Theology for Everybody: RomansSample

The second myth about worship is that it starts and stops. It doesn’t. We are always worshipping because we are living for someone or something. The desires we have, the decisions we make, the thoughts we entertain, and the dollars we invest are all connected to who or what is in the priority position in our lives. They are connected to who or what we worship.

The third myth about worship is that it happens only in church. It doesn’t. You worship before you come to church. You worship after you leave church. You worship when you go to work. You worship when you go to school. You worship when you go to the grocery store. You worship everywhere.

The fourth myth about worship is that it is only a genre of music. Now, worship does include singing songs to the glory of God, but it is so much bigger than singing. It encompasses all of our living. Every part of your life is worship to something or someone.

The fifth myth about worship is that it is only for women and children—not for “real” men. It isn’t. Worship is for everyone. If men don’t worship in church, they will find somewhere else, such as the bar, the golf course, the stadium, or even the office.

The point is this: we are all worshippers and always worshipping. The only difference among humans is who, what, how, when, or why we worship.

Paul distinguishes between Old Covenant worship (before Jesus) and New Covenant worship (after Jesus). Under the Old Covenant, the Jews went to the Temple or synagogue to worship, but they never came empty-handed. They brought an animal to be the sacrifice, the substitute whose blood would be shed to pay for their sins. This practice foreshadowed the coming of Jesus, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29).

In 1 Corinthians 5:7, Paul writes, “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” Jesus died in our place for our sins as our substitute. Then He rose from death, conquering sin and death. Under the New Covenant, we are not commanded to offer a sacrifice that dies. Instead, we are to give our lives as a sacrifice that lives. Jesus is the sacrifice who died, and our lives are the living sacrifice.

Is it sometimes more difficult to live for God than to die for God? When someone dies for God, we call them a martyr and honor them. They come face-to-face with Jesus and receive their reward. But those who live for God must endure harassment and opposition. Every day, they make sacrifices in their relationships, their careers, and their reputations. If you are going to worship God, then it is going to cost you something. And the way our culture is trending, the price of following Jesus is rising higher and higher.

Today’s Reflection

What sacrifices do you make to live for God?