I was inexplicably a bit uncomfortable in church this morning when a video began playing. It took me a minute or two to realize why. We had just been singing hymns and choruses in worship of God. I was filled with warmth and had begun focusing on the service ahead, anticipating both the adoration of God for an hour and what God might say to me this glorious day. I realized I was in deep need of worship and contemplation. as i watched the video with my heart focused towards worship of God, it slowly dawned on my that what i was watching had nothing to do with God or with worship, but was instead focused on honoring and thanking war veterans (complete with quotes from political leaders, authors, and others). I'm sure my brow began to furrow as the quotes and images scrolled across the screen. As the video wound down, a question popped into my consciousness: Is a worship service an appropriate time to honor war veterans, celebrate America, or offer thanks or praise to anyone other than God? My first thought is an adamant, "No!" But then, I moderate to, "We'll, perhaps, but...."
In the spirit of full disclosure I must admit that I have never been a fan of overdone celebrations of America at church. I have found it terribly inappropriate when churches have posted advertisements in the newspapers and broadcast commercials on the radio promoting fourth of July worship extravaganzas complete with skydiving military professionals, Ferris wheels, pyrotechnics, church sized American flags, military celebrities, military vehicles, and many other overly dramatic appeals to attract non-church goers. My question has been, "and what does that have to do with God?" It seems at best a bait-and-switch ploy to get folks onto church property and at worst an inappropriate mixing of holy and secular, politics and religion, worship of God and worship of human-made idols by celebrating military might and exploits as if they all are blessed and endorsed by God.
Part of my job is planning services of worship for collegians. The team with which I work tries to be conscious of honoring God in all that we do during each service. As the minister who overseas the worship area, I try to be the one who asks the annoying questions by bringing up the appropriateness of elements we are planning. But sometimes the students are the ones who push back, telling me that the music I have suggested or the placement of announcements, videos, or even teaching time is possibly not the most conducive to a worshipful setting. I prefer to mix things up from week to week by altering the placement of the elements of each service. The students however, always want large segments of corporate singing (the part of the service they deem "worship") immediately preceded or followed by teaching. They never want announcements during the service, but at the very beginning or the very end. For them, focus on and worship of God should not been interrupted by more trivial, unrelated matters. Despite my love for textured worship services, I am coming to agree with them. In our crazy-busy, technologically driven, always connected world it is tough to find extended periods where we can direct our attention solely on God. Even the insertion of jokes into a message may serve as a distraction instead of an illumination of the teaching point.
I have come to see that every element of worship should point those gathered towards God. Period.
Please understand, I'm not a prude who has to have "my" worship tradition unchanged. As I mentioned above, I love change; In fact, I need creativity, change, spontaneity, and "new" to be happy and content. That sentiment extends into worship as well. The balance that I have found is to ensure that anything extraneous to actual worship - the honoring, adoration, praise, and thanksgiving to and of God - should be done before or after "worship." The difference should be obvious to all, explained with words or definite transitions. No one should confuse the mundane with the holy. No one should confuse honoring our peers with honoring God through worship. The worship hour should be holy. It is our responsibility to keep it that way. At our student's encouragement during our collegiate worship services we make announcements before worship begins or after it is over. We often honor graduating seniors and students who have made great achievements. But that is always done at the beginning or end of our time together. We try hard not to abuse the hour given to God in worship. It is often hard enough to keep our focus where it should be - on God - without adding built in distractions into the planned service.
Yes, I am proud to be an American. I am thankful for the sacrifices my grandparents, brothers-in-law, nephews, students, and many thousands more people I do not know, have given serving our country in military service. Their service has given us freedom and has helped to keep the freedoms we have. But my first priority, my highest allegiance, and especially times of formal worship, should be focused solely on God and on nothing else! It is appropriate to give thanks to God for our freedoms as well as for those who have served and those who continue to serve. It is appropriate to pray for those who are serving. But worship is not the time to thank them personally or corporately. Worship is about God and only about God.
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