Growing up, the word "reverence" got thrown around a lot to children, but it seemed to be more of a euphemism meaning "shut up and behave in church". I remember holding a student event where I asked about the word "reverence" and I couldn't even get anyone to tell me what it meant or "meant to them". I don't think adults even really talk about reverence anymore and I wonder if that's because we, as a church community, have lost our sense of reverence when it comes to worship, the Bible, and our other expressions of faith.
In all of Ezra and Nehemiah, this image is probably my favorite. In Chapter 8 we see the Israelites finally observing what we would recognize as corporate worship services following the rebuilding of the city walls in Jerusalem...
Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. (Nehemiah 8:5-6)
What an astounding picture of reverence to God. It wasn't about the Israelites "shutting up and behaving in church" because they were shouting with joy. It wasn't about letting a single priest do everything because the entire nation of Israel was there together. Everyone was eager to have a chance to connect with "Lord, the great God". Reverence is a lot less about silence and obedience than it is about the joy and excitement we have in the fact that we serve a "great God" capable of amazing things!
When I look at this picture of electric reverence, I can't help but think how different their expression of what we'd call "church" differs from our own society. Maybe we have over-ritualized church either by following liturgy or with our own contemporary branch of tradition. Maybe we have made it too easy to be a societal Christian and completely miss the awesomeness of the God we serve. I look at these Israelites and can't help but think that these people don't seem like they'd skip this event because "they had a hard day yesterday and just need to stay in and rest" or "well, it is just so hard because, gosh, between work and kids there's just oh so much to do and church is just kind of another bother".
My prayer for The Well is that, as a church, it would make true reverence apparent to all involved. Participation in Bible study, ministry, mission, and worship would be energizing activities that make us shout "Amen! Amen!" and not "shut up and behave". This is a church pursuing joy and excitement in Christ... a return to the reverence we see in a people wholly "sold out" for God.
With any luck, and the blessings of God, the people of this community will know us as something different, but refreshingly different.
...a drink of fresh water in an otherwise parched world. A drink from the living well.
DAILY PRAYER A Prayer for A Return to True Reverence
Lord, the Great God, assist us as we begin the journey to plant a church wholly focused on you and the joy we find in your blessings. Take the joy and excitement we feel in our hearts as a form of worship and recognition of how awesome you truly are. We desire to see you glorified and those around us brought to the realization of your grace and love. Make us instruments of that revival to those in our church and all people who call themselves "Christian" in our community and beyond. Amen.
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