True Worship Reflects God’s Character
In 1984, the comic songwriter Ray Stevens wrote “Mississippi Squirrel Revival,” a fictitious song about a boy who brought a squirrel to church in a shoebox. As he was showing the squirrel to a friend, the critter got loose causing chaos that resulted in confession, repentance, remarkable giving, and dozens of rededications! It’s a funny song and video, and some 20 years later, the song eerily became reality at First Baptist Church in, of all places, Poplarville, Mississippi! A squirrel got loose in the church before the worship service, running across the choir loft and pews, and causing the congregation to scramble just like in the famous Ray Stevens tune. About three minutes before the beginning of the service, the pastor noticed several choir members standing up and looking at something. Then he heard a scream, and he saw a squirrel leap up on top of the grand piano. His bushy tail waved, and he held his little hands in front of himself, as if he was greeting the congregation. Some of the men in the church gave chase, taking off their jackets and throwing them at the squirrel as the squirrel ran laps in front of the choir loft. One man in the choir took hold of his hymnal and fired it at the squirrel, missing it with a loud thud! Meanwhile, the pastor was wondering how he was going to tell his children’s sermon on the sacredness of life by explaining why they killed a squirrel in church. The Ray Steven’s song portrays chaos in a church service bearing much spiritual fruit, and though the song and video is really funny, this result is the polar opposite of the reality of true worship. As 1st Corinthians 14: 33 (NIV) teaches, “God is not a God of disorder but of peace,” and Paul makes this point to correct a disorderly aspect of Corinthian worship. A few verses later, in 1st Corinthians 14:40, Paul sums up what faithful worship should reflect as he writes “all things should be done decently and in order.” True worship reflects God’s character and worship in Corinth failed to rise to this standard because aspects of their worship were disorderly, perhaps even chaotic. This was true for the Corinthians in specific ways but the broad principle for us to learn is that true worship never breeds confusion or disorder. This doesn’t mean our expression in worship must be constrained but it does mean that worship must never devolve to being out of control. If “they’re rollin’ in the aisles” and you feel like you’re in a crowd where they may roll over you, then something other than the Spirit of God is moving.
We invite you to come join us this Sunday morning for our in-person worship service at Leptondale Bible Church in Newburgh, starting at 10:55 AM. For those unable to attend, our service can be viewed live on the church’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/leptondalebiblechurch. This Sunday, we’ll continue a sermon series from 1st Corinthians titled “Written for Our Instruction” with a message from 1st Corinthians 14:26-40 titled “True worship reflects God’s character.”
God bless!
Pastor Mike