Early in the shutdown due to the pandemic, Joe and I did a ZOOM interview with a minister in Holston. He recorded it to use in a sermon series that would conclude with a message on worship. The minister asked us to share our experiences with leading worship, experiencing worship, and explaining worship. I don't have the notes that Joe used for his part of the interview, but recently found mine, which I decided was worth pasting below.
Music in a church service can be uplifting organ/piano music, choirs, singing congregational songs, or special music. These things can move us into the presence of God and truly worship Him. But these things can also be a performance. A focus on the people presenting the music instead of focusing on the REASON we worship.
I am passionate about the music that is shared in a church service. My job at Alcoa First UMC is Director of Music/Worship Coordinator. I plan the services, the order of worship, the music that will be shared, and the Chancel Choir's music. (I don't plan the worship music for the Contemporary Service - only the Traditional.)
When we come together in corporate worship, the music shouldn't be about us, unless we're singing to one another in witness of the greatness of God...His goodness and mercy...His forgiveness. The rest of our music - in my opinion - should be thankfulness. An expression to God...of His greatness, His majesty, His goodness, His mercy...His forgiveness because of what His Son gave for us.
There are lots of publications one could read and learn so much more than this little mind of mine can share. No matter how beautifully music is presented, unless it becomes 'as unto the Lord' it's just a performance. And again, in my opinion, that's exactly what it becomes...a performance.
Here are some points I shared on the ZOOM video were about leading a congregation in worship music:
Colossians 3:15-17 (NLT) ”Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Ideally, when planning a musical portion of corporate worship, I feel we need to start with horizontal worship. What is that? It’s singing to one another about our great Savior, our almighty God, and tell one another how awesome He is and what He’s done for us. Then that worship needs to start going vertical…where we direct our hearts, voices, and words toward the only One who is worthy of our praise. We tell Him of our love for Him, we thank Him for what He’s done for us…and then we go truly vertical when we leave ourselves completely out of the songs/lyrics and only sing to Him. He is an awesome God! He wants us to proclaim that awesomeness with our voices lifted to Him in praise!
A worship leader cannot take a congregation into the presence of God if they’re not first willing to go there themselves. And a worship leader should not take baggage to a place of leadership in music. Worry, anger, frustration, all need to be left behind. Louie Giglio (pastor of Passion City Church in Atlanta) said: “Worry and worship cannot exist in the same space. One always displaces the other. Choose worship.”
I recall the church we served in Ft. Oglethorpe where we had an evening Praise & Worship Service with music, preaching, and a time of ministry at the altars. I was blessed to be the worship leader for those services and even more blessed to have amazing musicians and singers on our Worship Team. People like Doug Markle (drums), Eric Adams (bass), Jeff Lambert (lead guitar), Lisa Adams (vocals), and others (who my 68-year-old mind can't recall) who took worship as seriously as I did. After an hour of rehearsal, we'd go into a Sunday school classroom and have a prayer meeting!! That time together was as powerful to me as any worship service could be! Our hearts were so ready to praise that we came out of that prayer time on fire!
Okay. Sermon's over. But let me leave you with this thought: When looking at what it means to worship God, it isn’t the elements of worship that are so awesome and powerful. It’s really about the object of our worship Who is awesome! And His Name is Jesus!
If you have a pulse, you have a purpose. Make your life count!
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