Reverence-we often hear the word in church circles. The youth, often incorrectly, associate it with older people and church tradition. What is reverence, really? This series seeks to explore the concept of reverence for the Lord, putting aside previously established notions of what reverence is , but rather examining it by the light of the Scriptures.
The dictionary defines “reverence” as a “feeling or attitude of deep respect, tinged with awe, the outward manifestation of this feeling, to venerate.’ It can therefore be established that reverence comes from within, and results in an appropriate outward manifestation.
Often though, we put the cart before the horse, seeking to calibrate the outward manifestation so it aligns with our definition of what reverence should entail. Sometimes, as a result, we end up accusing others of “a lack of reverence” resulting in offence, schisms and division in the church. Very often, the subject of reverence becomes the topic of idle Sabbath afternoon gossip, the accusers failing to realize that by engaging in such activity, they are reverencing neither the Lord, nor His Holy Day.
Some walk out of church services, out of the presence of the Lord, because they’re upset about a pastor or fellow brother in Christ who is not wearing a blazer or tie. They deny that their own conduct is an insult to God’s Holy Name and, in itself, a reflection of irreverence. There are those, who during prayer times, when eyes should be closed and knees bowed in reverence are instead roving through the congregation seeking to accuse others of irreverence.
We would do well to consider Jesus reference to the Pharisees in Matt 23:1-8, 27-28. Their dressing was impeccable, the epitome of the image of the religious teachers of that era. Their long robes flowed elegantly about them with the long, blue tassels that were meant to remind them of God’s Royal, Holy Law-the very Law that they themselves were transgressing. The sandals of discipleship graced their feet. However, Jesus said of them that they sought the praise of men more than they sought God Himself. He referred to them as hypocrites and white-washed sepulchers, beautiful on the outside but rotten on the inside. Their condemnation and constant policing of others, without regard for their own faults, did not sit well with the Master. This was not true reverence, but pride.
Reverence is not just about arriving at church on time, dressed according to the prescribed tradition. It’s so much more than that! True reverence comes from the heart, and proper conduct will inevitably follow. Don’t accuse people of irreverence without first searching your own heart, lest you fall into the trap of hypocrisy and pride, failing to seek forgiveness for your own sins and failing to see your need of the Saviour’s grace. Instead, pray for a changed heart and a renewed spirit, for discernment to know whether true irreverence is present that requires Christian correction in love or whether the arch deceiver is just using you as “an accuser of the brethren.” Proper Christian correction and teaching can only come from a heart that is transformed by God and overflowing with His Love; the result of this will be conversion and not offence-a much more desirable outcome (Ps 51:10-13).
