Church or Weed Shop
How to Worship while Serving
By Karen Bork
Illustration By Kammy Bork
Famous comedian John Crist has a little game he plays called, “Church or Weed shop.” In the game, he displays pictures of either dispensaries or churches with modern names and the participants guess which it is, “Church or Weed Shop.” For example, Next Level is a church, but Levels is a weed shop, Rise is a weed shop, but Arise is a church, Uplift is a church, but Uplyft spelled with a “Y’ is a marijuana dispensary.
It’s humorous, but it got me to thinking, “Are there similarities in churches and weed shops, or do we at least treat them similarly at times?”
For reference, let’s look at some definitions. A cannabis shop is a location where cannabis is sold for recreational or medical purposes. Cannabis is a psychoactive drug which produces euphoria, enhancement of sensory perception, tachycardia, difficulties in concentration and impairment of memory. A church is a building used for public worship. Worship is an expression of reverence and adoration for a deity. Romans 12 verse 1 says “Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your reasonable service (or spiritual act of worship.)
Worship can be especially challenging for those of us serving as ministers or as a part of worship teams. We are actively involved in producing a worship service, but that doesn’t mean we are engaged in worship. We’re focused on doing our jobs well, hitting cues on time and making sure we know what’s happening next. We spend a lot of time solving problems and preventing things from going wrong. All of these are crucial, and they should not rob us of worship, but they often do.
Why is that? I believe it is because we are accustomed to consumer-type worship. We are used to walking into church much as we would enter a weed shop. We are willing to drop something in the plate when it goes by in exchange for a little “rise.” We want to reach the “next level” without putting forth the effort. We treat church and God as recreation or entertainment rather than medicine to cure what ails us. We expect to receive a bit of euphoria at times, even.
Worship is never something absorbed or observed, it is always an act of reverence and service directed toward God. In short, it is something given rather than received. And God’s word says that it’s only reasonable that we do this, present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable, in exchange for the mercy God has offered us.
Worship is not an emotion or something we feel. It’s not goosebumps or tears. It’s not the raising of one’s hands into the air or shouting praise– although it may indeed produce all the above mentioned.
Church size is another hindrance to worship. In a small church, we are hesitant to be the only one making a public display of our worship and in a large one we can be caught up in the volume multiples produce and mistake emotionalism for worship. We must always remember that worship is personal. If we are struggling in this area, we should turn the question inward rather than looking for people or circumstances to blame.
We should ask ourselves two questions from Romans 12:1
- Is my body a living sacrifice?
- Is my life holy and pleasing to God?
So, what are some practical ways to do that?
- Embrace the Distractions-Rise above them. In Matthew 19 we read a brief story of people bringing their children to Jesus. I don’t imagine those kids were all being perfect and well behaved. I’m sure they were squirming and making noise as all children do. The disciples tried to rebuke the families and Jesus said, “Let the children come to me.” Jesus embraced the mess and distraction, and so can you.
- Engage in Service-Lift and be Lifted. Worship is never about how well things go; worship is about communing with God. It’s about responding to what He has done for you personally. God doesn’t want your perfect cues and great mixes; He wants your heart. So, when you don’t feel like you worship, remember, when you serve God’s people you are serving God. Whatever you have done for the least of these, you have done for me. Matthew 25:40 Serving is the greatest, most deliberate act of worship possible.
- Enjoy Living-Level up your life. Worship doesn’t only happen in a church or when you’re doing something “Christian.” Worship happens in our homes, at our jobs and in our communities. Our whole lives are an act of worship to God. Our service of worship isn’t limited to the worship service. So, as you go and serve your church, worship through your service but also through the way you live your life; how you love your family, your ethics in the workplace, and how you love your neighbor. Go—and live a life of worship.
Remember that true worship is not something received, but something given.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your reasonable service (or spiritual act of worship.) Romans 12:1