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Reverence in the House of God

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 1, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 5.

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Reverence in the House of God

By GEO. O. STATES

GEO. O. STATES
My daughter is a primary teacher in the public schools. The lady who has the other grades was reared a Catholic. One day my daughter said, “I would like to have your company at church to-day.” “I seldom attend a Protestant church,” answered the other. “I would as soon attend a ten-cent theater, as there is nothing to remind me of the sacredness of the place. In our church the priest enters reverently, and before he reads from the Bible he kisses the leaves of the open Book. I have seen Protestant ministers get so excited they would pound the desk, and take the Bible, turn the backs together, and slap it down on the pulpit.”
While there is much in the services of the Catholics which is “a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof,” yet I believe there are honest hearts among them. While seeking earnestly to give them the last message to the world, let us be careful that we do not create prejudice. Thus may we gather out some precious jewels to “shine as the brightness of the firmament” forever. Are there not some lessons for those of us who are giving this last message to the world?

Elijah’s Experience at Mount Horeb

“And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”
That still, small voice was God speaking to his servant. It is said of John Wesley: “His speaking style suggested power in repose. His voice was clear and resonant, his countenance kindly, and his tone extremely moderate.” He was truly a great Reformer, and his secret of moving the people lay in being himself moved.
I believe that everything done in connection with the worship of God should be done with reverence. “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.” No doubt this refers especially to worship in the Lord’s house, and it teaches reverence as we come into his presence. I believe it is pleasing to the Lord for the whole congregation reverently to kneel with the minister as he pleads for the divine presence. “Things that are wrong often transpire in the sacred desk. One minister conversing with another in the desk before the congregation, smiling, and appearing to have no burden for the work, or lacking a solemn sense of his calling, dishonors the truth, and brings the sacred down to the low level of common things. The example tends to remove the fear of God from the people, and to detract from the sacred dignity of the gospel which Christ died to magnify.”
Common talking, whispering, and laughing should not be permitted in the house of worship, either before or after services. Ardent, active piety should characterize the worshipers. “If when people come into the house of worship, they have genuine reverence for the Lord, and bear in mind that they are in his presence, there will be a sweet eloquence in silence.”
Cedaredge, Colo.