For the Worship of God
Growing up, we had a local restaurant called Eatn’ Park. It is a western Pennsylvania staple. And if you ever go, you need to get the grilled stickies á la mode. Trust me; they are delicious! However, as a kid, what excited me was their salad bar and buffet. My parents liked it because I was guaranteed to eat veggies, and I could make as many trips as I wanted, which guaranteed that I wouldn’t be hungry an hour later! As an adult, the buffet line is much less appealing. Yet, for many people, we treat the matters of eternity like a buffet. And, at face value, there seem to be many options in the buffet line of religion and spirituality. Those options all appear to have equal value or validity, depending on my appetite. I think that this reflects a deeper truth within us because we are created by God; somewhere inside of us is a yearning and inkling for the eternal. I.e., We know that there is more than this life.
Yet, there are a few things that separate Christianity from the rest of the options on the buffet line. Primarily the transcendence and immanence of God. Those are big theological words, but here’s what they mean. First, God is transcendent; there is no one or nothing bigger or more powerful than him. He is exclusively the majestic and sovereign creator of the universe and reigns supreme over all things. Secondly, God is imminent; that is, he is not removed or distant from his creation. The very opposite is true; he pursues and draws near to us. The buffet line of religion is filled with options that hint at those qualities, gods that are powerful but distant or near but flawed. In Christianity, we experience a God who not only loves us but is strong and sufficient enough to change us, redeem us, and restore us to abundant life. So, why would he do this? Because it is who he is. I.e., It is the very substance of his character, and his greatest desire is to be known rightly. Remember what Proverbs 1:7 has told us, “The beginning of knowledge is the fear of the Lord.” This “fear” is not cowering but seeing God rightly, taking him seriously, and following him. This is what we do when we know God in the right way. It is also what we are created for and is what the Bible calls worship (Rom. 12:1).
When we think of the world around us and all of the things and gods our neighbors and friends are looking to in the “buffet line” of life, we should be compelled by love to point to the one who actually offers abundant life. This is why we reach out and why we desire to share the gospel in word and deed. All people are created to engage in worship. However, in our sin and rebellion, we worship anything and everything except God. We reach out because we have experienced abundant life and reordered worship. We reach out because there are people that we love who do not worship God. We reach out because we were created to worship God and enjoy him.