One True Way?

They say you only remember roughly 7% of what your pastor says on Sunday morning... I couldn't remember even that! For some reason my attention was just not caught yesterday at church. Have you ever been that way? Your listening, but your not tuned in??

My pastor did say something though that did stick with me...quite possibly the only thing i could remember about her sermon! During the end she quoted Martin Luther saying this (not 100% accurate) "denominations are just another path that leads away from the one true way of worshiping and praising God as set forth in the Word from the beginning."

Now that caught my attention. Being a Religious Studies major these kinds of quotes bring about many many questions! This intrigued me throughout my day yesterday and today, so i felt like I should spend some time on it reflecting. This is what I came up with....

Is the way we are worshiping in our churches the right way? If not, whats wrong about it?

Reflecting on this quote makes me go back to these churches who think they are the only ones getting into heaven and the rest of us are doomed to damnation in hell forever! What about their style makes them better than us? And why do they think this? Obviously they aren't doing it just like the Bible explains...Actually, does the Bible even give us any guidelines?

We see in Paul's letters that he goes around setting up these makeshift churches in towns. These churches are in the homes of the people of the "church." Paul never really tells them how to worship or even how to praise God. Basically all he instructs them to do is "honor God" in their own way.

We would like to think that we are honoring God with how we worship wouldn't we? But did you know that there are more ways to worship than just at church? When we are in church we are in what I would like to refer to it as "corporate worship." We go in and we have this set schedule and way of doing things that invites God in, but thats not it... True worship goes beyond the church and into your daily life with "personal worship". Im a very strong believer that faith is what you make it..your not going to agree 100% with how your church does it, but when you leave you can make it your own!

THAT, my friends is the one true way Martin Luther was referring to...personal worship and personal praise.
Thanks be to God for allowing us to explore ways of worship!