Cedarville Magazine, Summer 2021

I found myself taking countless pictures as I gazed at the immense beauty that was evident at every turn. Of course, I sent the best pictures to my family back home, hoping to share the overwhelming artistry of God’s creation with them. The problem is, they couldn’t fully grasp the majestic views I experienced. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but my photos couldn’t fully capture the beauty of what I saw with my own eyes. A picture or video, no matter how excellent in quality, cannot fully communicate the majesty of a mountain range that is experienced in person. A PICTURE OF WORSHIP Similarly, we live in a time where the landscape of Christian worship has shifted dramatically due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many Christians are worshipping at home on televisions, mobile devices, tablets, and computers out of necessity, not just convenience. Thankfully, we have the technology available to facilitate corporate worship and small-group gatherings during a global pandemic. These digital platforms provide avenues to connect with other believers when we can’t connect in person, either due to government mandates or health and safety concerns. However, an inherent danger exists with the online options that are so readily available to us: We may be tempted to think that such options are a permanent substitute for corporate, in- person gatherings. That is a very real concern for those of us who are now accustomed to the convenience of worshipping in the comfort of our homes. We run the risk of settling for a picture of corporate worship instead of seeing and savoring the enthusiasm, energy, and encouragement of being there in person. We risk missing out on the blessings of seeing it with our own eyes, sharing in it with other believers, and joining in with our hearts and voices. We can easily overlook the profound difference between observation and participation. PERSONAL AND MUTUAL God has called each of us to worship in a manner that is both personal and mutual. We are made to fellowship with God and others so that our worship reflects a growing up (fellowship with God) and a growing out (fellowship with others). We see a beautiful description of this shortly after Pentecost and the establishment of the church: “And they We can easily overlook the profound difference between observation and participation. We run the risk of settling for a picture of corporate worship. 16 | Cedarville Magazine