The Dangerous Act of Worship

"Safe worship. It’s the kind of primrose path that draws us but misleads us. It has the allure of beauty but can mask pain, alienation, injustice. It can have us feeling better but does nothing to help others who suffer. It can occupy so much energy and time that it leaves us too tired for ministry that might actually take us to where the needs are greatest. It can lead us to feel faith, but not actually to believe. It can lead us to imply we are trusting, without ever really taking a risk. It can preoccupy us with the false dangers of worship while we miss the real ones. It leaves us safe-which can mean lost, disengaged, disconnected, disinterested. So we often leave our services with what we came for, which sadly and ironically means we have little more than when we arrived. For better and worse, everything that matters is at stake in worship." 
- Mark Labberton

I still remember being handed this book while working at City Lights Urban Mission Project. “Look at the cover, what do you see?” said Gerry Chappeau, head of the Poverty track at Urbana 2012 and greatest mentors in my life. There stands a grand church, costing millions to build, with a huge door looming over a man. A man who is left outside. Ignored by the church. Ignored by fellowship.

Many live like this.




This book review really does this book justice (unintended pun).

http://vimeo.com/35959114