A Life of Worship

Here in America, we are by and large an individualistic society. We have been indoctrinated from a very early age to reach for the “American Dream”. The focus in school, sports, the arts, and in the market place is largely an individual focus. We have Hollywood stars, our favorite athletes are considered the “MVP's”, musicians are “rock stars”, and the most successful business people we consider “moguls”.

By contrast the Church of Jesus Christ was founded as a community of believers. Christianity is a communal faith and is centered around a body of believers that all mutually submit to one another in obedience to Christ. Jesus Christ is the head of the Church, not of the individual, though of course he is Lord of Lords. I’m in no way implying that Jesus in not our “individual Lord”, but what I am saying is that His Lordship over us as individuals is evidenced in our relationship toward others.

This is the framework in which we can better understand the teachings of the Bible. You see, in our society the success of the many is dependent on the success of the individual, or at least that’s what is pushed on us from early on. In God’s kingdom however, its quite the opposite. The success of the individual is dependent on the success of the many. I can’t make it if you don’t make it. You can’t make it if we can’t make it together. This has always been in the heart and character of God. This is why in Phil. 2:3-8, Paul says to the Church

“ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

All of this brings me to my main text. I’d like you to turn with me to the book of

English Standard Version Chapter 5

22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.