? And Isaiah responded, "Here I am Lord. Send me!"

Do you see how dangerous it is when we encounter the true God in our worship. First Isaiah felt like his life was over, "I'm undone!" Sin encountering a holy God is terrifying. When we encounter God we immediately see our own sin, and the incredible holiness of God. We are convicted deeply and know something has to change or we're TOAST!

In that moment of confession and humility, God meets us and cleanses us. Here in this passage an angel comes to "burn out" the sin of his life. In the "age of grace" under Jesus Christ, at that moment of confession and humility we come in contact with the blood of Christ, which washes away our sin and makes us righteous, clean, and holy. And we are now changed, desiring to live a holy, pure, and righteous life in the power of the Holy Spirit. We can suddenly no longer tolerate living in sin. Not that we feel better than other, holier than thou, kind of thinking. NO! instead, we humbly seek after a life that is pleasing to God, and want to encourage others to experience the cleansing that we have found in Christ.

Also, God said to Isaiah, "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?" Isaiah response was immediate, "Me! I'll go in your name. I'll serve you, and live a life that brings glory to your name. I'll point people to you and your glory."

Changed! All of a sudden, when we encounter God in the midst of worship, our whole purpose for living is changed. Not only our character, but our reason for living is changed...FOREVER! We can never go back to our mundane way of life, just living for ourselves and our own pleasure. Instead we are changed into servants of the Almighty God.

You see, true worship, worship of a holy God, can be dangerous. Watch out, or you will be changed! Or maybe I should say, "Go for it! Meet God in worship today, and become all that He has created you to be."

God Bless, and have a great day, week, and year in service to the Lord God Almighty.