I am going to open the proverbial "can of worms" here. It seems like churches and church leaders are debating this huge topic of worship for some time now. Recently, I have been teaching and developing a curriculum on the subject of worship. So, that is where a variety of the following has come. I do not claim originality for all of the information below. This blog is simply a tool that I hope, as I have assimilated information, is a help and blessing to others. Some of the following was gathered from books, blogs, seminars, as well as personal study. The worship portion of our corporate church services has become a subject of great debate. To some it is so confusing that they have thrown up their arms in surrender. They accept any and all types of music sung or performed in any and all styles. To others, the worship service has been simplified to a formula leaving no room for any other interpretation. A set of rules has been established for determining correct worship and you dare not challenge them or you will be labeled a traitor.
I wonder what God thinks of our church worship services? On the one side a Believer stands in a congregation of people who look and sound an awful lot like the world. He raises his hands in praise and to the best of his knowledge, sincerely sings to God as the screaming electric guitar and deafening trap set create a “mood” for his worship. The music is sensual, the singers are carnal, and the environment is worldly. On the other hand, the Christian stands in a congregation of dead, lifeless people, whose minds are anywhere but on the task of worship. He mumbles through a hymn written 200 years ago and struggles to keep his brain engaged. The music is boring, the singers are lifeless, and because of this, the environment is no more godly than the previous illustration. Which one pleases God?
Unfortunately, the majority of churches that preach the gospel in America would fit in one of the two scenarios described above. They are either a contemporary church with carnal, worldly music, or, they are a conservative church with boring, dead music. The contemporary congregation claims to be more godly because they are more sincere. The conservative church thinks they are more godly because they do not use rock music. What has happened to God’s people that they have reduced worship to a style of music?
Understand this: you cannot set a mood for, induce, create, or perform worship. Worship is something that takes place in the heart. It is produced in the mind and soul between a Believer and God. It can happen inside a person’s head as he silently praises God. It can take place in spoken monologue as a believer prays to His Savior. It can be set to music. But the music is not worship. It is simply a vehicle by which worship is carried. Let’s work with this basic definition of worship: Acknowledging the “worth-ship” of God. In other words, praising God for who He is and what He has done.
When we go to church it is our responsibility to make sure that we worship. It is not the job of the worship leader, music pastor, or minister of music. It is not dependent upon the song selection, or the talent of the musicians. It is a duty of mine to discipline my heart and mind to worship God! No one can do that for me. I must do it myself.
Here is the problem: Our churches, conservative and contemporary alike, have rallied around a style of music rather than around their God. It is my experience that a high percentage of churches have music programs that are either sincere but sensual or conservative but dead! Why is this the case? I believe it is because we are more concerned with music style than true worship of God. You do not have to read much of the New Testament to discover that believers are not to be like the world. That truth alone is going to rule out the majority of contemporary churches. On the other hand, God does not have very good things to say about those who leave their first love and worship Him without engaging the mind. Who are we fooling? God wants our hearts, minds, and souls! He wants us to be sold out to him.
Could it be that the level of enthusiasm in our voice mirrors the level of commitment in our relationship with Christ? How many of us are living the principles of Scripture day in and day out? How many of us are busy about the one task God left us on earth to do…share Jesus with a lost world who desperately needs Him. I truly believe that if our congregations, and even our pastors were out in the world sharing their faith, pointing souls to Christ, meditating on His word, and worshipping Him in private, our corporate worship services would look entirely different. Maybe the reason that we have difficulty genuinely praising God on Sunday for who He is and what He has done for us, is because we are not choosing to experience the wonderful relationship with Him throughout the week that only a truly committed believer can know.
When we sing to God in a dull, boring, lifeless way, He is no more pleased with that than with the contemporary musician who sings Scriptural words set to a rock beat. Neither pleases God! Singing to God in that way is like wearing a T-shirt that says, “I’m not in God’s will!” It is like waving a huge red flag over your head that says you are not experiencing a joyful relationship with Christ!
The bottom line is this - Godly believers love to worship and praise God! You do not have to coax, prod, or convince them to sing to their Lord. Their joyful song of praise is evident because it is a lifestyle for them. It is not something that they “put on” for church on Sunday. If Fundamental churches are going to continue to please God in the new century they have got to wake up to the fact that boring does not equal godly! Our music programs should honor Christ in their musical style, in the presentation by the performers, and even in their associations, but that should not reduce them to being dead and lifeless! Our music should be alive, full of vigor and enthusiasm, exciting, and relevant. Our God is not boring and neither is the Christian life. If you are experiencing that kind of a relationship with Him during the week it will be obvious on Sunday. Our music should represent Him!
