Our
order of worship is meant to include all the many facets of our relationship
with God. Adoring worship, reading the Bible, praying to God, times of silent
meditation. And at this point, repentance and broken-heartedness over our sin.
Corporate worship where we all do these things together, needs to be mindful of
one another. When we are alone and repenting, we may sob, shout, cry and take a
long time crying out to God.
In this corporate worship service, we don’t do the same individual things only
all in the same room. We can’t call up intense emotions on the spot, and we
don’t need to. This doesn’t mean we aren’t turning to God with all our heart,
fasting and weeping. It means we can’t all be emotional at the same time
together. This has the illusion of looking cold and formal, but what’s really
going on is that we are trying to repent and worship together as the church,
not just individuals who happen to be in the same room. That said, repentance
before God does need to be heart-rending, not outward only. We say words and go
through motions of repenting every week, and every week you are here you do
this with us. But it is up you to rend your heart and grieve for your sins.
This morning we will take a moment of silent confession first, and then sing
our prayer of confession from Psalter 51 D.
1/1/12
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