Preferential Worship

A preferred style of worship. Are we entitled to that luxury? No, we are not.

I fell into this entitlement last Sunday as I was a little overwhelmed at the volume of worship at the Sunday service. I've never liked loud music. As I was thinking about the volume of the music and how it didn't align with my preferences, I heard the Holy Spirit loud and clear say to me, "How dare you criticize these worshippers. How dare you question the volume as My people worship as loud as they can." You see, I now live in a city where the worship of Jesus is done by a minority of people. These believers have the audacity to worship Jesus in the loudest way possible, in a city that does not know or honor Him. I stood and marveled at the situation. Here we were, singing loudly for all around the building to hear, praising Jesus with not one hint of timidness or modesty in a non-Christian nation. Why wouldn't we honor him like this? Well, I believe it comes down to the simplest of concepts: things that come easily we take for granted.

Living in America, it is easy to find a church. In the South, they're practically on every corner and to any denominational preference of your liking. Freedom of religion is a privilege we take for granted everyday. Would you worship if it cost you your job? Would you tithe if there was no tax benefit? Would you own a Bible if it could possibly get you thrown into jail? Faith looks a lot different outside the U.S.A. The privilege to worship freely is not taken for granted. It is embraced with each song. I believe all of hell trembles when these believers loudly and boldly praise Jesus in these dark places.

We treat worship as an entitlement, as if it's something for us when we couldn't be any more wrong. "I like the fast songs." "The music was too loud this morning." "This song is old. When are we going to play some newer songs?" Are we going to church to be entertained or to enter in to the eternal worship with all of heaven to praise our King? Isn't he worthy no matter the song?

Friends, let us worship King Jesus with all of our might, volume, and audacity for He is worthy. He is worthy of our praise in America. He is worthy of our praise where He is not known. Let us always be in wonder of the beauty and privilege we have to praise Jesus. It should never be something that becomes familiar or is taken for granted. In the times to come, we may not be so fortunate to praise so freely. Today, treasure your freedom and remember what Christ has done for all of us. It is not to be taken lightly.

"But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved." Hebrews 10:39 NIV

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6 NIV