The Up-rising of Worship

I am not a great fan of boxing, but I do take an interest when there is a big fight, and a British boxer is involved. Consequently, I was fascinated by Anthony Joshua's success last weekend, especially as I had seen a documentary about him just a few days earlier. He seemed such a likeable person, well 'earthed', and surrounded by buddies with whom he could be a relatively normal human being. It was an historic contest, and he gained very many admirers not only by his victory but by the way he achieved it - coming off the canvas himself to do so. But I fear for him: everyone will now want a piece of him. He is already a multi-millionaire, with great prospects. Success is very enticing and has been the downfall of many from emperors to soldiers, from sports persons to media celebrities.

In his book on Ethics, Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes: In a world where success is the measure and justification of all things the figure of him who was sentenced and crucified remains a stranger and is at best the object of pity. The world will allow itself to be subdued only by success. It is not ideas or opinions which decide, but deeds. Success alone justifies deeds done...The figure of the Crucified invalidates all thought which takes success for its standard.

Bonhoeffer was writing at about the time that Hitler had over-run France, and forced the French to sign the terms of their surrender in precisely the same place and in the same manner that the Germans had had to sign the Treaty of Versailles in 1918. His 'success' was applauded by a great majority of the German people at the time, causing them to overlook the terrible actions Hitler had already perpetrated upon Jews, homosexuals, the frail and non-Aryan people. Success is intoxicating and causes people to overlook many evils which might otherwise be confronted.

Dare I say that this has something to say to our current political debate?

For the Christian, the worship of Jesus Christ is the only sure way to avoid the seduction of success. Not that Christians are necessarily immune from this seduction! We too can be caught up in the 'worship' of success; and can become competitive in comparing one church with another. And yet, if our worship is of Jesus as Lord, we will know that humiliation, insults, persecution and hardship are par for the course in the life of any disciple or fellowship.

'Worship' is our theme this week: the 'up-rising' of Jesus from the dead lead to the formation of a new community, who knew full well that identification with Jesus could well mean suffering the same fate as him. They also knew that to worship him would enable them to triumph over every trial and temptation. Just this morning, a Christian friend said to me that going for a drive in her car, playing a worship CD, made a real difference in helping her overcome difficulty in her life. Or, as our author puts it, The more we praise God, the less we fear or are intimidated by the powers of this world. (McLaren p225)