we just want to worship you

[scottg]

More from ASBO Jesus here

The place of music in Christian worship is a question that I find interesting.  There is no doubt that most faith communities place a high priority on the use of music in gathered worship events – whether that mean contemporary music, or traditional hymns; guitars and drums, or the venerable pipe organ.

But there are also those for whom communal singing does nothing.  Brings no joy, no sense of connection with God, nothing.  Some of that is driven by lyrics.  Lots of music we use in churches have the strangest lyrics, and certainly don’t do much for me.

But some of it also comes down to an understanding or sense of what worship is.  The writer of the letter to the Romans says:

   

Therefore I urge you brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transfomed by the renewing of your mind.

The implication, at least as I read it, is that the very way we live, the practical outworking of our faith is the most important expression of worship that we can make.

Now I have to say, I love singing, and some of the music I have encountered helps me centre, reflect, be inspired and, yes, proclaim my faith in a communal setting.  Music from Third Day, Newsboys, and Matt Redman for instance I find powerful, and helpful.  But if all I do is sing about God…..well….I think you get it.

I think perhaps if God has concern for anything I do, its more likely to be the way I live, the way I love, and the way I practice the gospel, rather than the words and songs I choose.

How about you……where does music fit in your relationship with God?  And what is worship anyway?

(first posted here)

[dachristie]

An interesting topic Scott.

I was heavily involved in playing music in the church, and in 'worship leading', for many years. At one point, as an act of obedience, and as a true yet somewhat reluctant act of worship for me at the time I'd say, I had to give up playing in church for an indefinite period (turned out to be about 18 months). My understanding of worship and the place of music in the church, and of the role of musicians, had become unbalanced. Playing music in church became my 'gig' and a way I'd seek affirmation from others. It basically became an idol. One day God told me I had to lay it down. It was as if He were saying to me, "I don't need your music, I just want you".

Over the years since God dealt with me about my music I seem to have become more sensitive to performance oriented music in the church, particularly some music used in the 'seeker sensitive' type context. Here's a question: If people come out of a worship service saying 'that was fantastic', but what they really mean is, 'I really got off on the music', is that idolatry? I can think of a few times that I've come out of a worship service (concert?) feeling quite uncomfortable, and not because the music was really bad, though that's happened too. It was because the music was the focus; and while I have no reason to doubt the integrity of the musos, there didn't seem to be any obvious safeguards in place to prevent the 'target audience' (youth) from 'worshiping' the music. 

I don't play much in church these days, whereas I used to be compelled to. I'm still learning about worship, but now it's about how I live - as you say, and not about the music I sing or play.

Thanks for this post. Hope plenty more join in this conversation.

Darren

[Frogger]

I think this is a really important conversation to have, but it seems to be quite taboo. I long for the Western church to let Isaiah 58 start wrestling with us, rather than it sit on the shelf assigned to the crazy prophet file. I'm beginning to increasingly wonder if worship music is one of the church's biggest distractions from its task of working for justice.

(I've put some more reflections over on my board.)

[dachristie]

I'm beginning to increasingly wonder if worship music is one of the church's biggest distractions from its task of working for justice.

...and perhaps also, as Scott has alluded to, a distraction away from the 'most important expression of worship we can make' being 'the very way we live, the practical outworking of our faith'.

I reckon I may be only just 'getting' this, at 44yo! For so many years I thought of Praise and Worship as being mostly about music.

I think it's also possibly got a bit to do with where our source of self-worth comes from. It's so easy to make it things like 'ability' and 'success' (what we can do) instead of making it God himself. (Cool missional projects??)

I know there's a broad spread, but I do suspect that, in general, the western church is unbalanced in this area (worship). That's my experience anyway. 

[scottg]

or the Micah 6:6-8 version of worship

or the Romans 12:1-2 version

both of these inform and challenge me