Where Is the Reverence?
Reverence is defined as: "honor or respect felt or shown." While the case could certainly be made that honor and respect is on a downward spiral in all aspects of life, since this is a publication of the church of Christ at Richwood and deals first and foremost with spiritual issues, it is from that perspective that we address the subject of reverence in this forum; specifically, reverence toward Deity: the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The farther that we get from the cross of Calvary and the 1st century A.D., the more likely we are to not really appreciate exactly who we are dealing with when it comes to Deity. We do not hear the voice of the Father thundering from Heaven as did those living in that time (Matt. 3:17; 17:5; John 12:28). We do not see angels walking here upon Earth (Luke 1:26; 24:4). And despite desperate protests from many today, genuine miracles ceased in the first century.
When Moses saw a burning bush, he came closer to investigate (Exo. 3:3). It was then that the bush "spoke," saying, "Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground" (Exo. 3:5). The bush was God! More accurately, the Scripture states that "God called unto him out of the midst of the bush," but Moses could only see the bush. However, Moses was in the presence of God and had to show the proper reverence.
Fast forward through Exodus. Israel was delivered from Egyptian bondage, and God was about to reveal His law for His chosen people (Exo. 19). However, before He would do this, the people needed to "sanctify" themselves. They were to wash their clothes (v. 10). They were to refrain from marital relations (v. 15). They were to establish a border at the foot of Mount Sinai and were forbidden from crossing that border on penalty of death (v. 12). When Moses scaled the mountain to meet God at the summit, He sent him back down to warn them again about crossing that border! (v. 21).
Still later, Moses made this request of God: "I beseech thee, shew me thy glory" (Exo. 33:18). God responded, "Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live" (v. 20). However, God made this allowance. He would put Moses in the cleft of a rock and cover him. Then God would uncover him, and Moses could see his "back parts." But he could not see God's face. Keep in mind that Moses was a man with whom the Lord spoke "as a man speaketh unto his friend" (v.11). And yet, even he had to maintain a reverential distance. What does that say about the rest of us today and how we approach the Almighty God?
In the September, 2025 edition of The Christian Chronicle, a story appeared about a congregation in Midvale, Idaho, a town a little less than 100 miles from Boise, Idaho's capital (and largest city). The Midvale congregation is believed to be the oldest church of Christ west of the Rocky Mountains. The occasion was to commemorate the 100th anniversary of their meeting place, although the congregation had been in existence since 1881. While we wish those brethren well in their endeavors, and we hope that they are sound and faithful, it is a picture that appeared on the last page of the article that caught your affable author's attention and is the impetus for this week's article. The picture is of a man serving the Lord's Supper. He is wearing a T-shirt and jeans.
In other words, he sported clothing similar to what he might wear to go to the grocery store or to change the oil in his car. He has a tray with the fruit of the vine in his right hand, and in his left arm he is holding his son who appears to be less than two years old. He has a big broad smile, and while he is not looking at the camera, he is obviously aware of its presence.
Where is the reverence? At least once a year we delve into the subject of the Lord's Supper and the attitudes and actions of brethren pertaining to it. The last time was in late September when we examined a congregation in Virginia that felt the need to "revitalize" the Lord's Supper. People have adopted the misguided idea that the Lord's Supper should be a celebration. We should not be surprised when we consider that the religious world, and particularly the Community Church movement, has turned worship in its entirety into a show or a performance. They have disregarded scriptural mandates pertaining to worship in favor of entertainment and what otherwise makes them feel good.
No doubt there will be those that claim we have no right to judge how people dress for worship and that we are binding where God has not bound and are insisting that men wear suits and sport coats and ties and women wear dresses. We are doing no such thing. However, nobody is going to convince your affable author that if this man who was serving the Lord's supper in a T-shirt and jeans while holding his baby was invited to the White House to meet the president, that he would wear that same T-shirt and jeans. Nobody would do that. And he would find someone to watch the baby!
Yet we have allowed this Community Church mentality to seep into the Lord's church to the point where we have convinced ourselves that God does not care what we wear to worship. Is God not the same now in 2025 as He was in 1500 B.C.? Of course He is. The main difference is that He spoke directly/audibly to His people then, whereas now His communication with us is solely through His written Word. Are we now incapable of comprehending God's will concerning reverence toward Him? Surely not!
Your affable author recently heard about a local man (a member of a nearby congregation) who was asked to fill in at the Lord's table. He had flip flops on his feet! Was there no one else dressed more appropriately that could have been asked? Furthermore, that anyone would wear flip flops to worship even if they were not going to serve in worship certainly underscores the problem under discussion.
One more thing—we are not letting The Christian Chronicle off the hook either. What are they doing taking pictures of the Lord's Supper being served anyway? Where is the reverence? Since no one seems to appreciate the significance of the Lord's supper, allow us to explain again. The Lord's supper is the memorial Jesus instituted as He and His disciples were observing the Passover the night of His betrayal and arrest. While they were eating, Jesus took the bread, offered thanks to God and gave it to the disciples, noting that the bread represented His body that would be crucified for them (and the world) (Matt. 26:26). Then He took the cup which contained the fruit of the vine. Jesus again gave thanks and told them to "divide it" among them and explained that the fruit of the vine represented His blood shed for them (and for all) (Luke 22:17-20).
When we observe this, we should be remembering that great sacrifice. We should remember how shamefully Jesus was treated, betrayed by a disciple, unjustly tried in a series of mock trials, scourged nearly to death, and then finally crucified. Is it too much to ask brethren to dress as if worship was an important event to attend and while they are there, to behave in a reverential and respectful way that reflects the great sacrifice of Jesus?