10 Ways a Warship is Like Worship…or at least should be
by WCBThis morning Lewis’ sermon was titled “Worship or Warship?”
Sorry, but that’s all it took to get my mind a wandering.
I tried to pay attention. Really, I did. But, what I thought about was just how much a warship is similar to worship.
I have been in the church for many years. I have also spent time on several warships, destroyers, frigates, aircraft carriers, to name a few. I also served on the staff of a Destroyer Squadron as intelligence officer. I could tell you some secrets, but then I’d have to kill you.
I don’t want to stretch this analogy until it breaks, but, let me share some of the many similarities I find between a warship and worship.
1. A warship has a concentrated purpose/mission. When we gather for worship we have one purpose/mission - to give God glory.
2. Everybody on a warship must be committed to the same purpose. In a worship service everyone present must have the same intent - give God glory.
3. Not everyone on the warship does the same thing. During a worship service some attend to the little tikes. Some serve communion. Some lead singing. Some preach. All contribute to the worship experience.
4. There is one person on the warship who directs the vessel. There is generally one worship leader who is responsible for directing the church.
5. The captain of the warship must depend on individuals to work together to accomplish the mission. The worship leader depends on the preacher, the elders, the deacons, the members to contribute to an uplifting worship service.
to read the other five see the original article - 10 ways a warship is like worship.
March 21st, 2009 at 5:12 pm
This makes sense only if you look at the other five in the original article and if you define worship as what happens on Sunday morning at the church building in a corporate setting with other worshippers.
I tend to take a much broader view of worship as encompassing all aspects of the life I live FOR HIM. In that sense, the worship leader is God himself. Not only does he direct the worship, but he alone is worthy of the worship.