A Parable of Two Worshipers

Once, in a certain church, there were two men who worshiped the Lord.

The first worshiper was in church every Sunday seated precisely in the third row. As soon as the music began to play, he was on his feet, arms raised, head back, eyes closed. When the songs got more intense he began to jump and dance in the aisles. The other worshipers couldn’t help noticing him. They were spurred on into their own fit of ecstasy by his example.

The second worshiper slipped unobtrusively into the back of the sanctuary. He stood to sing with the others but rarely closed his eyes or raised his hands. Sometimes he even sat down and simply read his Bible while others were swooning with emotion around him. Some began to wonder if he was really a follower of God since he showed little evidence of love for the Lord. Many did not even notice him.

It came to pass one sultry summer Sunday that a violent storm wreaked havoc on the town where the two worshipers lived. Many homes and businesses were destroyed. A mighty tornado touched down and tore the church building to pieces. Only a few timbers were left standing. The musical instruments were broken to pieces, the sound system was water-damaged and the powerpoint projector’s lens was shattered.

The first worshiper hung his head. He beat his breast and moaned, “Oh why, God, why did you allow this church to be destroyed? This place where I enjoyed so many Sunday mornings at worship is no more. Do you realize what you have done? You have robbed God’s people of their place of worship!” The first worshiper did not raise his hands that day, nor did he dance.

The second worshiper did not hear the first worshiper’s complaint. He had set to work helping those who had lost their homes in the storm. When asked if he could still believe in a God who allowed such pain and misery to invade his world, he was heard to reply: “God is good. He sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. How can we accept good from God but not trouble?”

Friends, which of these was a true worshiper of God?