Comments on: We’re not singing anymore… or are we? Exploring worship and the emerging church…

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 22:22:47 +0000

Thanks CJ, great to have your comment and a very good reminder of the heart of worship isn’t about us at all.

By: CJ

CJ — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 04:39:35 +0000

Hi – I got so wrapped up reading this that I forgot what I was even searching for when I accidentally found your post. I have only been a Christian for less than 3 years and have only attended one church. I felt God led me to become a member of the worship team or the praise team as we are called. As a vocalist member, I am often looking out at the congregation while singing and thinking that more than half of them are missing the purpose of the worship time. It is not about what others are thinking of you or whether or not you can sing. To God all worship sounds wonderful I’m sure. That time though is a chance for us as a group to praise Him and basically express our love and gratitude for what He did for us. We are a contemporary church according to our Pastor and we do sing some contemporary songs as well as some hymns. All of the music we sing though is a form of praise to Jesus. I have often wished that more of the congregation would just let go and either sing or even just say the words to the songs. I can’t imagine not singing worship and have heard some recently saved state that it was a particular song that touched them and led them to the decision to receive Christ. Of course I know that it was God who gave them the desire, but sometimes I’m honored to know that he uses some of the music we sing to do so. I do occasionally listen to a Christian radio station in our area that plays alot of more modern CCM songs. I usually just change the station. I definitely see what you mean about some of the songs being focused on the wrong thing. I guess my point is that it’s not about us and when people get that, they tend to enjoy the worship time more. After all it is and always should be about HIM!

Thanks and I guess this is really a late comment but oh well.

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 10:37:13 +0000

Thanks JD, i don’t think you are missing the point just making a very good one. I’d hate people to read this post and think worship must therefore equal one way of doing so – it’s quite the opposite to what i’m trying to say. We need all kinds of worship style for all kinds of different people. Clearly you and i have a preferred style – it probably won’t be the same but we recognise it, it feels right, it leaves us challenged, changed, connected.

However, I wonder what happens if i start insisting that everyone worships in the way I want? That’s what challenges me – when it become more important that i get my how of worshipping rather than The Who that i am worshipping?

Taking myself out of my worshipping comfort zone exposes me to facing that sort of question. I’m not suggesting that we be masochistic about it just aware of it and how easy it is to become about me and my preferences as the creation rather than the Creator.

By: JD

JD — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 03:25:34 +0000

thanks for the reply Paul. I guess what I’m not understanding is how worship to God embraces community and justice.

Unless of course you are NOT talking in the context of a worship service say on a Sunday morning; But I thought you were writing about the singing portion of a “worship service”. Did I totally miss the point?

Is what you are trying to say is that we should be “Christian” ALL the time, toward everyone, in all situations, every moment of every day? Because I call that genuine Christianity, and I call worship being in awe and reflecting God’s greatness back to Him in a moment just between me and God, where He sees the deepest darkest places in my heart, where I let Him in to shine His light on all my broken humanity. And when I leave a service like that, or my bedroom, or prayer closet, or wherever, I want to be more like Him. And I want to do the things that please Him and I see people like He may see them.

But since my church decided to change the worship music to be more like the music one might hear out in the street, ie rock, with lyrics that might be addressing God and might not be about or even to God at all, becuase we want to attract the unchurched, and they think this is the way to do it…..I don’t leave refreshed, I don’t leave refocused. I leave exhausted, like I’ve done spiritual battle. And I feel sad for God, because I see a room full of people rock out in the name of God…but I wonder if they’ve ministered to God or even know how to.

Don’t get me wrong, rock out in the name of God, no problem, do all things to the glory of God but don’t neglect the “good part”, “worshipping” at His feet. Doesn’t the Father seek those who are true worshippers? Isn’t the church leadership missing the opportunity to teach this every week?

Sorry this is so long…thanks for listening. And I apologize for waisting your time if I’ve totally missed your point.

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 06:40:48 +0000

Hi JD, thanks for your thoughts and feedback, it is really appreciated.

One of the assumptions i made when writing it was that people wanted to worship God and God is worthy to be worshipped. We can often get caught up in the baggage of how we should worship rather than getting on and worshipping.

If there was an overall conclusion in my mind it would be that worship is not just about me and God but embraces creation, justice, community etc…

By: JD

JD — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 23:10:09 +0000

I”m not sure what I think. I did a google search on “incarnate and the emerging church” because that seems to be a term my church throws around a lot lately as they embrace some of this emergent church philosophy, and your post popped up, so I read it. I’ve been walking with the Lord for 30 years so I’ve been around and seen a lot of movements come and go. Something about this whole emerging church movement just hits me wrong.
And what you are saying about worship…something isn’t quite right.
It seems your focus is on what others are thinking about us, how do “they” see our worship? How does it affect them?, what can we do to attract them? That isn’t worship. Worship to God is us reflecting back to Him His awesomeness, His beauty, His holiness. There is power in corporate worship, life changing power. Why is it being watered down in order to attract the unchurched? That isn’t our job anyway, the Holy Spirit will draw them and add them to the church. Our job is to fall on our faces and worship the King of Kings and lift Him up HE will draw all men.
no?

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 15:02:54 +0000

Thanks katie :) I like to think that we need all the help we can get including have worship modelled and carried out in church :)

By: Katie

Katie — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 18:42:19 +0000

Paul– Sorry this is a little late. I really liked this post! The style of how worship is sung (“me myself and I.. oh, and Jesus too”) and how it is viewed is a big deal to me. I really liked your point about that worship is the only 30 minutes of the week that a lot of people focus on God. I’m guilty of this as well– I show up at church and there have been times when it’s a “oh yeah, God! I totally forgot about Him!” Worship should be a part of our everyday lives– like you said, 24/7/365. Worship should be our lives. We should worship in everything we do and everyone we meet. We should be inclusive in our walks with God and focus our entire lives and hearts on the worship of our creator. Thank you so much for this post!

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 00:17:59 +0000

Grade 8, you’re hard core ;)

I like your ideas, heart is so important but so is the practacalities – let’s face it david played for yrs in front of an audience of sheep before he got his big break – plenty of time to practice and grow character. Maybe investing in others is part of the whole character thang?

By: Richie Rich

Richie Rich — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 17:54:46 +0000

I’m willing to do it! But after my bad experience serving at a church I am shunning playing for another until I am at least at Grade 8! My step-dad also served his church for over 20 years – and was treated badly. So I am a little hesitant to get involved again! Although I think the ‘heart’ condition of the group is probably of greater importance than musical ability – that doesnt mean music lessons should be ignored! At my old church they complained about a lack of musicians and there response was: “lets pray them in!” Great idea! But why not do something practical and invest in members of the congregation and pay for and/or help give music lessons for those who wish to learn but never had the opportunity! And maybe to existing band members to help them grow in their ‘gifting’ and develop it?