TALKING ABOUT SIN IN A WORSHIP SERVICE
Dear Friends,
People like having positive experiences. Surely we should organize our worship services so that people will have positive experiences. In fact, making the whole worship service more positive will probably lead to growth. It is better to think of a church service as a "worship service" rather than a "church service," because it helps you see the need to create a positive experience. Nothing sucks the positive out of a room more than mentioning sin. All it does is create tension and drive away the very people you want to reach. This my friends, is the "positive worship quest."
Over the years I have read articles or talked to people who have said things along this line. It is easy to think this way. Should we? Should you? A couple of thoughts.
First, the positive worship quest advice is usually not consistent. What do I mean by this? If during the worship service you are exhorted to oppose and speak out against "racism" or "exclusion" or "climate change deniers" this will probably be seen as creating a positive atmosphere. In other words, to get on a culturally popular "bandwagon," is seen as being positive, even if it means saying that some things are sinful. This means that you have to take the "positive worship quest" with some scepticism. The unstated issue, for the "positive worship quest," is that you should never talk about any sin that the culture does not view as sin. However, if you always agree with your culture about right and wrong, even when the culture says things clearly opposed to what Jesus taught, then how are you still being Christian? Before I move on, let me be clear. The Bible is resolutely opposed to racism. In fact, I think it is only orthodox, biblical Christianity which completely, consistently, coherently and deeply opposes racism.
Second, what if sin (as made clear by the Bible) is real and dangerous? Imagine there are two doctors in town. One gives you a check up and always tells you news that will make you happy. The other gives you a check up and then gives you an accurate diagnosis even if it makes you sad. A simple example; the first doctor discovers that you have second stage liver cancer, but he does not tell you this because it will make you worried and sad. He says positive things instead. The second doctor tells you about the cancer, even though it makes you worried and sad. She does this so that you can begin treatment, and hopefully, beat the cancer. In this scenario, the first doctor might be more popular at first, but after a while, almost everyone will go to the second doctor. Cancer is real and can really kill. The way the positive worship quest is often expressed, in effect, means that sin is not real and dangerous. It encourages churches to be like the first doctor. By the way, I am not saying that in the long run churches that speak about biblical sin will be bigger than churches that pursue the "positive worship quest." I am saying that Jesus did warn you about the reality and danger of sin, so you need to be prepared to speak of sin, even if it makes some people worried and sad.
Third, true worship is not a mere human product. The "positive worship quest" often owes more to the psychology of political rallies, concerts, and entertainment than to what the Bible teaches about the human condition and worship. In First Corinthians 15, Paul says that if Jesus Christ has not been truly raised from the dead, then Christians are most to be pitied. In fact, Christians should just say, "Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die." In biblical worship, we come together to be in the presence of the Triune God; to receive from Him; and to respond in a worthy manner. If the Triune God is not sovereignly present in the worship service, then it is a huge waste of time. If we gather together in His presence, we want to hear Him speak. Over time, if, as it should be, the Bible is central to worship, He will speak of many different sins, just as He will speak of His many different promises. We need to be confronted with the whole Gospel in light of the whole Bible, and we need to be confronted with the whole Bible in light of the whole Gospel. The Triune God does not speak as our culture speaks, but He speaks truly, with love and mercy and compassion. He confronts to connect. So the Gospel needs to be at the heart of worship, and clearly proclaimed in worship. Remember, the Triune God takes no delight in the death of a sinner, but rather that you will turn from your sin, to Christ, and live.
Fourth, the desire to have "positive" worship is not all wrong. I have been in a church service where the hymns were sung at glacial speed. I have been in services where the service is led by someone who either seems bored with it all, or thought that being monotonous and monotone is a virtue. I have been in services where the speaker pronounces judgment and damnation with self satisfied, barely concealed glee. I have been in services where people seem to think that having a long and sour face is a sign of holiness. Remember the words of the Psalmist, "You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." 16:11, ESV.
George +