The Open Door of Worship

Worship has always been meant to draw us closer to God and to one another. Yet in our time, we are surrounded by division. The climate of our nation has made clear the contrast between two ways of living: loving God and people, or loving God and our own goals.

Worship is not limited to what happens in a sanctuary or during a service. It is the way we live each day—how we present ourselves to God in the world, how we treat our neighbors, how we respond to injustice, and how we carry His love into every space we enter. The question is this: does our worship create space for others to belong, to be valued, and to encounter the love of Christ? Or do we live in a way that guards our comfort more than it reflects the open heart of God?

Jesus made no distinction in His call: “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). The gospel is not bound by language, culture, or social standing. It is good news for all. The church becomes devoted when it not only loves God with passion, but also embraces neighbors with equal devotion, regardless of how they look, where they come from or the wealth they possess.

True worship goes beyond the song list or the Sunday service. It is marked by the open door of love—loving others as we love ourselves. This is what makes us a people set apart, not by exclusion, but by inclusion in Christ’s love. When we welcome all into the presence of God, we reflect His kingdom, where every nation, tribe, and tongue will worship together (Revelation 7:9).

To journey to God’s heart is to discover that His heart beats for the whole world. And so should ours. What if, instead of measuring others by our own perceptions of what it takes to “qualify” for the kingdom, we focused on reflecting Jesus—His love, His welcome, His truth? That shift could open doors we didn’t even realize we had closed. 

• Joann Montes