I find it strange, even tragic, that worship—which should unite Christ followers—is on my list of top two or three things that most divide Jesus’ church.

Can it be that worship divides only because 21^st Century Christians redefined it?

Worship wars describe our sin.

The church uses dress codes, music, atmosphere, likes and dislikes, raised hands, closed eyes, high church, informal church, party politics, tradition, holiday celebrations, and a gazillion other preferences to define worship.

Far too rarely does the cross define our worship.

I am wondering if a change of priorities might give division a fatal blow.

Worship in Old Testament Scripture most often occurs when a fertile heart encounters Holy God. Worshippers fall in holy terror and reverence with their faces to the ground in recognition of their unholy state.

In the New Testament, shepherds, angels, and wise men worshipped at the birth of a baby who was God. Formed by the hand of God, baby Jesus grew into a master teacher. He taught of a loving and powerful God who was working history to bring His creation back into holy harmony.

At the center of His message and at the center of history was a cross. It is the defining symbol of reality. Since a historic act on a hill and in a tomb, all worship must flow from the cross.

First century Christians worshipped in light of this new reality.

It is Jesus’ humility demonstrated by the cross event and the massive grace of God flowing toward my sin that should be central to every worship experience.

Divisive worship would decrease if Christians focused on Holy God and His gift of Jesus.

Flowing from the cross, His teachings for living a full life while on earth—and the confidence of resurrection leading to perfection in eternal life—should draw me closer to authentic worship.

True worship does not need enhancements. I can worship in my home, my car, my church, a coffee shop, or a million other places.

Within the perimeter of worship, I want to praise God as Holy and I want to leave my time of devoted worship having grown a step closer into His likeness.

As I grow and mature, I see both private and public worship as vital to meeting God’s expectation of me.

I have experienced true worship in solitude at a picnic table by a mountain stream.

I have experience true worship in the assembly with fellow believers.

Some of the most powerful experiences are in corporate worship. It is those times when I leave a corporate worship assembly in awe of what happened that I want to repeat.

I leave changed because I encountered God and saw anew the power of the cross event.

Ok, here is what I think:

It would make God smile if His children paid Him homage for His goodness, His forgiveness, His salvation, and let worship decorations be worship decorations.

Imitating Jesus, I can concentrate on the cross and not criticize others if their choice is to decorate their cross worship with blue jeans or high church.

Wouldn’t that make worship less divisive?

Stay tuned.

Gary J. Sorrells on Cross Church