A few years ago, I spoke with a college senior about his recent conversion from Evangelicalism to Catholicism. One of the reasons he gave was the reverence he witnessed during Mass. Many other young adults share his sentiment and have acted similarly.[1] Their departure offers a helpful critique of what is lacking in many churches today.
Biblical Foundations of Reverence
The Holy Scriptures provide tangible principles—drawn from key events—that church leaders can use to foster reverence every Sunday morning. Two such passages are Isaiah’s vision of God in the temple and the high priest’s duties on the Day of Atonement.
Encountering the Enthroned Lord
In Isaiah 6, the prophet recounts his encounter with the Almighty. He describes God sitting on a “lofty and exalted” throne—a seat built for a monarch. Its elevated position signifies God is above all earthly rulers in power and authority. Likewise, the “train of his robe … [which] filled the temple” displays the extent of His royal dominion. In the ancient world, a king’s conquests were represented by portions of the conquered kings’ robes sewn to his own robe. A train long enough to fill the temple communicates that this Monarch’s authority is worldwide.
Another striking image is the seraphim who stand above the Lord. Despite being great in power and physical presence, their subservience to the Lord highlights how great His power and majesty are compared to theirs. Isaiah’s immediate response to this display of God’s monarchical glory is telling: he confesses his desperate state and uncleanness. Confronted with divine holiness, he is undone.
The High Priest and the Weight of Worship
Leviticus 16 describes the high priest’s preparation and duties on behalf of himself and the Israelites. First, he bathed his body, and then dressed in prescribed linen garments: undergarments, a coat, a sash, and a turban. He proceeded to offer specific sacrifices according to God’s command. Each animal type served a distinct purpose. For example, a bull was killed for the sin offering, and its blood was placed on the mercy seat and on the altar.
The sacrificial system communicated to Israel that entering into the Sovereign’s presence and beholding His holiness was an extreme honor and a weighty matter. The author of Hebrews explains that these practices were shadows of a greater reality—the heavenly “throne room” and and the once-for-all priestly work of Christ. The earthly rituals, he writes, were “copies of the true things.”
From Isaiah’s experience, we learn that being in God’s presence is humbling. His confession, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips; my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts,” flows from the staggering enormity of the Almighty he saw. The appropriate response to such purity is awareness and confession of one’s own sinfulness.
From the high priest’s duties, we learn that being in God’s presence is sobering. He followed meticulous, sacrificial preparations and directives so God would be pleased and His wrath averted. The event’s seriousness was also reflected in the priest’s attire, which pointed to purity and righteousness (Rev. 19:8)—realities that find their fullness in Jesus, the “great high priest” (Heb. 4:14). This emphasis on purity was further seen in the command to bathe before offering sacrifices. With his life on the line, the high priest demonstrated reverence by obeying every priestly directive without deviation (Lev. 16:2–5).
Approaching with Reverence
These two passages serve as reference points for New Testament believers in understanding what it means to “offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:28). The language of “offering” connects our worship to the priestly actions of the Old Testament. When the high priest offered sacrifices, he was worshiping with profound reverence and submission. It is no wonder, then, that God calls Christians—His “royal priesthood”—to approach Him with the same posture as we enter the true “Most Holy Place.”
Cultivating Reverence in the Church
In light of these truths, how can churches cultivate reverence?
First, reverence can be exhibited. Church leaders can intentionally incorporate elements into a service that shape a congregation’s posture before God. These might include extended Scripture reading, the recitation of creeds, pastoral prayer, and responsive readings from catechisms.
Secondly, reverence can be taught. Cultural reference points for formality have waned over the past half century. People no longer dress formally for work, church, or travel, nor do they consistently use honorifics in professional settings. These touchpoints once helped communicate appropriate behavior for particular settings. Today, church leaders must be more intentional. By teaching the passages above, they can help believers recover a sense of the uniqueness and weightiness of corporate worship. Whether in a cathedral or a cafeteria, a formal setting can be marked by reverence.
Finally, reverence cannot be commanded. It is a response to the beauty and power of God rightly seen. The Apostle Thomas insisted he would not believe unless he touched Christ’s wounds. Yet eight days later when Thomas placed his finger and hand on Jesus’ hands and side, he responded with belief and reverence: “My Lord and my God!” The same can occur in our hearts when God’s power and holiness are faithfully proclaimed regularly on Sunday mornings.
The God Who Is a Consuming Fire
A recognition of God’s power underlies each instance of reverence above. The high priest knew it and modeled reverence by carrying out his sacrificial duties precisely. Isaiah encountered the Lord’s superiority when he beheld His majestic throne room and was undone. The author of Hebrews reminds us that God is a “consuming fire.” Unlike earthly fire, which burns and dies out, His holiness is unending. The God of heaven and earth is always worthy of reverent worship because He is forever supreme. May these truths ring out from our pulpits, take root in our hearts, and produce deeper reverence in our churches.
[1] Matthew McDonald, “Eucharist, Unity, Clarity: What Attracts Converts to the Catholic Church?” National Catholic Register, https://www.ncregister.com/news/easter-converts-2024-by-the-numbers; Orthodox Studies Institute, Converts to Orthodoxy: Statistics and Trends from the Past Decade (Saint Constantine College, July 2024), https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1722890523/saintconstantineorg/wwfz57wzdrdkx7tj1xu1/ConvertstoOrthodoxy.pdf.
