Not Only Sight and Sound

Can you remember visiting your grandmother’s home? What things stand out most in your memory? Take a few moments to describe everything in detail to yourself. Did you mention the things you saw (quilted bedspreads, hand-made tablecloths with a protective plastic cover, 30-year old appliances, etc.)? Do you remember the way things sounded (crackling fireplace, creaking rocking chair, the hum of the fridge, etc.)? What do you think is the strongest memory that you have of your grandmother?

Amazingly, studies have shown that the memories which most strongly remain with us have to do with smells. The clean, antiseptic smell reminds us of a hospital. The scent of certain flowers may remind us of a wedding or funeral. The smell of cookies baking can remind us of some fond childhood memory. Smells trigger something in our brain that can virtually transform us to many years in our past instantly.

Only a few churches, Greek Orthodox for example, still use incense as part of worship. Most of us have only experienced specific scents during holiday times in our churches (Advent Candles, Easter Lilies, Christmas Poinsettias, Mother’s Day Corsages, etc.). There are still some scents that we relate to church. Anytime I smell the strong odor of certain wood cleaner (perhaps it is Murphy’s Oil) I remember a church I attended as a child in Mississippi. The funny thing is that the pews probably were only polished once or twice a year, but that smell reminds me of that church.

The Bible describes the burning of “sweet incense” as a part of worship (see Exodus 25:6, 30:7, 31:1, 35:8,15, 28, 39:38, 40:27, Leviticus 4:7, 16:12, Numbers 4:16, 2 Chronicles 2:4, 13:11). Philippians 4:18 describes our gifts to God are a “fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” When we dishonor God with our actions, we are like the Israelites in Isaiah 3:24, where it is said that “instead of a fragrance there will be a stench.”

You have probably heard the phrase, “Take time to smell the roses.” Next time you are in church, take some time to take in the smell of your surroundings. See if you can tell a difference between your worship service and your small group setting. Is there something unique about the odors around you that make you feel comfortable or give you a sense of preparing for worship or Bible Study? What do you think worship should smell like?