What makes a house a "home"; a country a "homeland"; a traveler "homesick" or "homeward bound". It is presence - the presence of someone or something special, someone or something loved beyond all else. Something missed, longed for, desired. When I read about the tabernacle and "God's presence" there. I think how special that was. How wonderful that must have been. Of course, I think of it from my perspective and not Israel's, but still -- what a privilege.
I recall when I first moved to Texas to go to school. I had a small apartment across the street from Texas Tech stadium in Lubbock, TX. It was my home until school started in Plainview, a few miles up the road. One Saturday afternoon, shortly after I moved in, I took a walk around the neighborhood. Before long, I found myself outside the First Baptist Church of Lubbock. I could hear singing, so I decided to go inside. There was no one around, just me and whatever was going on in the "auditorium". I opened the doors and it was like walking into the very presence of God. A men's quartet was practicing - their voices were like that of angel's; Perfect harmony, a blend of glorious praise. I stood perfectly still and just wept. I was on holy ground, in the presence of the Almighty. I stood transfixed.
You may scoff. But I think we have abandoned something when we have simply made our churches auditoriums and "worship centers". Leaving concepts like sanctuary and tabernacle by the side of the road has, in some sense, meant we have left the significance of the "presence of God" by side of the road. Bartering instead for some universal appeal to His presence within all people and abandoning the power of the presence all people before Him!
I do not mean to dismiss Christ's presence in the heart of man. That is not my intent by any stretch. I simply mean to say we may be missing something by diluting our worship. Making it something less than acknowledging our coming into the presence of God. Whether that is in a rented hall, a school auditorium, or the replication of the Crystal Cathedral.
At a recent writer's conference one of the speakers talked about growing up in Ireland. They would always go to his grandfather's house on Sunday morning and go to church as a family. The catch was, they had to go an hour early, because his grandfather started "preparing his heart for worship" at least an hour ahead of service. He went on to say, here in the states, "Our preparation for worship seems to consist of, do I have time to make it to Starbuck's drive-thru?"
In the building of the Tabernacle, God had some very specific guidelines for "worship"; for coming in to His presence or should I say for Him choosing to tabernacle with them. Maybe we are missing something by diluting worship and shunning terms like sanctuary in order to make it more palatable to the populace. Maybe we would rather have "performance" over "presence".
Father Spirit, I know that your presence is eternal and in all places at all times. Nevertheless, coming together to worship as a community ought to bring a different sense of your presence - a celebration of the holy; an awakening of the "awe"!
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