Saturday, December 4, 2010

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Christian worship

Worship As It Should Be

December 4th, 2010 at 8:42pm by John Popovich

This post is an essay I wrote during my time at GCU. I just thought I would share my thoughts on worship. Enjoy.

Christian worship by way of music can be a powerful experience. The music plays and the congregation sings praises in a beautiful harmony. Some cry out to the Lord, some bow their heads in reverent silence, while still others lift their hands joyously and shout. But what is the reasoning behind these varied actions? A challenge that many worship leaders encounter is having to shift the congregation from worshipping the experience of worship, to worshipping God. With the use of modern technology, full worship bands, modern music genres, and an unintentional emphasis of style over substance, comes the dangerous line every worship pastor must walk. This line is defined not by how Christians worship, but who Christians worship. The other side of that coin is a lack of enthusiasm some congregations may encounter while worshiping God. Poorly led services and an apathetic attitude can plague church services that do not celebrate or emphasize this important aspect of what a time of worship should be. The attitude of bigger is better, and what we have is good enough, need to meet in the middle of giving all that we have for the sole purpose behind corporately worshiping the Lord.

Having grown up in church life, I have experienced some of the best, and worst, that music worship services have to offer. In this lifetime I have been moved to tears by a simple acoustic rendering, praising God for sending His son to die, so that we can be forgiven. I have also endured self-serving worship, for the sake of being hip and modern, forsaking the purpose of worship and bleeding a pretentious spirit into what should be a beautiful moment of praise and appreciation of God. With worship being a large determining factor for those looking for a church home, it is easy to fall into the thought process of judging a service by its entertainment value. So many churches fall into the category of the mega church that has dazzling lights and sound, rather than the mega church that serves its community and preaches the truth of Jesus Christ, sharing in His love. While Christ is the comforter, and wants to hold us and make us feel better in times of despair, He is not here for our entertainment. Pastor B.J. Maxwell (2010) emphasizes that when Christians begin to worship the experience, they unknowingly create a longing for the feelings generated by hearing about Christ, and not for Christ Himself. By removing the expectancy of an emotionally reciprocal worship service, and falling back into the heart of worship, one can become better centered on Christ and His glory.

For every worship leader that strives to go bigger while dazzling the senses, and in so doing loses their focus of why they worship, there is a church that settles for mediocrity. The organ is played in one key, while the guitar is in another, the drummer has no sense of timing or tempo, and the vocalist is in their own world of harmony, with eyes closed facing the heavens, they are in a place of tranquility. Unfortunately that vocalist has left the congregation behind. This disaster of a service could have been avoided if a sincere sacrifice of time were made in the pursuit of giving their all to the creator; in giving only the absolute best they have to offer. Some could argue that they are only doing the best that the church budget will allow. This is a sad and sore excuse; time is a gift from God, and by spending it wisely in pursuit of what God has called them to do, they can become the best at what they do, and offer only the best of what they have as a living sacrifice to the Lord. Technology, or a lack thereof, should never hinder anyone from using the gifts or talents they have, to their full potential.

Worship of God is not only about singing praises, or music. Worshiping God is about loving Him with all that you are. Jesus tells us in Matthew 22:37 to “[…] Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (NIV).  This command challenges believers to remember Christ in all that they do, and to abide in Him. Schwartz (1993) explains that “Christian worship, regardless of form or tradition, must embody the essence and spirit of the [Apostle Paul’s letters] in living and meaningful ways” (pg 22). In the second chapter of the book of Acts we see people worshiping God together, sharing in everything and living the life that was being proclaimed in their worship. Remembering the commands of God, and praising Him through meaningful worship together as a unified body, is the heart of worship. This center of worship is basic; it is what Christians should be living in their daily walk with the Lord. In my experience, both as a ministry leader and church attendee, I have heard the blame of poor music in worship being placed on poor budgets, or a lack of equipment that would hinder the production of worship music. So many of these excuses do not justify the seemingly surrender to mediocrity that so many are ready to do, rather than bear down, reaching  into one’s soul and giving God everything they have; everything He has created them to do; all for the glory of the Father.

While we can worship God in many different ways, and the individual is ultimately responsible for the condition of their own heart, the worship leader is responsible for the direction and focus of that time of praise. Furthermore, that time of praise and worship should not be taken lightly. We are encouraged in Colossians 3:23 that “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (NIV). Should this not be the attitude Christians expect from their worship leaders? A worship service should not hold back from giving glory to God. Instead, one should offer all that they are, and the very best of what they do, in leading worship. God would not call an individual to lead worship if that individual was not the perfect choice to carry out God’s will. The one chosen to lead may not know that they are equipped to handle such a task, but God is good, and His will is perfect. Sooner or later, if one is called to lead worship, they will realize that it is not by their own power, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, that they are equipped to lead others in giving praise to God. This ordination should be respected and executed with an excellence that would rival the greatest musicians in history.

In conclusion, the average church attendee, if confronted on this issue, would not disagree that the focus of worship should be on the Lord. Similarly, there is not much of an argument from worship leaders that worship should involve praising the Lord and should not be focused on making the individual feel good. However, time and time again Christians will fall into the place of worshipping worship. To solve this issue, worship leaders, and the congregation that follow their spiritual cues, should come back to the heart of worship; never letting go of its purpose: to give praise to Him who blesses us, drawing us closer to the Creator who loves us. Similarly, worship music services should keep God at the forefront of inspiration and creative drive, while leading others with the gifts God has blessed them with. Those leading worship should not settle for mediocre, our God is great, and wonderful, and mysterious; our praise and worship of Him should reflect His majesty.

References

Life Application Bible: New International Version (1997). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers Inc.

Maxwell, B.J. (2010). Do We Worship God Or Worship Worship?. Retrieved November 19, 2010. From: http://bjmaxwell.com/2010/07/14/do-we-worship-god-or-worship-worship/

Schwartz, L. (1993). Conformation or Transformation : Toward Reclaiming Meaningful Distinctives in Evangelical Worship Practice. Direction, 22(2), 13-24. Retrieved from ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials database.