Why Do We Worship the Way We Have Always Worshiped When People Keep Changing?

I've been wondering about this myself lately. Why do we worship the way we do? Do we worship intentionally, or do we just show up at church hoping the cookies and conversation will be good afterward? Do we care to come into the presence of the Sacred on Sunday morning... or do we fulfill our obligation and then go home again, feeling better about ourselves? For me, some Sundays are celebrations of the joy of God's presence, active in the world and in my life... and some Sundays come closer to "work." One more day, one more sermon, one more service.

Then reality hits me: if this is what I'm called to do, if this is where I'm called to be, if this is where God's people are meeting to worship, then the Sacred is present here. I am in the presence of the Sacred, treading at the hem of the skirt of Heaven. And I'm missing it.

There's nothing wrong with the way we "do church" these days. For some people, myself included, we can indeed feel the thinness of space during Sunday morning worship -- the thinness that tells us that we're near God, or more correctly, God has come near us. There's a sense of being on the edge, in relationship with someone bigger, in the capable hands of a presence emanating Life, Healing, and Wholeness.

This space is Holy space. Inviting. Incomparable. Incommunicable. Indispensable.

So, then, why are there so many people who don't enter this space? So many who, upon entering a church building, still don't enter this space? How is it possible that people "do church" and fail to find "Holy Space," the presence of the Sacred?

This question bothers me because I believe that we all need Sacred Space in our lives. I believe that God calls us not simply to "be spiritual" but to "be in sacredness." God's presence can be known in ourselves and the quietness (or loudness!) of the world around us -- but God's presence is certainly known in the worshiping community, the space where we gather with one another to celebrate God's healing and relational presence in this world. When we "do church," we seek this awareness. When we "do church," we seek this presence. When we "do church," we seek this Sacred Space.

So why do we worship the way we have always worshiped? Part of the answer, I believe, is that we've liked it that way. Part of the answer is that we get lazy. Part of the answer is that we don't think about or know how to create spaces where people who worship differently than us can step into Sacred Space. But this, I believe, is where the church needs to be, or at least needs to be going. God is present in this world and in our lives in many places, many spaces, many gatherings. God's presence is known in Sunday morning stoic Lutheran services and joyful Pentecostal services. God's presence is known in Bible studies and prayer meetings taking place in homes, coffee shops, store fronts, and bars. God's presence is known on playgrounds and in family conversations in the car. If God's presence can be known in all of these gatherings (and countless gatherings I can't even imagine), why does the church only recognize some of them?

I wonder, what will church look like in 50 years? I don't know what it will look like, but I'm certain it won't look like it does today. In my imagination, church will be moving towards smaller gatherings: home churches, storefronts, gatherings at the local park. I imagine church will gather around community gardens, in monastic retreat centers, through community organizing. I imagine people will be looking to find Sacred Spaces in smaller places, through relationship and education and communal prayer and worship. I also imagine that the church, if it moves in this direction, will miss larger gatherings at times, and we'll see a revival of Revivals or retreats and other opportunities for many churches to gather together and worship, finding Sacred Space in the gathering of hundreds, or thousands, or even hundreds-of-thousands.

I don't know if my imagination is "right." But I do know that it's important. We need to imagine what church might look like in the future. It is through our imagination that we might create new Sacred Spaces, Holy Places, for people like and unlike us to step into the presence of the Holy. Let us keep open minds, open hearts, open imaginations, and live into the spaces that God is still creating for all of us. Keep open to the thinness of space in some places, many spaces, and tread gently on the hem of God's kindom come.

Romantic God?

Check out the latest essays in "Cafe: Stirring the Spirit Within."  Especially look at the faith reflection by Pastor Sue Schneider. She points out that even in our creation myths, we have been taught that women are the completion of men... but much of the later Biblical witness reminds us that we are all children of God, heirs in our own right. Julie Stecker's article gives several examples of women living into their identities as single women, loved by God and loving their lives. Definitely worth perusing!