October 10, 2003

More on Worship

When I was a little boy, I remember hearing my grandfather tell a story about his brother Clayton. Both Grandpa and Clayton were musically gifted children. One particular Sunday during the morning service at church, a couple got up to sing. They should not have. They could not carry a tune in a wooden bucket. The resulting dissonance was more than the young Clayton could bear.

"Please make them stop." he implored in a loud voice, tugging at his mother's sleeve. Embarassed, his mother tried to sush him, but he would not be shushed.

"Make them stop!" he insisted, his voice becoming ever louder. His mother tried to bury his face in the folds of her skirt, but to no avail.

"Make them stop!" he wailed at the top of his lungs. "I can't stand that awful NOISE!"

I can't help but think of that story when I remember the times when I have sat in in the pew, singing the words and praying the prayers of worship, but with a heart completely devoid of purity and godliness. What a dissonance this must have created in the ears of my Savior. I can picture Him turning to the Father and saying "Make him stop. I can't stand that awful noise."

I don't know about you, but the next time I go to worship, I am going to take the condition of my heart a lot more seriously.

Posted by Andrew on October 10, 2003 11:42 AM.