There is a very interesting discussion going on at one of the worship leader websites I'm a part of...it is, IMO, a very telling conversation about some of the basic issues that are damaging so many of our churches. I don't think it's so important to know the entire story behind the discussion, but I would love to discuss some of the "worship fallacies" (actually, some of this discussion will probably involve church leadership as well) that have presented themselves in that conversation. I'll break this down into several posts over the next few days so that each point can have it's own discussion...my goal is to neither attack anyone or to debate with anyone but to have a simple, Biblical and practical discussion.
The first issue I identify comes right out of the title of the thread: "worship cut out of the service for preaching and a solo by the preacher's wife"
This is something that I've blogged about a few times here...the misconception that worship = music and music = worship. Worship is far more than music, both on Sunday mornings and during the rest of the week.
How would you either support or refute the above statement? Using practical and Biblical references are highly appreciated.
BTW, if you're coming to this discussion knowing the details of the situation that has inspired this discussion, I'd ask that you please focus on the topic and not the people...thanks!
Nate
6 comments:
I support your thoughts on the subject. Worship is not just music. It comes in many forms.
I think the problem boils down to the definition of worship. (which I know Nathan has pointed out many times on this blog).
Worship is loving God will all of our heart. Worship is honoring Him with our life. Worship is celebrating God through the choices we make. Worship, by definition is "expressing worth to God".
“For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God; serve only him.’”
Matthew 4:10b
“But the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
John 4:23-24
To worship in spirit means to worship in love. To worship in love means to worship in truth. A few of the ways we can do these are through: singing (Ephesians 5:19), commitment (Romans 12:1-2), praying (Psalms 95.6), hearing the Word (John 17:17), giving (I Corinthians 16:1-2), baptism (Romans 6:3-4), meditating (Habakkuk 2:20), and the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 11:23-26). . .the list goes on.
Sorry for the long comment!
I think part of the problem is that we fail to understand that Sunday is used as a facilitator of worship--not worship in and of itself. Worship is not the music,nor the sermon. Worship is my response to God based upon what is revealed or experienced which can be highlighted or brought to mind during that little time we spend together. Every act of worship in the Bible follows a revelation of some kind. Music and sermon and fellowship can often teach us something about God which results in our worship. To confuse the activities of the church with worship makes it superfiecial at best.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. (Romans 12:1)
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. (Mark 12:30)
Worship (loving God) is a whole-body/being thing. It requires everything that we are, everything we say, think and do, including every aspect of our worship services. To say that we're cutting the worship and leaving the preaching doesn't make any sense...the preaching can be just as much about worship as the music (which is what this person was referring to when he/she said "worship").
An interesting study would to take the 100 times "worship" is found in the Bible (NKJV anyway) and see hwo it is applied.
Music is implied occasionally, but more often worship is associated with submission and sacrifice.
"An interesting study would to take the 100 times "worship" is found in the Bible (NKJV anyway) and see hwo it is applied."
I was thinking the same thing.
Thanks everyone for chiming in so far...I've just published the second part of the discussion and have already written a 3rd and 4th part to be published tomorrow.
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