Growing up in a Buddhist family, I learned to worship Buddha at a young age. I chanted and sang prayers. Visiting the village temple on special occasions was another part of worship. Many musical instruments played while many people danced around the temple to show their happiness or gratitude to our god. We never wore shoes on the temple ground, and a big concrete water trough was provided for washing feet.
While meditating on Buddha’s teaching as given by the monks, we sat almost motionless. We never pointed our feet at the monks or the Buddha images. Inviting monks to our home was another part of worship. My parents invited them to our home almost every week of the year. On special occasions, the monks gave us special blessings and requested the good spirits to dwell in our house. Worship was never a “one-man show.”
The Bible recorded similar occasions when God asked Moses and Joshua to remove their sandals because the ground where they stood was holy (Exod. 3:5; Josh. 5:15). The Israelites sang songs, played music, and danced their way to the temple to show their gratitude to God.
While most of us do not dance our way to church, we do all sing in church. Why is it that music has turned into one of the most contentious subjects regarding the way we worship? When we sing, why do we turn our songs, which are meant for God, into commercial-like productions? Why do we criticize each other about what sort of music should be sung in church?
In Exodus 34:14, God infers that He is jealous about His relationship with us. So when we come to worship Him, let us come to build a relationship with Him. Cain sacrificed to God the best of his farm produce, but it was not what God had asked from him. As a result, the fire didn’t consume Cain’s sacrifice. Abel brought what God required for a sacrifice, and God looked with favor upon him and his sacrifice.
So as we gather to worship our God, let us offer our different services to Him according to His will. Let us come with the desire of building a closer relationship with our God. When we sing, let God be praised. When we preach, let God be glorified. When we serve, let God be magnified.
The Bible recorded similar occasions when God asked Moses and Joshua to remove their sandals because the ground where they stood was holy (Exod. 3:5; Josh. 5:15). The Israelites sang songs, played music, and danced their way to the temple to show their gratitude to God.
While most of us do not dance our way to church, we do all sing in church. Why is it that music has turned into one of the most contentious subjects regarding the way we worship? When we sing, why do we turn our songs, which are meant for God, into commercial-like productions? Why do we criticize each other about what sort of music should be sung in church?
In Exodus 34:14, God infers that He is jealous about His relationship with us. So when we come to worship Him, let us come to build a relationship with Him. Cain sacrificed to God the best of his farm produce, but it was not what God had asked from him. As a result, the fire didn’t consume Cain’s sacrifice. Abel brought what God required for a sacrifice, and God looked with favor upon him and his sacrifice.
So as we gather to worship our God, let us offer our different services to Him according to His will. Let us come with the desire of building a closer relationship with our God. When we sing, let God be praised. When we preach, let God be glorified. When we serve, let God be magnified.
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