Assembling For What?

Crowds may form for all kinds of reasons: a building on fire, a car crash at an intersection, a public demonstration, etc. Sometimes people are just drawn to a crowd by curiosity. However, it is possible for people to become involved with a crowd without actually knowing why they are really there. Every time I read of Paul’s visit to Ephesus and those stirred up by Demetrius (the silversmith) and all the commotion of the crowd I am struck by the description of the chaos.

We read…
“Now some cried out one thing, some another, for THE ASSEMBLY WAS IN CONFUSION, and MOST OF THEM DID NOT KNOW WHY THEY HAD COME TOGETHER.” ( Acts 19:32 ESV)

This assembly of people was in confusion. That confusion is also mentioned in verse 29. The word translated “confusion” comes from a Greek word that literally points to pouring together or mixing together and is used for the troubling or confusing of the mind. That confusion was carried to the point that most of the people did not even know why they had come together!

The word used by Luke in recording this scene that is translated “assembly” is from the Greek “ekklesia” (“ek”, out of, and “klesis”, a calling) and thus literally points to the “called out”. This assembly had been called out from what they had been doing to become a part of a riotous mob. This is also the word used in Scripture as a designation for the church (i.e. Acts 20:28; Ephesians 1:22; and other passages) that has been called out of the world into the kingdom of God or out of darkness into light.

When the church is assembled, is there confusion? Do we KNOW why we are there? How MEANINGFUL can it be if we have no clue? Do we merely get caught up in what others around us are doing or do we involve ourselves in MEANINGFUL WORSHIP to God?

As Paul exhorted the church at Corinth toward eliminating chaos in their worship in order to build up the church (“ekklesia”, 1 Corinthians 14:12) he stated…

“What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I WILL PRAY WITH MY MIND ALSO; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I WILL SING WITH MY MIND ALSO.” ( 1 Corinthians 14:15 ESV)

Though our worship together may be spirited, it is not to be mindless motion. We must worship with an UNDERSTANDING of what we are doing, why we are doing it, and that it is what the God Whom we worship has asked of us? Though we may be worshiping assembled together, it is still something personal we are offering up to God. May He be glorified and pleased with what we offer.

Have a great day CLEAR MINDED ABOUT ALL WE DO!
Carl

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