Transactional Worship

Scripture

The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father's house a marketplace!”   (John2:13-16 NRSV) 

Transactional Worship

Some years ago a friend asked me to join him at his lawyers’ office to witness some documents he was signing for a new venture. After some comical chit chat around our different faith roots – the lawyers identified themselves as High Holiday Synagogue attenders, sort of like our Christmas and Easter church attenders– they asked about how we supported our churches with tithes and offerings.  

They laughed when we said give as we feel led with no pressure or knowledge of our givings from anyone else.  They said that to get good seats at High Holidays their Rabbi stipulated their giving in accordance with their income. From their perspective it was just another transaction for them. It may often be something the same for Christians in our donations. No seats may be at stake, but recognition is often sought, and certainly larger donors are treated with greater care by the recipients – transactions again.  

I remembered that cordial conversation when I was reading Jesus’ angry outburst at the temple and wondered if some of it was that it was the smell of a transaction-based religious practice that got up his nose. The roots of offerings as I understand it was to select and bring the best you have from your flocks, fields or savings and offer it to God in thanksgiving for what we had earned, produced and harvested. It was a humble act acknowledging that all we have is from God ultimately.  

Perhaps Jesus was annoyed that the whole sacrificial ceremony had become so transaction-based that there was no spiritual value in it. Just come, buy whatever you need to offer and get on with the rest of your life. My heart needs to be in whatever I am doing in my worship and service of the God who loves me.  

A Prayer for Today

Loving God, when you came to live as one of us your patience and love, humility and self-sacrifice were on display abundantly. But seeing our hearts involved in empty worship practices got right up your nose. Forgive us for times when we just go through the motions, turning an invitation to deep relationship into a transaction. Help me love You with my whole heart, soul, mind and strength …. For Jesus’ sake