Whatever has happened to true...
Illustration
Whatever has happened to true worship? Why is it that we often leave worship more
interested in whether we are having lunch at Bob Evans or Grandmas? Why is it that we
come to worship on Sunday morning expecting to receive rather than to give? We have
our plans for our faith. We have our programs in our churches. We follow the liturgical
lectionary and pick the hymns to match and go through the motions, but whatever
happened to real worship?
Three bears arrived at worship one Sunday and entered the small country church and sat down to enjoy the service. Goldie Locks came to lead the congregation. All was moving along until ...
The first bear said, "The music is too loud." The second bear said, "The music is too soft," and the third bear said, "It's just right!" At which point the person sitting behind them said, "SSSSHHHH!"
A little later in the service during the offering, the first bear said, "This music is too new!" The second bear said, "This music is too old!" and the third bear said, "It's just right!" At which point the person sitting in front of them turned and said, "Do you mind?"
As the service was concluding, the first bear said, "The music is too fast." The second bear said, "The music is too slow." The third bear said, "It's just right" at which point the other two bears turned and scowled at the third bear.
Following worship, the bears approached Goldie Locks to speak to her about the worship service. The first bear said, "The music was too loud, too new, and too fast." The second bear said, "The music was too soft, too old, and too slow." The third bear said, "It's just right."
Goldie Locks looking thoughtfully at them said, "Who do you seek to honor when you come to worship? Worship for me is to honor and glorify God. He is the audience and I am the actor on the stage telling his story. Why do you come to worship?"
The bears walked away and the first bear said, "I think Goldie Locks was too hard on us." The second bear said, "I think she was too easy on us." The third bear said, "I think she was just right." The first two bears frowned.
The next Sunday, the bears were back in worship, with just a little more understanding as to why they were there in the first place.
Three bears arrived at worship one Sunday and entered the small country church and sat down to enjoy the service. Goldie Locks came to lead the congregation. All was moving along until ...
The first bear said, "The music is too loud." The second bear said, "The music is too soft," and the third bear said, "It's just right!" At which point the person sitting behind them said, "SSSSHHHH!"
A little later in the service during the offering, the first bear said, "This music is too new!" The second bear said, "This music is too old!" and the third bear said, "It's just right!" At which point the person sitting in front of them turned and said, "Do you mind?"
As the service was concluding, the first bear said, "The music is too fast." The second bear said, "The music is too slow." The third bear said, "It's just right" at which point the other two bears turned and scowled at the third bear.
Following worship, the bears approached Goldie Locks to speak to her about the worship service. The first bear said, "The music was too loud, too new, and too fast." The second bear said, "The music was too soft, too old, and too slow." The third bear said, "It's just right."
Goldie Locks looking thoughtfully at them said, "Who do you seek to honor when you come to worship? Worship for me is to honor and glorify God. He is the audience and I am the actor on the stage telling his story. Why do you come to worship?"
The bears walked away and the first bear said, "I think Goldie Locks was too hard on us." The second bear said, "I think she was too easy on us." The third bear said, "I think she was just right." The first two bears frowned.
The next Sunday, the bears were back in worship, with just a little more understanding as to why they were there in the first place.
