Freedom of worship, like freedom of religion is one of the crowning acheivements of any civilization. The United States of America - after 250 years - rightly prides itself in this area. Some Christians, however, perhaps carried away by American culture - have long abused that freedom with what may be called the 'worship of freedom'.
The worship of freedom is when church members or a whole congregation value their freedom as more sacred than the wider Church. Their freedom may even overrule the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ, as in the case of replacing the common cup (that He commanded!) with individual communion cups, reducing the subject to 'adiaphora' (indifferent things neither commanded nor forbidden).
The worship of freedom is when church members change congregations because the one they must leave does not honour their 'freedom' in one area or another. A woman may leave a congregation because she does not feel free enough unless she can read (or preach) publicly in that congregation. A man may leave a congregation because he wants the freedom to discard (or despise) the historic liturgy. A pastor may lead worship in a t-shirt and abandon the liturgy and furnishings that have been provided by the congregation, throwing everything out in the name of freedom. These Christians adore free forms of worship, free thinking, and free expression without realising that they are abusing their freedom by worshipping it.
I do not wish this to become a rant, and I appreciate that there are some conversations that are best had with AI (artificial intelligence), but this is not one of them. Why? Because the worship of freedom is a public offence, and a pastoral failure that cannot be simply left to a private chat with AI. The worship of freedom is also a sin that cries out to Heaven since it insults the angels, archangels and all the company of Heaven. Who do we think we are, and what are we worshipping if we put our recent inclinations in a superior place to that of the known convictions of the holy catholic Church?
If Scripture speaks of a 'sign of authority'...'on account of the angels' then even Americans - for all their freedoms - should acknowledge that individual Christians, or even local congregations may have to hang up their freedom at times. Like the armed forces that Americans so honour, Christians should recognise that some sacrifices have to be made in the interests of the wider community. A soldier does not go on parade in a graphic t-shirt, sipping a latte in deference to his or her definition of freedom. He may even have to wear a head covering!
Perhaps - even after nearly 50 years in the Holy Ministry - I am the 'weaker brother' who is easily offended. At the very least I can relate to that person who feels offended by what looks to be the worship of freedom in a free country.
I will always remember attending a Lutheran service where the pastor felt that the worship should be dumbed down for the sake of any visitors who might be attending that morning. In freedom he felt that he could wear no vestments, use no liturgy, and show no ceremonial reverence, all for the benefit of the visitor off the street. Well, there was a visitor that Sunday, and it was me. Sure there was freedom in abundance, but my question was, 'Where is the reverence, the liturgy, and the worship of the Church'?
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