Good, Better, Best!

Having worked for years in the military and in the private sector, I am familiar with “best practices” as the mantra for improvement in all areas of production, safety and efficiency. No company or organization wants to be second best, no one wants to loose customers because someone else did the job better, offered better quality, etc.
Our schools have standardized testing to see who is best and those who aren’t, strive to make improvements. Even the government on all levels tries to improve so that they are at least perceived to be the best they can be.
Good, is not bad is it? Better however, is not the best is it? Best requires lots of effort and constant evaluation to remain with the best practice or best quality, right! We as consumers want the best, we don’t want to settle for something less than the best if we do not have to. If we spend good money we expect the best for our buck. More and more frequently you are going on line to investigate and research products and services before you buy. You want to be not only an informed consumer, but a good steward of the resources you have.
The Japanese began making knockoff products right after WWII and they were scorned for the poor quality and lousy reliability. Yet they kept working to make things better, trying to bring things up to the quality standard already attained in the United States. At the same time, American quality began to slide. The pendulum swung very far to the East, leaving many American companies in trouble.
Americans refocused on quality and production efficiency, even using many of the Japanese improvement methods to “retool” their companies. America has moved back up the ladder and many more products produced in America are worth buying once again. America had to get back to what made us great. Hard work, good quality, efficient production and the like.
Good wasn’t good enough and even better was not something to write home about. We had to be the best, have the best, produce the best, get the best return on investment, offer the best education, etc.

If it is so important to get the best dishwasher or clothes washer, the most fuel efficient automobile or the flat screen television with the a picture with the finest definition, or the best education, then why is it ok to just have good worship practices, and only good practices of personal piety? Why wouldn’t we, who are redeemed in the Blood of Jesus, desire to have the best worship practices, the best personal piety, study to learn what is best within Christ’s Church?
Our beloved brother, Martin Luther, worked painstakingly to eliminate the bad practices within the Roman church and return the Church to the best practices of the historic Church. “ I believe one holy, Christian (catholic) and Apostolic Church.” What does this mean? What does she look like? How is this done?
If you have not already read the handout that was in your mailer several weeks ago(the one that gives the service in detail and then the detailed explanations of each element of the service), then I encourage you to read it. Come on Sunday morning following fellowship time and ask questions about what you have read. More information and discussion will follow each element so that you, child of God, who is drawn to God’s house by His Holy Spirit, might know what are the best practices in Christian/Lutheran Worship and why.
You go out on a date, to a wedding or funeral and you want to look your best. You go to a restaurant, order your food and expect it to be the best. You go to a concert, movie or show and expect the performances, sound and service to be the best. You have visitors to your house and you expect everyone in your household to behave their best and have their best manners.
Welcome to God’s house where He always gives you the best, His best for He loves you.