Rituals
What is the true value of our rituals?
Every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, “he sat down at the right hand of God,” and since then has been waiting “until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet.” For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. [And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds,” he also adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.] Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. - Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25
From the beginning of time, the whole purpose of rituals has been to bring people together.
But we don't come together as an audience watching a show. We come together to be together.
When God gave the people instructions for a festival, for example. He said that they should make that day or those days reserved for this purpose.
Is He looking for us to praise Him, or to be one with Him?
Paul tells us that rituals, sacrifices, and offerings are not necessary for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus took care of that.
But as Paul says, our role is to encourage one another. We are to meet so that we can provoke one another to love each other and do good deeds.
So, as we gather today we need to remind ourselves that we are not witnesses of a ritual, but participants in a miracle of faith. We are here on this planet for one another, not to be alone, but to be in God's presence together.
More to come...