I saw worship tonight unlike any worship I've seen in a long time. Passion. Sincerity. Longing. Tears were shed. Laughs were laughed. Excitement was had. It was powerful- a true tribute to these faithful to see people of diverse backgrounds coming from miles around, uniting in a common theme. For some, worship was simply their weekly pilgrimage. For the more zealous, this worship was a continuation of the normal week.
What had brought so many people to gather here tonight? It seemed like the reasons numbered as many as the people. Some found themselves here because a friend had reached out and invited them. Some came for fun- for this was the highlight of their week. Still more came because this was all they've ever known. Most just came with deep deep needs, with love at the top of the list.
As the night wore on, the music seemed to only arouse people to more and more passion until they were almost overcome by the power of what was going on. With every song, the excitement built. Soon, it was as if every song was their last. I watched as singing spilled over into dancing, which in turn overflowed into laughter which only made the singing come with more reckless abandon.
Never was the community's faith more apparent than when the chance to give their money came. Here's where they put their money where their mouth was. It was unreal the way people opened their wallets, throwing caution to the wind and giving huge chunks of their income. Some were a bit skittish, only throwing in a small chunk of what they had made that week. The leaders, however, inspired the whole congregation as they gave and gave and gave. Indeed, the level of their faith and passion were inspiring for me to see as men and women bowed down to god, laying it all down before the lord, knowing that there was no more worthy cause than this.
Of course many people had certain ways they liked to express their faith. Some were more charismatic, some had some strange ideas about right and wrong, some emphasized different parts of the ministry, but when all was said and done, they laid it all down because of their love for their god. It was a moving scene of ecumenism and tolerance.
By the end of the night, memories had been shared, wounds felt better, friends had seemingly been made, and the worries of life had slipped away.
My friends, this... experience did not happen in a church. It didn't happen at a Campus Crusade meeting, a bible study, or a retreat. No, this temple is down the street at my local bar. Worship was also held at the party on the other side of the street. Weekend services are held Friday and Saturday night but most are open all week if you have special needs during the work week.
Many followers will deny their worship, but don't let them fool you. They might say they worship God, gods, Buddha, or Jesus. Remember though, what a man or woman worships is simply where they turn to for joy, peace, satisfaction, fun, fellowship, and healing. It's where their time goes. It's where their money goes. It's what someone plans their free time around. As they reminisce about last weekend and look forward to the next, it becomes crystal clear which god this is.
As I left the temple, into the cool night, I knew that the pain for these devoted followers would not come tonight. Maybe it wouldn't even come this year. But, as the bar closes, as the years pass, their is only pain for these worshipers. This is a wound that is felt by the men and women themselves and the ones closest to them.
You see, this god is a harsh god. He appears innocent from the outside, but this is a god who slowly and deceptively puts shackles on many. The lashes of this god's whip are felt as men and women lose their character and, slowly, they lose their care about real issues and real people. As families ever-so-slowly crumble and lives are wasted, still the god cries out for more: more money, more worship, more time thinking about him. Indeed, his power isn't always apparent. It's not until one tries to escape until they feel the full power of their master.
Many will die in their chains. It will hold them their whole life. Some, though, will see their chains as chains. They might ask if they are the person they always thought they'd be, the person they always wanted to be. They might seek to break free.
There is one who came to break the chains, to set the captives free. And my God, does he long to free the slaves and to give them a new master.
For more, scroll down to my "July 8th" post.
