Here's an interesting piece from a comment my mom left on a previous post about emerging worship:

"...Does anyone minister TO God these days?"

Whoa - does that hit anybody as hard as it hit me? Have we become a church that is more known for the quality of our music, funny preachers and the desire for "more numbers" than with the amazing Being that we are in communion with?

In the times of the Israelites, there was a whole tribe from that nation whose duty it was to minister to God - the Levites - the priests of God. Not that others didn't minister to the Lord - in fact, they were all called to be set aside as God's chosen people - but an entire tribe of people whose job it was to worship God! How great is that? And even better, WE are called to be set apart and be that holy priesthood for God's pleasure (1 Peter 2:9)

So where do we fall down on that? Well, for one, we too often measure success the same way that the world does, but we are called to be set apart and not of this world - not holding tightly to the same plumb lines that it has, because in the eyes of God, they are not straight. Why do we worry so much about the numbers in our churches? Should we not instead be focused on the growth of our characters, our discipleship and the fruit that is resulting from these things? And while much of that fruit may result in numbers in our congregation increasing, our chasing numbers is starting at the wrong end and somehow expecting that if our numbers increase we're doing something right in the eyes of God. From what I've seen and experienced, I would imagine that when numbers radically increase in a congregation, many times it is because believers are coming from another congregation, instead of new converts being ushered into the Kingdom of God. If your experience has been different, praise the Lord.

I sometimes feel that we as the Christian church are not so dissimilar to ancient Israel in that when God called us and said He'd look after us and lead us, we complained that we "didn't have a King like all the other nations." And to be clear, I'm not ranting against the church - I am part of the church, and as such have been and am just as guilty as anyone - I am rather grieving that we have come so far from what we were intended to be, which is worshippers and proclaimers of God's great name and glory.

We need to get back to seeking God as our guide, and also as the only One truly worthy of our pursuit. We need to remember that God does not work the way the world does - He is far smarter (1 Corinthians 3:19). We need to remember that God does not work the way even we think He should - He's still smarter.....

We really, really need to remember that God is intended to be our focus when we rise each morning and when we speak and when we gather together and even when we breathe. And it is not because we HAVE to, but because HE DESERVES IT - the more of Him we see and know, the more we must realize that He is infinite and we are tiny, only exalted through His own pleasure and power.

Our worship - not just our music, but our devotion, love and obedience - are all a result of the revelation we have had of God. Do you ever feel like you haven't had any revelations of Him? They are everywhere - in this world that He created, in His presence, and most especially in the book that He inspired - the Bible. Seek out His character in those pages. He is AWESOME. Truly, in every sense of that word - He will fill us all with awe.

And then, I pray, when we understand that we have been created BY Him and FOR His pleasure, we will take every ounce of our strength and time to minister TO Him, both in our worship gatherings, and every moment of our lives.

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." (1 Peter 2:9-10)

"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God For it is written, 'He is the One who catches the wise in their craftiness....'" (1 Corinthians 3:19)

"Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created." (Revelation 4:11)