The Sacredness of Church Worship
Tuesday’s Verse:
From Matthew 5:9 ESV
(Jesus said) “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
Sometimes the brokenness of this world overwhelms us. Even the walls of God’s house cannot seem to hold it at bay. On Sunday in Minnesota, congregants of Cities Church were interrupted during worship—not by a clap of thunder, but by angry protestors who felt called to action. “Silence is complicity,” the protesters chanted in the sanctuary, and effectively silenced the worship service. People who had come to pray and confess and worship watched in horror as their time of sacred assembly was usurped by shouting and protest.
We Lutherans confess that the Church is both a place and the people of God. We are God’s called assembly, gathered in grace to hear the Word of God and receive His gifts. The church, as a place, reminds us that God’s Holy Spirit dwells within His house. The church as people reminds us that true worship can only be done by those who worship in spirit and in truth, by those whose hearts are turned back to Christ. When the Church as people is prevented from gathering as a church in a place, we mourn. We mourn because it should be, and can be again, an hour set apart to center our lives on Christ Jesus. To be consoled where we know fear. To be brought together where we have been divided.
Words from Scripture seem particularly poignant in times like these, when they run contrary to our feelings:
* Let everyone be quick to listen…slow to anger…let us understand so that we may bring peace. Christians, let us be peacemakers. When others around us are raising their voices in anger and hatred, Jesus calls us to be agents of peace. Worship was interrupted at this church in order to make a political statement. We should ask ourselves, how does that further the cause of peace?
* Love your neighbor. Perhaps these protestors loved their neighbor and wanted to see justice. But even as we love justice, we will love our neighbor more by following the example of Christ’s love. Let us never seek justice by trampling on the rights of others or by violating places which have been set apart to worship our Lord.
* Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage. Wait for the Lord! The just will live by the faithfulness of the Lord. Romans 14: 17 tells us that the Kingdom of God is not a matter of food and drink. Political protest is food for thought and emotions. Let’s trust that God will accomplish his purposes of justice and mercy by his Spirit at work in the hearts of all people.
Lord Jesus, come quickly!
✝️ A Prayer for Today:
Heavenly Father, look with mercy on Your Church. Bring peace to those whose worship has been disrupted. Turn the hearts of stone to hearts of flesh. Restore what has been broken. Reconcile all conflict through Christ our Lord, who loved us and gave Himself up for us. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
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