I've noticed that today's most popular worship music loves the words 'me', 'my', and 'I'. Seems many contemporary songwriters think it is their role to help us articulate our self-focused desires for more personal blessings from God or to reinforce our American 'Just God and Me' ('rugged individualism') theology.
I've also noticed that much of today's worship music might best be classified as 'Jesus-is-my-girlfriend' music. These are feeling-centered songs that do not focus on what Jonathan Edwards called 'holy affections' but rather on sensual, personal experiences. I think you know what I mean. It's just getting more and more weird. Quite frankly, I'm connecting less and less with the ideas of these contemporary song writers as time goes on.
Offering criticism is not enough. Let me say what I'd like to see in our public worship:
1. I'd like to see more majesty and transcendence in our public worship. Truly God is immanent through Jesus Christ, however, He is also (and remains forever) the God who is 'Above and Beyond'. Some have noted that the modern guitar (and contemporary instrumentation in general) communicates the closeness of God our day just as the pipe organ and choir loft once reminded God's people of His unapproachable transcendence. I think we need to embrace both God's nearness as well as God's 'above and beyond' nature in our corporate times of worship- not one without the other.
2. I'd like to occasionally see a call to corporate worship followed by something of a collective recognition (by the people) that we are now entering into a time of 'corporate' worship. This is something different in character from our individual times of private worship. In public worship, we are seeking to do what none of us can do when we are alone- namely, worship 'as one people with one voice'. When our songwriters give us words that focus on our individual experiences or personal longings alone, these words work against any effort we might make to worship as one Body. Corporate worship is much more than a group of unrelated bodies each doing her or his 'own thing' with God. We must share more in common than simply a room.
3. I'd like to see more of a focus on God as the God of all glory and excellence. Less on "You... make me feel so good" or "Come, Lord, make me feel better." Even less on "You saved me, I am so happy."
4. I'd like worship to expand- enlarge- our vision of God. Worship ought to help us see 'Who' God is; 'What' God has done in days past and IS even now doing within His Creation and with us collectively. Worship reminds us that God has been Lord throughout history past and history yet to be written, and that God is Lord beyond all human history (there is history beyond human history).
5. Some may wonder: "Is it possible to worship God without cymbals, drums, electric guitars and sound systems?" Two decades ago, I and other pastors fought for more of these instruments in our public worship. Now I fear we may have gone too far.
I'd like to see us acknowledge that we've made an idol out of the musical aspect of worship. I'd like to see us respond to this by incorporating more forms of worship that have less to do with music and more to do with ancient words, corporate rituals (creative and meaningful ones), drama and other art forms. Today we sang a song that spoke of how God is able to 'move mountains'. I thought to myself: "We human beings can now do that too. I've seen how the coal companies have moved many mountains in Kentucky and West Virginia." Then I pondered: "Why hasn't our more recent understanding of Cosmology (http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/) influenced how we think about God and His glory? Isn't an earthly mountain rather insignificant compared to a galaxy or a black hole?" It seems that, even though we've learned more and more about the immensity of God's creative power and work, our worship seems to focus on a God who has never grown any larger to His people than He was during the Reformation or the days of the psalmists.
6. Finally, I'd like to see us find a way to incorporate 'holy silence' into our public worship times. Yes, silence. I don't mean the awkward silence we experience when a lead guitarist changes a broken string or when someone drops their sheet music onto the floor. For many of us, silence may be one of the rarest experiences we have in life. We are forever surrounding ourselves with noise. At times, it is so noisy that we cannot reflect and we cannot hear. Ever notice that when you wish to connect with God in a deeper way, you can do so only when you slow down, take a deep breath, shut up, and listen? Maybe this is something we should do together as well. Consider two Scriptures. Paul said: "Do you not know that you are the Temple of the Lord and His Spirit lives in you?" The Psalmist said: "God is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent!"
I've not only run out of music, I've run out of words.
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1 comment:
My Catholic mother-in-law criticized a Baptist service two decades ago as being no more than a staged production.
Frankie Schaeffer (Eastern Orthodox priest), in contrast,said that his worship is so far removed from focusing on pleasing the congregation that the priests have their backs to the audience during the service.
I believe worship should have two parts: the first would have all commonly facing the cross, the second would have the entire body turn around and become outward focused, toward the world (Jesus said, Love God. Love one another.).
I like the joyous exuberance that comes from incorporating drums, guitar, and modern rock harmonies into worship music. But your concerns about the modern practice can become a form of self-worship are spot on.
Jud
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