March of Crosses

It’s been said that worship is not a style of music, but a style of living. I agree. Wholeheartedly. To understand that better, we should define what a lifestyle is. This is the definition the dictionary gives: “the habits, attitudes, tastes, moral standards, economic level, etc., that together constitute the mode of living of an individual or group.” So, to worship as a lifestyle in the context of a church community means that our habits, attitudes, tastes, morals, finances and social interactions with each other need to be done in an attitude of worship.

I’m currently learning how a community of spiritually minded people can really develop this lifestyle of worship much more effectively than any church service ever could. I’m reading a book by Dr. Larry Crabb called “Becoming a True Spiritual Community: A Profound Vision of What the Church Can Be”.

So far, Dr. Crabb has talked about how the life of a Christian is more often than not disappointing and confusing. Jesus warned us of the cost of following Him. He said in Luke 9:23-24, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up His cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” I’ve heard this described as the ministry of suffering. What is taking up your cross daily? What is my “cross” supposed to be? How do I lose my life, but also save it?

Dr. Crabb says this, which I think is extremely profound. “The path to the joy of God’s presence always leads through joyless isolation, when the part of us that most longs for connection is left painfully alone. When that happens, and when we cry out in pain, the nature of our spiritual community is revealed.”

I’ve personally been working my way through that path of joyless isolation with my small spiritual community. The challenge with it is to remember God’s goodness and trust in His provision and faithfulness even in the midst of being stripped of everything. Or, in other words, in the midst of denying myself and taking up that cross of suffering, I am still to praise Jehovah.

As a church, the goal is to help each other as we each carry our crosses. Sometimes, we will drop our crosses and try to walk without the burden. We will get splinters and sore feet and the journey will hurt. We may trip and fall into a ditch and stay there awhile.

But if we’re encouraging each other along the way, if we’re listening to the needs and cares of our brothers and sisters beside us on the journey, and if we’re keeping our hearts focused on and in tune with our first Love, we will begin to understand worship. Worship is when we give our whole selves to the journey.

So let’s pick up our crosses and sing of His love forever. Together. As a community.