Gloss and Glitter

“I am very, very uneasy with churches that have basically said, "Well, since that's what people want and that's what sells; then were going to do our worship services like Hollywood productions. We're going to have a lot of bells and whistles. We're going to have high entertainment value, and it is going to have a lot of gloss and glitter." (Parker J. Palmer)
 
If you’ve ever taken the time to look around you during the worship musical section of your Sunday morning service, you might find that not everyone is enjoying what’s happening.

Some individuals may find this kind of worship pushes them to their emotional limits with the musical volume loud, lyrical repetition of songs to insanity, and the constant body movement and gyration of those around them. In church, do the rights of the worshiper supersede those who are not experiencing this?

Adoration to the Almighty happens for these individuals when they either quilt, paint, draw, write, and a wide margin of other abilities that also involve the use of touch (kinesthetic) and sight (visual) besides hearing (auditory). The church needs to have all three learning styles present in building the Kingdom of God.

“Worship is not an experience. Worship is an act, and this takes discipline. We are to worship ''in spirit and in truth.'' Never mind about the feelings. We are to worship in spite of them.”  (Elisabeth Elliot, author of Let Me Be a Woman)

 On your home computer, have you ever thought to examine any of the songs you sing on Sunday morning for theological correctness (or to you rely on your church to do this for you)? Are the lyrics communicated at times so vague that they could be referring to the love of a human, and not the Divine kind?

Maybe this post can help you correctly sift through it all the nuances of this topic. Good luck, as you read through this information, please keep the following quote by religious artist, Matt Redman, in mind:

"In the end, worship can never be a performance, something you’re pretending or putting on. It’s got to be an overflow of your heart…Worship is about getting personal with God, drawing close to God."

1.  Song Theology  is greater than  Sermon Theology: Do you ever go away from a service humming the words of the preacher’s message? If you do leave the service with something fresh in your heart, it’s likely the words of a song. As my Facebook feed shows, worships songs are much more quotable than any sermon.

Theology in lyrics does matter. It shapes how we view the world. We don’t get it right all the time. If it’s true songs are what we remember, shouldn’t we pay attention to what we are proclaiming as we sing? 

2.  Community  is greater than Individualism: We recognize that faith is much more than me and God. We are ready for the Church to actually be the community of the people of God who share life together. You wouldn’t know that by looking at worship songs.

There a personal aspect to faith.  There is nothing personal about living the Christian life. You cannot be a Christian, and not be part of the community of faith.

How much more formational would songs be for our communities if we sang about our love for God, and our need for His grace and mercy. Wouldn’t we start to be more community-minded if we simply changed our songs from me-focused to us-focused? Simple pronouns do matter.

3.  Hands Stretched Out  is greater than  Hands Stretched Up: If we aren’t feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, setting the oppressed free, and having compassion on those in need, it’s all for nothing. God doesn’t hear our music if we aren’t gathering as a community to be of service. Instead of gathered worship having to be a service, we should consider worship to help those in need, which pleases your Heavenly Father.

“Worship [is] where God isn't moved by the quality of our voice but by the condition of our hearts.” (Chris Tomlin)

 Nowadays, everywhere you shop there is an online survey (somewhere on your receipt). Your level of satisfaction is tabulated with others who take the survey to determine the future of the store you shopped in.

If you love the church you are in, but the worship music is something you are not crazy about. What hints can be done to make this portion of the service endurable for you? [i]

1.  Be Grateful: Look around your church and see all that God is doing, and be thankful. Don’t focus all your attention on what isn’t the way you’d prefer.

 

2.  Pray: Planning music for worship for a diverse congregation is a difficult thing to do. While the song is being sung, spend your energy praying that God will speak and move in His people. Pray each week for the people that are selecting the songs you are singing in church that the Heavenly Father will give them wisdom and discernment.

 

3.  Refrain from feeling insignificant: Satan comes to the offended heart and begins to whisper, “This church doesn’t love you. They don’t care about you. If they did, they wouldn’t sing stuff like this. You don’t matter to them.” None of that is true. You can choose your attitude about the songs your church sings.

 

4.  Sing anyway: There is something true about every song (even the ones you don’t like). Focus your attention on that truth, and not the melody that is driving you crazy. It is a choice you can make.[ii]

"If you come to worship for any reason other that the joy and pleasure and satisfaction that are to be found in God, you dishonor Him...God's greatest delight is your delight in Him." (Sam Storms)

 

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[i] Take it from me; standing in the vestibule during worship time makes you want to leave, which you might. (Your spouse hates it, too.) It is not a good idea.

 [ii] Sources used:

·       “I’m A Christian; I Don’t Like Worship Songs” by Ryan Pugh

·       “What to Do When You Don’t Like the Songs” by Mike Harland