UCC Worship Axioms #1

I'm starting a series of posts today. The purpose of these posts is to deliver the "axioms" by which the Contemporary Worship services of University Christian Church operate. These are things under which we will not budge. These are "truths" that I have established that we will continue to uphold at the heart of our ministry. (They're out of order and/or don't create a coherent order. I'm ok with that and I hope you are, too.)

UCC Worship Axiom #1:

God deserves our excellence.

With everything that we offer to God, we strive for it to be excellent. This is the core of worship and it is a priority that is as old as recorded history.

In Genesis 4:3-5 we read about an offering that Cain brings before God and an offering that his brother Abel brings before God. In the first instance, Cain brought "some" of the fruit of his labor. Abel on the other hand brought forth the "fat portions" of his labor.

There are many ways to interpret this. A clear difference in these offerings is that Abel offered his best. He gave that which represented his very finest work. Abel delivered to God that which was the most meaningful and bore the greatest value.

We are compelled to bring that which represents the best of our work--that which clearly shows the value of the offering. With everything we offer to God--art, music, poetry, time, effort, energy, money (and many others)--must carry a value that represents the best we have to offer. The sounds (all our offerings unto God) we make must be as sweet of a sound as the grace offered to us in return.

We will continue to toil so that we may offer to God the full excellence that he deserves.