Worship and the Movies

I was having a good Sunday morning the other week.  It wasn’t necessarily the weather or the newness of spring morning but I was looking forward to gathering with other Christians and entering into a time of worship and praise to my Lord.  I was anticipating meeting those who regularly attend church and was happily surprised when those who are usually late arrived early.  And as I settled in the pianist began playing the prelude to worship and I began to prepare my mind and heart for the morning service.  Then, as our custom is, a small bell was rung calling everyone to prepare for the worship service to begin.

But all this was overshadowed by loud conversations, children running in and out of the building, and a general cacophony of noise,  and I thought to myself, “Is this what preparing to worship is about?”

What is the purpose of the church gathering together on Sunday morning?  Is it like a theater production or a movie house where we can conduct our own business, enter into inane conversations and generally act noisily until the action starts?  Can we rush in (physically and mentally) at the last minute into the auditorium for the entertainment and the popcorn?  Is our fellowship more important than our worship?  Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for Christian fellowship that can edify but should it not take place outside a time set aside to prepare for worship?  Can it not wait?  Are we so preoccupied with other things we fail to do the important thing?

Can we not set aside a few minutes for a quiet time of reflection without the chaos?  Can we not take our places in the assembly be seated and be quiet? Can we not gather ourselves and our children and indicate to others that we are expecting the Lord Jesus Christ to be in our assembly today and let us prepare ourselves for Him?

We indicate in our church bulletins that the time has been set aside for worship.  We are often reminded by our church elders that it is a time to prepare our hearts for worship.  Many of us intend to worship.  So why do we not prepare for worship?  I fear this looseness many exhibit in preparing to worship sets a poor example for not only our younger people and youth but those who visit as well and I believe it is offensive to God.  

Quieting our hearts and minds and failing to prepare to worship sets a poor example at best and at the worst we are creating an attitude that our worship is not all that important -  or at least as important as a movie theater.