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Pastor and author John Piper has said that, “Worship is the reason the church exists…” Is the act and practice of worship purposeful towards that existence in and of itself? Could we say that the practice of worship is the purpose? These are questions that need to be answered within the context of worship in the church. Though the two (practice and purpose) are closely related they are different and serve separate purposes. There are many facets to what we call worship but the method most people refer to when they say “worship” is music and that within the corporate gathering. It is in this environment that Sunday after Sunday the purpose and practice of “worship” are in conflict. Musical worship is an ancient practice amongst the people of God. Its biblical history goes back to the Hebrew exile from Egypt when Miriam rejoiced at the miraculous defeat of Pharaoh at the Red Sea and perhaps even farther. David, who penned the songbook of Israel, is the model of a worshiper we seek to emulate. In fact, we still struggle to put adequate melodies with his psalms. Modern songwriters gather poetic and thematic verses from the Psalms and string them along on melodies high and sweet. Yet, something still seems wanting. The thought provoking quote from Gloria Gaither pleads bearing out yet again this month.

“…How many of you are involved in praise and worship? Either you write praise and worship, you lead a team, publish, or record praise and worship.” Almost all the audience members raised their hands. So she asked a second question: “How many of you, who obviously spend your life in praise and worship, have read First and Second Kings in the last two years?” Three hands went up. Gloria leaned forward. “Then what right have you to go through the Psalms to pick out a few positive lines here and there?” she asked. “Because most of the Psalms is beating the chest and lament and 'I don't know if God exists' and 'I don't know where He went' and 'I don't know if He loves me.' Finally the psalmist resolves a few things-and we'll find one little line and have it on the screen by Sunday morning. But what right have you to take his line that he paid for if you don't know what he paid to get it there?” “Praise”, she tells them, “has to be the outcome of a ‘gut-living life’ and is sincerely real for those who have tried it on the caldron of pain and survived. When that happens, you will praise Him,” she told a now-rapt audience. “You can't stop it…But to just walk in on Sunday morning and start with the punch line? I don't think you have the right.”

Her comments may seem cavalier and haughty but when you consider the audience and the context in which she was speaking, I believe it was a timely word. She made this statement at a GMA songwriter’s workshop. Audacious …gutsy… I can just imagine all of the writers in the room before she spoke…”What does Because He Lives have to do with the music we are writing today…?” Then comes the straightforward and prudent wisdom of someone who has weathered decades of ministry in and to the Church…One who is a master at turning a phrase and whose vocabulary would all but extinguish the trite clichés that litter the songs of the modern (or post-modern) church… The announcement of her resolute position in a room filled with the future of the church must have been like a verbal slap in the face.

“The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction.” (Prov 16:23) Wise hearts with prudent mouths and lips filled with instruction is exactly what is needed in the worship music culture. It seems, in my opinion (and this is definitely just my opinion), that many pastors and leaders become infatuated with the passion and talent for music that many people possess that they promote and exalt them based primarily on physical gifting or talent and not spiritual maturity. Which, in a nurturing environment is perfectly fine but most of the time what happens is the person is left alone to develop and mature in life and worship with minimal supervision, mentoring or training. If leaders and pastors would invest in those with the gifts and give prudent instruction from a wise heart then it is possible that those with musical abilities would learn to lead a gathering of believers in a concert of harmonious worship instead of asserting the selfish cry of an infant craving milk. When an entire night of “worship” speaks more to the delight of the believer or more specifically, the worship “leader” than to the delight of the LORD or in the LORD, the focus and purpose is askew. I know there is a time for personal worship and edification of the saints in the corporate gathering but if that edification is outside of the context of the Scriptures or promotes God as less than the Almighty whose glory is foremost, then it will miss the mark. Though such an occasion may have momentary rewards it will likely be forgotten tomorrow and rendered useless for spiritual growth.

Having said that, I know the challenges that face those who are performing in the corporate gathering. Sometimes we feel like a rock stars. Sometimes the enemy gets us thinking that we are something special because of our talent. That is a constant fight. We must try to make that fight our teacher…Take the fight to the Scriptures and prove that, indeed, the LORD alone is worthy and none other. We must prove ourselves through study and careful consideration of Scripture so we will know our place among the people. Wrestle that fight and lie down prostrate on it. Pin it to the floor in prayer and personal worship. There is no glory with your nose smashed into the ground in homage to the King of Kings. Then we can rise up and take our place as leaders to serve the people. Only then are we aptly prepared to execute our role as worship leaders. When we know our role and purpose then we are ready for the practice and leadership of worship.

Aaron Unthank
http://www.aaronunthank.com

Reader Comments

Ms. Ulerie,
You articulated a long felt sentiment of mine... Very eloquently I might add. I love what you said, "We are not special, we are trusted..." There are so many implications to that statement that I don't think we could exhaustively discuss them in this venue... But it brings up a very pertinent point. Thank you.

Aaron

Kristen,
Thank you for your comment! Thanks for reminding us to keep the cycle going.

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