There were songs we were all up on our feet and others when we just sat and listened. In the middle of one of the quieter songs I looked down the row we were sitting in and saw a woman standing with her head lifted, eyes closed and arms outstretched. I remember thinking that what she was doing was the very picture of what an authentic worshiper should look like. Solely focused, unaffected by the opinions of the others around her.

This all sounds like a great example of worship… right?  Well, we were not at a worship concert. In fact we weren’t even at a christian concert. It was just a creative rock concert with some amazing musicians.  How could it have been worship? Worship of what?

So how does a person become so affected by something that they almost involuntarily stand, close their eyes, and raise their arms? In a church setting we would call it worship… but in a secular setting we would just call it an emotional response or a feeling.

Here is the point. The picture that each of us have for worship is usually the measure we use to determine if leading worship was effective. If we believe that someone standing, closing their eyes, and raising their hands is the picture of what authentic and real worship is, then we evaluate based on that.

My experience at the concert changed my perspective of what worship looks like. For me, it challenged my assumptions about what I saw in the congregation Sunday morning. It helped me realize that sometimes the responses we see in people are real and authentic, but other times people are moved by the emotions the music creates in them. One is worship and one is just a feeling.

Our job as leaders should be to create environments of authenticity and worship so that people can experience God in a real way. It can be easy to build services and gatherings around the intended emotional impact.  When we do this we are building something that strives to fulfill the picture of worship we have. Challenge yourself this week to change the picture of worship you have had. Challenge yourself to see past the creative package and desired response and realize that God wants you to trust him with how people respond.

The reason I laughed is because I realized how influenced I am by what the trendy churches are doing.  Don’t get me wrong.  There is nothing wrong with trying new things so that we can stay fresh and engage the culture. But sometimes we see the success of another ministry and assume that what worked there will work for me.

I have had some royal disasters by adopting the what worked well for another church without evaluating the culture of the church I was serving in.  For example, doing a rockin’ version of “How Great Thou Art” in a ultra conservative church; really missed the mark on that one.

My point is this:

We  have all seen something great that someone else is doing and thought “I can do that”.  So….we run out, figure out how they did it and put it into the mix the next chance we get.  It might work out or it might not. I have made the mistake of acting without asking.  Acting on what I thought was cool, before asking why something worked.  Everything that churches do is relative, which means it might work somewhere else or it might kind of work or it might fall apart completely.  Next time you see some other worship pastor who has some incredible concept you want to start utilizing, take a minute to ask the question “am I doing this so we have a cooler church or am I doing this because it will help us experience God?”

This passage sure makes me think.  It reminds me that it is so easy to fall into the typical routine on Sunday morning.  Show up… greet a few people… grab a bulletin… find a seat… read the bulletin… stare at the screen.

The musics starts.  We stand up.  Clap our hands a little.  Maybe lift a hand when when the music softens.  Close our eyes once in a while to get in the vibe.  Listen to the message.  Take a few notes.  Cringe when the offering plate comes.  Look at our watch to see how much time before the game starts. Think about a meeting on Monday morning.

How much of that was really worship?  I am so guilty of falling into the routine and going through the motions of leading / participating in something that is manufactured to provide an experience.  It all looks great, but what is really going on inside.

The verse in Isaiah challenges me to move past the regular routine and bring something authentic in worship.

I’ve been thinking about the typical role of a “creative” or “worship” ministry in a church. What does that role really encompass?  Why does a team do what they do?  Why does a leader do what he or she does?  What inevitably is the goal?  Is it really worship anymore?

I find myself questioning it.  There are lots of flashy lights, some very creatively crafted transitions, great guitar solos, a very colorful bulletin, emotions running high, but did anyone actually sing? or pray? or truly worship God? did God even show up?

It seems like we are missing something.  It seems like we are putting more of an emphasis on the production of worship instead of the person and object of our worship… Jesus!

What do others think about this?

Psalms 57:7-11
My heart is confident in you, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises!  Wake up, my soul!  Wake up…!  I will waken the dawn with my song.  I will thank you, Lord, in front of all the people.  I will sing your praises among the nations.  For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.  Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.  Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens. May your glory shine over all the earth.

Psalms 89:1-4
…I will sing of the tender mercies of the LORD forever!  Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.  Your unfailing love will last forever.  Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.

Psalms 100:1-5
Shout with joy to the LORD, O earth!  Worship the LORD with gladness.  Come before him, singing with joy.  Acknowledge that the LORD is God!  He made us, and we are his.  We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise.  Give thanks to him and bless his name.  For the LORD is good.  His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

What a great reminder of God’s great faithfulness to us, the amazing grace that He so freely gives, and the open invitation we have to come and worship Him.