i’m listening to a series on worship - taught by a professor at our seminary.
he just said something that resonated with me:
“The substance of our worship is always more important than the style or form of our worship.”
he explains: God is concerned more about the heart, substance, content of our worship, than He is about the style or format of our worship. many of our styles are representative of cultural preferences and generational preferences, and these will change from time to time. whatever form we worship is secondary to whether or not the worship is substantive.
as the worship leader at a multi-generational church, i am faced with the challenge of bringing old hymns and new songs together in a format that facilitates worship among our congregation. i find myself singing with fresh authenticity the lyrics to many near-ancient hymns. this is a challenge, but when i stop long enough to ask myself if i mean what i’m singing, then my heart automatically rises to the challenge.
the moment becomes real and genuine and alive for me.
how can we, as worshippers, emphasize substance over style when we attend worship services?? what do you do, when you don’t like the “style” of the song, to engage your mind and heart in a sincere expression of worship to God?
Quote: Dr. Gary Parrett
21 responses so far ↓
brandiandboys // May 25, 2008 at 7:50 am
Mandy - I totally agree…worship is about your heart and authenticity of heart rather than style. I get so frustrated when people make a big deal over style rather than just trying to enjoy the worship.
We had a friend who used to lead worship barefooted. He felt like leading worship was so humbling that he wanted to come before God making sure he had the right perspective and for him taking his shoes off in front of that many people reminded him that he was “standing on holy ground.” I couldn’t believe the number of people who made a big deal over the fact that he didn’t wear shoes. He was a great guy and finally said, if it causes that many people to be distracted I’ll wear shoes (which was a great attitude). I was just surprised how many people couldn’t worship seeing a guys toes.
Thanks for the reminder as I’m heading to worship this morning!
Kristiapplesauce // May 25, 2008 at 9:18 am
Yup…totally all about this post. BUT, I think that no matter what style you are worshiping in…it needs to be the best you can bring. Like I know that God has not gifted me in leading worship, thus, I won’t be leading any worship at any churches anytime soon…I have also been to a friends church (many many many times) that there is this guy who leads and he even sings his own songs and like forgets the lyrics and stops in the middle of the songs to take a drink and totally makes it about him even though he can’t play or sing…it is like why is even up there? It is so distracting. I have also been in church where the person leading doesn’t have “the best voice” to lead but has such a God-connection that you can’t help but be ushered into the presence of God, which is what I kinda have always thought the praise and worship part of the service was all about anyways…so I don’t know. I tend to just pray and try to sing along wherever I am in church. I hope that the gifts I bring are acceptable to the Lord, and that my judgmental attitude gets checked at the door.
Becca // May 25, 2008 at 10:44 am
I stumble over this. When I’m not fond of the style of worship at school, either because it appears “showy”, too loud, or off beat (which distracts me like you wouldn’t believe), I leave upstairs and read my bible downstairs where the sound is but a mere muffle at that point. I sometimes think this is alright to do, because I’m not leaving in defiance–or maybe I am. Maybe I think it’s okay ‘cus I read my bible–which really isn’t a bad thing to do either.
God intended for us to worship Him, and worship exists in all different forms, including music, of which I’ve found I’m both a traditionalist (a nag some may say) and a lover of unique instrumentation.
I blame the musician in me for having a critical ear, but honestly? I just can’t get past it sometimes when the vocals are off, or the drummer speeds up after a roll, etc… I need to stop labeling what could plainly be considered a critical spirit at times and figure out a way to push past it. I haven’t got too many ideas at this point!
When I was an intern with Thrive we had a team from Michigan come over (maybe it was Florida…) and one of the guys told me, ” people are as picky about worship as they are about their cereal. It’s a very personal thing.” And he seemed to leave it at that. I think he was trying to tell me that I couldn’t “please” everyone as a worship leader, but that’s actually not my job. It took me a while to figure that out, and sometimes I shy away from worship opportunities because I still haven’t quite conquered that notion.
There has to be a happy medium between wanting a worship service to be done well but also where God can put His two cents in. I sometimes found that medium over the course of a year that I lead, but most times I’m not sure that I did.
Thanks for letting me spew!
Good words. Thank you.
Tawny // May 25, 2008 at 1:17 pm
I think the best way to worship Him is to seek Him with all of our hearts during the week. If I seek Him and find Him during the week, I love singing to Him on Sunday. The only time I have a hard time with worship is if I don’t agree with the words or know I can’t honestly sing them. Sometimes I won’t, and pray God changes me so I can sing the song and mean it. I also struggle looking around me and wondering if anyone is even paying attention to what they are singing because I don’t see it reflected in their lives. I realize that is judgemental and lately I have been doing better praying for them instead of judging them. Praying for all of us that we will LIVE the words we sing. Love this post, Mandy!
Lei // May 25, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Great thoughts so far . . .
When I’m having trouble with the song, music, etc. (for any reason) usually focusing on the words brings my focus back to where it should be.
What are my mouth and spirit truly saying to my Lord? What if they Lord couldn’t hear any of the music and could only hear my spirit sing to Him? Would He like what He was hearing?
THAT usually breaks me out of a pouty/discontented mood that’s focusing too much on earthly things!
Russ // May 25, 2008 at 1:33 pm
“The substance of our worship is always more important than the style or form of our worship.”
I would take that a step backwards and say it like this.
The OBJECT of our worship gives our worship substance,and the substance of our worship is always more important than the style or form of our worship.
There is no worship without a target. There is no worship without an object to worship. In this case it’s an entity, a living God.
God gives our worship substance, and therefore the substance of our worship is always more important than the method of our worship.
Great post!!
robin // May 25, 2008 at 1:45 pm
I have a hard time with corporate worship. I LOVE to praise God, LOVE to sing to Him, but I always fel like I’m being looked at by people standing around me in a church setting. I dont feel free to express how Im feeling abput the words Im singing, mostly because I worry how people will perceive what I am expressing-that Im making a show, or drawing attention to myself-which is NOT what I want, but I worry about folks thinking that. I am moved to raise my hands sometimes, but I always think of where Jesus said not to pray like the religious leaders in the synagoges with their hands raised in a showy way, that the attention was their reward. So I wonder if I should reserve that kind of worship for private times? Sometimes I feel like I can help it, I want to physically express Who God is to me, that He is above and beyond and I am reaching for Him, receiving Him, surrendering to Him.
We sing a couple songs I actually dont like at our church, because I think they are too much about ‘me/people’ and not enough about God. During those songs I silently stand there and close my eyes and pray, for people in the church, for the service, and for God to change my attitude about that song, help me see it maybe in a new way.
Good questions!
hislifeformine // May 25, 2008 at 2:17 pm
What do I do? Ask for forgiveness for being distracted. Ask Him to let all fall away but He and I. And then sing with my heart…all out for HIM.
ramsey72 // May 25, 2008 at 4:35 pm
For me being a part of a worship team really forced me to wrestle with this subject and wrestle I did for awhile. My prayer is that I will walk worthy of the calling that He has called me too. I really have to make sure that regardless of what anybody else is doing, my focus is on worship to God. There are a few people on our worship team who I struggle with sometimes and I just have to pray that God reminds me that it is about Him and not about me. I think that is why our worship lacks sometimes, we get in the middle of it and forget who we are worshiping. It is frustrating when we do not seem to be getting it across to the congregation. Sometimes I wonder how they can just sit there when the Spirit really is moving in a service.
mandythompson // May 25, 2008 at 5:17 pm
i’m stopping in to say i LOOOOOOOVE your answers. thank you!!!!! i’ve read them all, and they are great thoughts for me as a worship leader. really. thank you.
becca - i know the musical distraction. i’ve tried to find ways to express worship to God that does not require worship. this has pulled me away from the distraction altogether. maybe you should try it in your week-to-week life.
robin - we have a guy at our church who is from a pentecostal background, although our church is more traditional in history and service. but, this guy loves to say “amen!” and “hallelujah” and raise his hands during worship, so i’ve got him on the worship team… even though is worship “shows” its NOT “showy”… don’t discount the inspiration you could be to those in the pews behind you… see, you’re leading the way of sincere and heartfelt physical responses of worship - hacking the way through the jungle of worship wars and make a clear path for others to follow you.
have to run now!
i heart ALL y’all.
tam // May 25, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Worship isn’t a thing we do, it is a lifestyle. And it is never about us. It is about surrendering ourselves to God in reverence and awe of who He is. If we are distracted by a style of music (which music is just one very small form and way of worship) then we are making it about ourselves. So it’s important for me to be constantly focused on His greatness and goodness. No, I am not always there. My flesh creeps in way too often. And when I realize I have some to that place of nitpicking music or “off vocals” then i have stepped out of a precious worship moment with my Creator.
tam // May 25, 2008 at 6:38 pm
not “some” to the place….come to the place.
hislifeformine // May 25, 2008 at 6:59 pm
And when I realize I have some to that place of nitpicking music or “off vocals” then i have stepped out of a precious worship moment with my Creator.
That is something I struggle with and what I was referred to in my comment. Putting it that way, using those very words “a precious worship moment with my Creator.” I will remember that. Thank you Tam.
alece // May 25, 2008 at 9:35 pm
this was a very timely post. worship at church this morning wasn’t in a style i prefer, and your words swirled around my brain, challenging me to meet with God in spite of it (or rather, in the midst of it).
i can shut my eyes to block out visual distractions. but there’s no way to stop auditory ones. sigh.
i found myself smiling a few times (eyes clenched shut) out of sheer disbelief that we were singing another tune from the early 1980’s. i stopped singing along and just spent the time talking to God.
it ended up being a really good time of worship in my own heart.
cathi stegall // May 25, 2008 at 11:18 pm
I like worship.
More so, I like the fact that it’s my heaven on earth.
The musical moments of worship we get on Sunday sometimes can be blow-your-mind-away-i-can’t-help-but-raise-my-hands-and-close-my-eyes kind of worship, but I soon found out that when I experience that kind of worship, there are a few people who have to walk to the back of the building b/c it was a bit too loud for their liking, but they stayed there b/c that wasn’t all the worship in their week. Like it’s been said above, it’s a daily thing [re: tawny & tam], not just a singing on sunday thing. So, if you don’t like the music, ramp up the worship during the rest of the week and ROCK IT OUT your way!!!
[that's my 2.5 cents]
oh, and btw, Mandy Mac, whenever I steak out there, I’m gonna make sure it’s on a sunday. fo’ sho’.
danielle // May 25, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Good thoughts.
When we were church hunting we had several conversations about good worship vs. right worship. We concluded that we would rather have right, genuine, humble, out-pouring-of-love worship than worship that sounds good but is showy or empty. Sometimes, I’m even thankful if I experience worship that does not sound good. It gives me two choices: 1) not worship a God who is worthy or 2) train myself to worship no matter my circumstances or surroundings. That being said, it’s not always easy but like Alece said sometimes you gotta just smile and pray!
praise365 // May 26, 2008 at 11:09 am
It’s a shame that music has become such an “issue” in the church. Although i guess it probably always has been. I played secular music in various bands for a long time before coming to Christ. It has been a challenge to get past the “performance” thing and the realization that it’s not just about me being
with a guitar.
We chose a more “tradional”
kind of church with excellent teaching over the megachurch with the rockin’ worship team and the latte stand.
Our Sunday music usually consists of traditional hymns, hymns with a more contemporary arrangment, and modern worship songs. We still don’t use drums. there are still people who complain.
You will never be able to keep everyone happy but we all need to come to the realization that worship is more than a song. It’s a lifestyle. It’s a requirement.
mandythompson // May 26, 2008 at 11:25 am
Praise365: yes sir. it is a shame. and i don’t know how in the world we’re ever gonna stop fighting about it. sounds like your church setting is similar to my current situation, except we do have drums. i just posted on blendingworship.wordpress.com - about an experience i had yesterday with regards to keeping everyone happy. you might find it interesting! or laughable! or just typical…
Heidi // May 26, 2008 at 11:59 am
Wow…
Okay, about 2 years ago I got a revelation in my heart about worship. To me worship is the most important part of the service FOR ME>.. Let me tell you why..
It prepares my heart for soaking in of the word
I call it funneling (look at this capital .Y.)(yes.. I wish I was that skinny too)
I told this to my young son who is 7 , “Isaac, I raise my hands to God to create a funnel, the funnel (my arms)(Y) to bring in God’s unstoppable love for me, it just flows” and never stops.
Since then, in his bedroom to a Casting Crowns song, here’s my 7 year old “funneling” to God. you gotta love that.
Raising my hands, crying and clapping and praising Him TO ME is not about show.
David did it.. and danced.
It’s my time with God …. If it’s live bands, hymns, or a CD in my car…
IT’S MY TIME.
I’m sorry.. I get a little worked about this.
mandythompson // May 26, 2008 at 12:18 pm
oh amen sister.
i pray you STAY worked up!
JudiFree.com // May 27, 2008 at 4:30 pm
As worship leaders, this issue actually comes up quite a bit in our church which was mostly 100% gospel music and now we do almost 100% rock music.
One of our pastors, Marylin Hickey, frequently tells us about her expeditions in African countries that use chanting and wild dancing as forms of worship and how she worships God with these people who have never heard Gospel, Rock, R&B, or Traditional Hymns. It’s about the heart. Genuine and passionate worship will always bring the presence of God - it will never matter what style of music you are playing. When we focus on our hearts first, that’s when we always have the most explosive worship services.