Who is worship for?
A couple of weeks ago I went for high tea at the National Cathedral here in Washington. My girlfriend made me do it, and while I’d like to say I hated every minute of it, those tiny sandwiches were actually quite good.
After our tour of the world’s sixth largest cathedral (and the first place I ever felt closer to God after a worship service), we stopped into the gift shop and I picked up this great little book called The Episcopal Handbook. In the chapter titled, “Why some Episcopalians bow and cross themselves (and why some don’t),” it says:
Some [Episcopalians] believe [crossing yourself] is ostentatious and superfluous. Acts of worship are not primarily for ourselves, they’re for God, so goes the argument, and the participation in outward signs of piety such as this should be avoided. [emphasis added]
Now it’s entirely possible that my wonderful Calvinist girlfriend has just completely brainwashed me here, but I don’t think that acts of worship are primarily—or even secondarily—for God. God doesn’t need anything from us. The guy’s God, after all. Our acts of worship are for ourselves, and not in some “they get me stuff when I die” sort of way. Rather, worship reminds us of our place in relation to the divine, and the relationship we share with the divine.
God does not demand that I cross myself, but I have come to appreciate the practice. Other people may have very good reasons for not doing it. In either case, the devotion we express to God, whatever form that takes, benefits us, changes us, and acts on us—not on God.
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