Wednesday Word: Holy Worship
“After this I looked, and there in heaven a door stood open!” – Rev. 4:1
Revelation (official name: The Revelation of Jesus Christ to John, but NOT Revelations) is a strange, weird, wonderful, mysterious, confusing, and controversial book that has no easy or clear interpretations. It was the last book to be accepted into the Christian canon and cited as authoritative by Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, and Irenaeus. But it also has a disputed history as Christians have attempted to use it as a road map to the future, trying to pin down specific dates and times in predicting the “End Time,” as was done in the 2nd Century by a Christian leader named Montanus and up through today by people such as Tim LaHaye, John Hagee, and other so-called “prophecy experts.”
But within this book are two things that stand out (probably more, but I want to keep this short): The first is a vision of comfort. Revelation was written to early Christians who were living under the boot of Roman oppression. It is basically saying, “Look, I know how you are suffering, but there will be a time when the oppressive, life-taking empires of the world will give way to the freeing, life-giving rule of God.” With all that the world throws at us, with our struggles against “the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness” (Eph. 6:12), Revelation puts forth the idea that Jesus wins. Early on in Revelation we hear that Jesus has conquered. There may be a battle against the forces of evil, but the outcome has already been decided – the love of God wins.
The second is a vision of heavenly worship. Before the four horsemen of the apocalypse, before earthquakes, falling stars, and terror, in the midst of persecutions, wars, and lakes of fire, worship happens. Images of a heavenly throne surrounded by the rainbow of peace from Genesis, of all creatures singing, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty,” of prayer and incense, of silence before God, and of people gathering in the holy temple are prominent.
This is important for us to remember: that in the midst of any number of problems and conflicts, the people of God worship. We worship the One who was and is and is to come. We worship the Lamb who is worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing. We worship with angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven. We worship with saints above and saints below.
The Church can and does do many of the same things any other social organization does, but the one thing the Church does that no other social organization does is worship. In the midst of our struggles, let us worship. In the midst of our conflicts, let us worship. In the midst of environmental crises, let us worship. In our joys and in our sorrows, let us worship. It is through our worship that the door to heaven stands open. It is in our worship where God comes to dwell with mortals in the beauty of holiness. It is in our worship where we experience all things being made new.
As we make our way through any number of trials, tribulations, conflicts, and difficulties, let us remember that the love of God wins – and let us always to remember to worship the Lord.
Blessings,
Todd+