The Bachelor and Worship

It’s a complicated issue to be sure. I do believe that – for some reason and in some mysterious way – God ministers to us all individually and certain songs just become special to individuals. Perhaps the words touch them deeply, etc. or bring back a memory of a moment of being with God. I have no issue with that. I too have some songs that when I sing them in worship, the tears automatically flow – they are a reminder of a life altering encounter with my Savior. Because of that they can help realign my heart every time I hear and sing them. The TRUTH in the songs hits my heart and that is a good thing. Worship is very much about reminding people of the truth of who God is, what He’s done and who we are in Him. And I don’t have a problem with an emotional response. I’m a very emotional person and God created me that way. But I hope I can worship God even when I do not feel like it, or even when we sing a song that is not my favorite. My worship does not depend on my feelings, anymore than my love for my family depends on how I feel.

What I struggle with is when we can’t worship any other way – the lights MUST be low, or high, or we MUST have this singer, or band configuration, or do certain songs. Then we have become self-absorbed in our worship and have turned our eyes off of God and onto ONLY ourselves. And I believe that at this point the danger for us as worshipers is that we are worshiping the wrong god(s). As you said. Perhaps we’re worshiping a certain leader, or worship done a certain way, or the cool effects, but when it gets right down to it,aren’t we in essence worshiping our own desires? Our own preferences? And at that point haven’t we quit learning and growing? And you’re right, an emotional response to a song, to a crescendo, to a guitar or vocal solo, instead of to God is worship misaligned…..

Keeping God as our focus is the heartcheck of worship. Well, I’ll stop for now. I could write a book but I won’t.

I think this brings ip a very interesting point, and I think we can argue two sides here quite easily.

So often (particularly with our generation), people do get caught up in the song, the music, the artist, etc. and miss the God behind it. I’ve even known some worship leaders to get caught in this at times. I agree wholeheartedly with Jan that it’s a dangerous trap for us to say we can ONLY worship in specific settings, because we miss the point of real worship.

I think it’s also true, though, that we can get so caught up in intellectualizing our worship that we STILL miss the point – it becomes more about truth than about spirit.

I certainly agree that we need to pay close attention to the theology behind the songs that we sing, and our job as worship leaders should be to critique songs before we take them before a congregation, but there needs to be a balance found that puts both spirit and truth together the way Jesus taught.

My mind immediately goes to some marriage advise that was given to me a few years back: it’s not a 50/50 partnership; 50/50 means compromise and no one really ends up satisfied in the end. It’s got to be 100/100 to work. In worship, we need to be thinking 100% in spirit and 100% in truth in order that our worship be complete. Now, obviously we can’t do this completely as fallen humans, but that’s why we have the Spirit within us and Christ before us, so that our imperfect worship can be pleasing to God. I think this goes part and parcel with our regeneration as Christians; we strive to be sinless, even though it’s impossible this side of heaven, and we strive to perfect our our worship, even though we know it, too is impossible in our earthly context.

Well, that was a little bit longer of a rant than I thought is was going to be, so I think I’ll leave it there.

What an interesting analogy to draw. I think there is quite a bit of truth to what you’re asserting here. Having grown up in a pentecostal movement, I’ve seen it on generational levels and all the wackiness that can ensue because people become more about the form of worship than who we are to worship.

I personally tire of the concert-worship approach and too many songs that can be construed as “Jesus is my boyfriend.” I think I know why that format is so popular though, as on some level I think it might be the only loyal idea or worshipful idea that a lot of us get, so we use it as our primary expression of worship.

Perhaps most dangerous to me though is the thought that if we don’t have this totally emotional experience, somehow that time of worship was lacking. I know those of us who lead don’t intend that but I wonder if maybe at times we unintentionally lead people into the things that we see needing corrected.

My method of combating that (since I am not on the platform and can get away with it) is to personalize the song lyrics.

I insert personalized words into the subjective and personal pronouns in the lyrics. When singing about a corporate ‘we’ or ‘us’, I insert ‘me’ or ‘I’. Then it puts my focus on what my (instead of ‘our’) words are in giving a compliment/praise to God/Jesus/Holy Spirit. Yes, it messes up the rhyme and sometimes the rhythm.

I also sometimes replace the more formal or distant ‘God’ or ‘Lord’ titles with ‘you’. For me, this reels me in, up close to what I am singing about.

If another person comes to mind during the song about a subject (like healing, for example), I insert ‘him’ or ‘her’ into the words, with me knowing who it is I am referring to and lifting up to the Mighty Physician for healing.

In other words, I engage my brain and think about what I am saying during worship.

The same idea works well when praying through scripture verses for intercession. Personalization causes me to think through the words, not just skim through. For example, if I was to pray for you I might personalize this:

“I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble.”
(- Psalm 142:2)

by saying this:

“Tyler pours out his complaint before you; before you he tells his trouble.”

Umm, I’m not sure how that little face attached itself to my comment. Didn’t put it there. No matter.

Fixed.

sure there are many in the church today that are caught in the emotionalism of the moment, i’m sure at some point or another, we all have gotten into it. but the change in focus comes with a conscious decision…that when you walk out of the church, the body together, that you live the words you sang. b/c that’s what worship is about.

There was a great post about this today on bedevient.com talking about something Skye Jathani wrote in his book. Check it out:
http://www.bedeviant.com/skye-jethani-opens-up-a-can

I love a lot of what Skye has to say.

you have inspired me to pitch a Bachelor series to Ron.
And..great post. I am definately a worship leader who has been guilty of placing a moment ahead of the God of the moment. Thanks for the reminder.

Dang dude your readers leave some huge comments. I just got overwhelmed and scrolled to the bottom.

Oh, and please hand in your Man Card. It has been officially revoked.

Great post. I agree with your final statement…but only if one defines/limits their worship to 1-2 hours on the weekend.

In light of how I see scripture defining worship…

Rom 12:1 “…God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.” [The Message]

Col 3:17 ” Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.” [The Message]

…as Christ followers, we should all be walking around with hands raised in awe-filled worship! Given that our arms would be tired and we’d be ineffective in everything else we do (and probably look weird), a surrendered and Holy Spirit-empowered heart, soul, mind, and body will have to do!

[BTW - I "view" the show, but mainly to provide "color commentary" for my wife. I usually last a bit and then am asked to leave the room!]

I was wondering how you were going to tie those two things together! Awesome post man. Seems like I always go back to my fundamentalist background, but it’s shaped my life whether I want to admit it or not. The way I grew up, there were no style points, there wasn’t hardly any emotion… it was all bland and stale (at least to me). You had to look past all of that to experience God and sense His presence, but once you found it, the reaction to it wasn’t displayed outwardly. Ever.

When I left that Fundamentalist circle, I saw people respond completely different. I saw hands raised, people clapping. My first reaction was “is this legit or is it just for show?” because that’s what I’d been taught. It’s a delicate balance for sure and one I’m still struggling to find personally. I still have a hard time clapping in a service, I’ve never raised my arms. It’s just awkward for me, thanks to my background.

And while we’re on the topic, I often wonder if we spend too much time on the presentation of the truth than focusing on the truth itself. Consequently, I wonder if this is having an impact on the way we worship?

I let that thing go a while ago.

I got told to shut up a lot during the show because I tend to make fun of it most of the time.

The danger of not valuing the concert-like experience that many churches do for their gatherings is often not caring about the details. I go to churches who obviously are avoiding a big band, concert type feel, and often become distracted because of either a lack of preparation or a lack of care about the time of worship.

Agreed, there is a certain level to which a lower key approach can be a distraction as well, but I wonder if that in itself isn’t a bit of a problem, the assumption that the quality of our worship is based on the quality of our music.

I’ve been through some worship times with some terrible musicians and awkward scenarios that have yet been some of the most memorable times of worship. And I’ve been through some really well prepared, musically pleasing times that felt like the musical aspect actually distracted from a focus on God.

I don’t want to make it sound like I’m some anti-worship guy, I just know that a lot of times our focus is on the wrong things (i.e. musical style and quality) instead of things like how we all align as a church towards God.

Thanks for the thoughts Tyler.

All valid points Bryan. I don’t really disagree with you. I do think there is a different between quality music for the purpose of a church being able to freely worship and focus on the music more than the God of the music. If the church is focused more on the music that is a problem. If the band is focused on the music so the church can focus on God, is that all bad?

Good post Tyler. IMHO it seems the danger/challenge/job of anyone gifted and tasked to lead worship is to constantly direct a congregation’s attention to God. Doesn’t matter if it’s musical, preaching or some other aspect of “in-front” leadership.

Part of this is combating the very real demonic lie of “worship is about what I like.” In our culture we’ve elevated if not venerated our feelings and sense of freedom above God’s Lordship. I’m sure this is a problem in other cultures, cuz sin is universal, but I can only speak from what I know.

As a preacher I can tell you the times I have thought my sermon sucked were often the very ones that God seemed to use. It wasn’t shoddiness or laziness on my part, I just didn’t feel like I was connecting or doing “MY” best.

BTW congratulations on three years Tyler. Keep her happy and remember your vows.

Peace
Alan

I wouldn’t say it’s all bad, not by any means. More I would echo what a commenter below posted about preaching that many times it’s the weeks where you don’t feel like you did that great that God might use the best. Just makes me wonder what excellence really is – is it being flawless in performance, or being willing to step out of the way to let God lead (my charismatic leanings think so), or is it just that The Spirit blows where the Spirit wills (I also think so)?

Primarily, I just want to make sure that my methods don’t get in the way. In that sense you and I are coming at the same idea, albeit from different angles.

“My worry is that worship today is more about spirit than truth. It is more about rhyming than it is about theology.”

I completely agree from the premise that lyrically, we need solid theology.

But, could it be that the act of Singing songs, is more spirit than it is truth? I understand that what we are singing about and who we are singing to is crucial in our understanding of truth. But singing, is different than “washing feet” or feeding hungry” or prayer, or etc.

So, is it ok that “spirit” shows itself a bit stronger during singing.

I think you make a pretty solid point there Brent.