Defining the Relationship

A friend emailed me a question Monday morning, and it got me thinking about Sunday morning. His question: what word would you use to name the relationship between us and God?

My friend, Jerry, a former classmate at the Institute for Worship Studies, was musing on an idea. We are fond of saying following Jesus is not about religion, it's about relationship. Relationships have names: brotherhood, marriage, family. If that's the case, then wouldn't we call that relationship worship? I thought about it for a bit, and I think that yes, worship might be an apt description of our relationship with God.

Just like other relationships, worship is something we work at: it requires sacrifice, growth, investment, and time. Relationships built on mutual selflessness flourish over time. In Jesus we have the ultimate picture of selflessness, and we respond by learning to love him, learning to yield our will to his more and more each day. It's not something we're immediately good at, either. We have to constantly check ourselves: am I investing in this relationship? It may be hard to see the relationship deepening some days, but over time we see how far we have moved closer to Jesus.

Worship is the revelation-response pattern of Sunday morning: God reveals Himself, we respond. Sometimes we respond with frustration. Circumstances are given words of hurt, helplessness, even anger. There are words of joy and love spoken, but if we're not bringing our whole selves to God, we might find ourselves living a lie that hurts us. Guilt or hidden sin brings us back to the Garden, where Adam and Eve took cover when God came near. I guarantee you this: any shame we feel, any unworthiness is not the voice of God. He always loves, always forgives, always welcomes us with the open arms of a loving Father. We know this as we listen for God's voice and read God's word. Confession can be humbling, but can also restore.

And just as you become like the company you keep, or spouses become more alike over time, the more we spend time with Jesus, the more we become like him. The way Tim opened his message on Sunday is so important and so true: if you want to hear from God, you have to spend time in His word. If you want to be more like Jesus, you have to get to know Jesus. If you want to find the living water within, you have to go to the Savior by the well. When we draw near to Him, we become like Him, and He transforms us from the inside out, extending to relationships with others.

This past Sunday was a mix of emotions for me, which is also a common occurrence I've found in close relationships with others. As we sang I felt joy, peace, hope. Through the pictures of people serving and coming together on screen during the offering, I rejoiced and thanked God for all He is doing in and through New Cov. After services I prayed with others, cried with others, shared my story and listened to theirs. At the Ministry Leaders' Meeting in the afternoon I celebrated with others all that God will do this semester.

Worship is definitely relationship. So how is your worship these days? What would it look like for you to invest a bit more in seeking Jesus... on Sundays... at work... in your family... with your friends... in your neighborhood? And how will God reveal himself as you respond to him today?