Seven Passions: Intimate Worship

I'm trying recently to keep my mind more focused on Christ, using some of the concepts in George Barna's Revolution as "reference points" of sorts. As much for me as anyone else, I'm going to spend the next seven days briefly discussing each of the seven passions of Revolutionaries from this book. These are what Barna says are "...some of the attributes that made the first Church so attractive and effective," and that, "...you find that the Church was characterized by [these] seven core passions."

As we live the life of a Revolutionary we have to learn to practice Intimate Worship.

Every believer was expected to worship God every day, both in private and in the company of other believers. This did not require a "worship service"; it only necessitated a commitment to feel the awe of God's magnificence, to express gratitude for His love and authority, to acknowledge His control and power, to follow Him with dedication, and to enjoy the miracle of His relationship with us. (p. 22)

Vicki and I have been talking a lot about this one lately because of its function not only in our personal lives but in any small groups that we start. One of the big question marks ? that have been in our minds is what to do with worship in a small group setting...especially when several people are not yet Christ followers. But honestly what we had been considering is how to sing praise songs. While that is obviously one form of worship it does not define worship.

What does define worship is the statement Barna makes: "a commitment to feel the awe of God's magnificence, to express gratitude...to acknowledge...to follow...to enjoy [Him]". Another way to put it, "Be still and know who I am" (my paraphrase).

So how does this work? As individuals we need to begin to really open our eyes to the presence, the imprints of God around us. We can see Him working in our lives and touching people around us. We can see Him as we wonder at the complexity and beauty of nature. We see and hear Him as we spend time in prayer and reading Scripture. He is all around us. He lives in us. But we (I) fail to live a life or worship because we allow so many other things in our lives block our view of Him and drown out His voice, which generally comes in the form of an intimate whisper.

As a group we need to reconsider what it means to worship. Songs and group prayer are wonderful. But what else is there? Even those two forms lose their edge when that is all we practice...when that is all worship becomes for us. What if the next time we get together we just sit and talk about the mystery, the incredible and undefinable nature of the Living God? What if we talk about how we have seen Him at work in and around us? What if we marvel together?

And what if all of this leads to hearts that are bursting out of our chests because we have reveled in God's presence together, expressed our joy and gratitude for His love and authority together, acknowledged His power and control together, and dedicated ourselves together to following Him more closely and enjoying the miraculous relationship we have with Him because of Jesus. That is intimate worship!!