Reflection: Worthy or Not (June 2, 2013)

The 2nd Sunday after Pentecost
1 Kings 8:22-24, 27-29, 41-43; Galatians 1:1-12; Luke 7:1-10

Over the past two generations, more and more churches are adapting a very casual worship style and environment. Pastors dress down to reflect the fashion preferences of those who attend. Coffee and other drinks are dispensed in narthexes and consumed in worship centers. Some churches have even replaced rows of pews or seats with tables and chairs to create a casual coffee house setting. The motives for making worship more casual vary, but the underlying message is much the same. In making worship such a casual affair we’re reinforcing people’s understanding that they are worthy to come into God’s presence however they want to and just as they are.

This attitude is nothing new. When a centurion in Capernaum was concerned about a gravely ill servant, he asked the Jewish religious leaders to intervene for him. They went to Jesus on his behalf and pleaded with Him to help. “He is worthy to have You do this for him,” they told Jesus, showing that they also saw themselves as worthy of being in Jesus’ presence and expecting Him to do their bidding. Patiently and graciously, Jesus granted their request and started making His way to the centurion’s house. But the centurion would have nothing to do with that. He sent word to Jesus that showed his faith and his heart. He said that he was not worthy to have Jesus come into his house and that he was not worthy to come into Jesus presence. He knew the power and authority of Jesus. And he respected Jesus by not presuming that he could casually come to Him and ask for anything.

Worthy or not, Jesus is always present with His people and He invites us to come into His presence. He hears the prayers of His people and answers us with His grace. How amazing! We can come before our God with all of our cares, concerns, faults, failures, joys, and hopes even though we have no right to do so and we could never be worthy of such a privilege in and of ourselves. Through the Gospel of Christ, “who gave Himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age,” we have been counted worthy of this privilege. We could treat it casually and still be loved by Him. But when we understand it as the incomparable blessing that it is and we know that He joyfully receives us whether we worthy or not, we can only refuse to be casual about worshiping our awesome God.

Audio file of the sermon "Worthy or Not."