Worship

An interesting thing is happening in my church, and I have to say that I’m very excited about it. Right now, we’re taking a real, serious look at the nature of worship and the Holy Spirit — and how they relate.

I’m a part of a group from our worship team, which is also meeting with the elders to discuss such matters. It’s very interesting and exciting watching how all of this is playing out. To be perfectly honest, what’s really exciting might be how it’s NOT playing out.

We were afraid that this whole discussion was going to degenerate into a discussion about “worship styles.” We hear a lot about this, from people who want more hymns, no hymns, louder music, quieter music, faster songs, slower songs, more guitar, less guitar, no guitar, and lots of other things that have nothing whatsoever to do with worship. The elders also hear a lot of this, and it was a bit of an issue a year or so ago — there was actually talk about having an additional service just to accommodate different styles (specifically, this would have been a louder and harder music style). the worship team, by the way, is near-unanimous in our opposition to such an idea. Even those who are fans of that style of music don’t want to see the congregation dividing on musical lines — especially not when the point of our music is supposed to be worship, not musical tastes.

Our worship minister has a question up on his white board, asking:

Is there any reason that a deeper understanding of worship should precede any talk of changing style?

I would argue that the only reasonable answer to this question is, “Yes.”

You see, I think that simply changing styles so that one group likes the music better doesn’t do anything to improve the worship atmosphere. What we need to do is take another step back and look at the real question … What does it mean to worship?

To take a simple, and only partial, definition, worship means expressing our love for God. There isn’t a strict Biblical definition of what worship is or should be, which strangely makes it more difficult for people. I would argue that this should show us freedom — God wants our love to be expressed. How? Who cares?

At home, in the car, or out and about, I enjoy listening to the music of Rich Mullins, Mitch McVicker, Andrew Peterson, Chris Rice, the Newsboys (yes, that’s a leap), Mark Schutlz, Casting Crowns, and many others. And there are times when I’m really engaged with worship to this music. If you can listen to “Nothing to Say” by Andrew Peterson and not be caught right up into worship, then … well, … I’m sorry for you.

In church, we don’t necessarily do the same things I would play at home. I can respond to this in a few different ways — I could complain that I like other songs, I could go through the motions and go along with everyone else, or I could just let go and worship.

I choose the third option. Why? Because worship isn’t supposed to be about what I like, what I enjoy, or the music that I prefer. It’s supposed to be about me coming into God’s presence and saying, “God, thank You. I love You. You deserve my worship, and here’s the best I can give.”

Considering what God has done for me, I hardly think that it’s too much to ask that I take that step and let Him know that I appreciate it. Even if I can’t remember that last time we sang “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” or “Cross the Line” (an original song by our worship pastor).

Of course, worship isn’t just singing. That’s one of the great fallacies of Christian thought. The other is to go too far the other direction and say that everything a Christian does is worship. I’ve never met a Christian who actually does everything as worship. Ideally, yes, it should be. But I have to be honest and admit that I do a lot of things for reasons other than worship. I keep working on it and praying about it … maybe someday I’ll be brought closer to that kind of heart that actually does everything as worship.

We’re also hoping to work with the elders, and then the church, on the idea that the congregation should be growing as worshipers. We all agree that we need to grow in our knowledge of the Word, and I don’t know anyone who thinks that his/her prayer life is everything that it could be. But many of us figure that worship is fine. I remember thinking that … at a time that I didn’t even scratch the surface of the wonderful experience that worship can be.

As I said, I’m on our worship team. I’m one of the people who run the computer in the back that puts lyrics, readings, and such on the wall. There’s a reason, by the way, that we don’t have a microphone wired to the tech booth. I’m pretty sure that I am that reason. You don’t want to hear my singing voice … but knowing that, I more than make up for my lack of talent with volume and enthusiasm. I’m singing to a God who likes to hear me sing … not because of my ability to carry a tune, but because He wants to hear His children worship Him.

I expect to be writing much more about this … but let me leave you with this bit of encouragement — make the effort to come closer to living a life of worship. When you’re singing praises, go ahead and clap, lift your hands, or whatever helps to express more. In the rest of your life, find a way to keep your heart focused on the miracles around you and just be thankful … and tell Him so.

There’s no reason not to grow as worshipers, and no reason for us not to ask for everything the Holy Spirit has for us as we do. Just as we seek to grow continually in every other aspect of our Christian lives, we should seek to become the best worshipers that we can be.

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