WORSHIP:
MEANINGLESS

Years ago in Mexico, I was attracted by the sight of an old, old church. I walked in with my hat removed and found that the church had no floor except the ground itself.

I paused to look around at the statues and the carvings and then noticed that an elderly Mexican lady had come into the building. She was carrying a small shopping bag.

She paid no attention to me but walked straight down to the altar area. I had the feeling she was so familiar with that aisle she could have walked it with her eyes closed.

She walked directly to kneel in front of a statue of the virgin Mary. She looked up into the facial features of that inanimate statue with deep devotion, deep yearning, deep desire. I thought, “That is the kind of spiritual longing and desire that I would like to see turned to the Lord Himself!”

There was no doubt in my mind that she was having an experience of worship. I believe it was very real to her. She was not pretending. She wanted to worship, but her worship was being poured out on a lifeless statue which was only the work of some person’s hands.

Matthew 7:22–23; John 4:23–24; Romans 10:1–3

Whatever Happened to Worship?, 40.