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| Iona Abbey Church |
Aside from the caution needed to protect people in services, among my first thoughts is that this must be a good thing. The last time most Christians worshipped together was in Lent, so we missed celebrating Christ's Resurrection together (along with other holy days, like Ascension and Pentecost). We have a lot to catch up on!
But my next thought is, what if God has a different response? This may sound strange, but what if God has been glad the church hasn't gathered these past few months? What if God actually despises our worship?
This idea comes from God's word through the prophet Amos to Israel:
I hate, I reject your feast days.
I do not accept your sacred assemblies.
Though you offer me burnt offerings and meat offerings,
I will not accept them.
I will not regard your fatted peace offerings.
Take away from me the sound of your songs,
for I will not hear your musical instruments.
Instead, let justice run swiftly as water does from the mountain,
and let righteousness be as a stream that cannot be crossed.
Why does God hate Israel's worship? It's not because God doesn't care whether or how they worship him; worshipping God rightly is the purpose for which God delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt (see Ex. 3:12, 4:22-23, 25-40).
Rather, God rejects Israel's worship because it is untrue. In their relationships and daily life, Israel has overturned justice and righteousness, following their evil passions instead. Thus, while outwardly they appear to worship God, inwardly they are serving only themselves.
Amos lists some of their actions: they betray the upright and abuse their power against others (2:6-7); they hoard up wealth and trample on the needy (3:10, 4:1); they hate those who speak the truth and they accept bribes (5:10, 12).
In every setting, from the public courts (5:12b) to their private lives (2:7b), Israel has rejected God's commands. Thus, their worship is empty and God shuts his ears.
The past few months have reminded us of some ways our societies have similarly overturned justice and righteousness. The coronavirus and recent protests have highlighted again the injustice and cruelty that characterise our relationships.
Getting to the heart of the matter: 'Sin is crouching at your door'
Where does this injustice and cruelty come from? This question resembles one St James asks in his letter: 'What causes fights and quarrels among you?' (4:1).
He answers that our turmoil comes from our desires, which cause us to kill when we don't get our way. Then he warns that 'friendship with the world is hatred towards God' (4:4).
In other words, our love of the world--that is, the passions such as greed, lust and pride--is the cause of our injustice and unrighteousness. (I describe the passions in last week's blog post; they refer to uncontrolled desires.)
The story of Cain and Abel illustrates the relationship between the passions and violence. Cain and Abel, the first children of Adam and Eve, offer their work to God in worship: Cain brings some of the fruits of the soil, and Abel brings portions from some of his flock. God looks favourably on Abel's worship but not on Cain's. This angers Cain, who then murders his brother (Gen. 4:2b-8).
God rejects Cain's worship, according to Church tradition, because Cain has been led by his passions (see 1 John 3:12 and Jude 11). Although it is right for Cain to offer the fruits of his work to God, his heart is not right. His passions are stirred when he compares himself to Abel, and these passions drive Cain to murder.
But before Cain kills Abel, God says he has a way out: 'If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it' (Gen. 4:7).
In other words, Cain has the chance to overcome his passions so that he may avoid murder and so that his worship may become acceptable to God.
How can Cain--and we--overcome our passions?
If I were a monk, experienced in rigourous self-examination and asceticism, perhaps I could answer this question well. I am not. However, I am a Christian (or at least I strive to be one), so I do know this, something I believe a monk would tell you too: mastering our passions begins and continues with repentance.
St James puts it like this: 'Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up' (4:10).
Humility is the language God listens to; the sacrifice God accepts is a broken and contrite heart (Ps. 50:17).
Jesus illustrates humility through his parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14), in which again we see two people coming before God in worship: one a religious leader and the other a tax collector (what we might today call a 'loan shark'). The religious leader prays to himself, thanking God for his pious works and upright life, grateful he is not like that tax collector standing at a distance. The tax collector lowers himself before God and begs for God's mercy on his sinful life.
God rejects the religious leader's prayer. Despite his outward appearance, the religious leader heart is full of pride. God accepts the tax collector's offering because he has humbled himself.
So, does God hate our worship?
I can't answer that question. But speaking for myself, I also can't assume God accepts my worship just because he is loving. God is also holy, and his justice requires me to live in accordance with his ways.
I recognise in myself the same envy of Cain and the same pride of the Pharisee. How often do I follow my passions more than following Christ? How often am I tempted to seek my own security rather than the kingdom of God and his righteousness?
My only hope--our only hope--is in turning and returning to Christ, the One who mastered sin for all on the cross. May God have mercy on us and make us more like his Son, that we may overcome the evil in us with his help and so that justice and righteousness become foundations for our worship.
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