Worship

[Guest gogoswing]

I recently attended a young adults worship service and the music they were playing was a rock style of praise. I tryed to get into worship and it was like something was missing. I mean, with worship, the presense of God is supposed to be there and it wasn't. It was like they were just trying to make cool music.

I tryed waiting to see if I could get into it, but something in my spirit was saying that this style of music with worship wasn't right, so I left. The next day I decided to e-mail the worship leaders of that church about what I thought about the service and the response I got was basically that the service was design for people who are" far from God" and I was thinking that this seems more like an outreach than a worship service.

I don't see anything wrong with trying to reach non-believers, seekers, and backsliders, but is all this honoring God?

I would like to know your opinions concerning worship, styles of music in worship, and whether it is right to have a worship service that is geared to seekers rather than believers?

[nebula]

This is toughy in different ways.

I always thought rock music was wrong and should never be mixed with Christianity - but then I went to a Christian Rock concert and encountered the presence of the Lord in a big way.

I have also been to "traditional" worship services that were spiritually dead.

So, I couldn't say that the "style" is the issue.

What I have learned is that what matters has to do with the hearts of the leaders - whether the leader of the service/event and/or the actual worship leader. For example, some "worship leaders" are out to entertain rather than worship. That will quench the Spirit big time!

There is nothing wrong with an outreach focus. It becomes a problem when you are singing to man rather than to God. It becomes a problem when you are trying to please man and win man's approval - "seeker" or otherwise - rather than to just sing to the Lord and pour out your passion to Him in song.

I am suspecting this is what you were feeling.

Make sense?

[apothanein kerdos]

What is worship music suppose to sound like? Most of the deemed "worhips" songs are not worship in any way, shape, or form. One song declares, "Lord I want more of you, rain down on me". It is labeled a worship song because it has a certain sound and strikes the right emotion, but it is not worship, it is imploring God to fill us up. That is not worship, that is desire. It isn't wrong to sing it, however it is wrong to label it as worship. More importantly though, what is worship music suppose to sound like? Is there a specific sound it makes? Or is worship in music simply an outpouring of what we already feel about God, thus it is not the music style that matters but the heart behind it?

[RustyAngeL]

I have heard the kind of music you are talking about and I agree with you. Some of the "rock christian" music doesn't sound very different from the world. I guess it's all in how you look at it. But I love the praise and worship music where the presence of God is in the midst of His worshippers.

[Guest yod]

Does talent ever come into it?

I mean, if you have a fantastic pianist playing hymns you might like it more than Sonic Flood clones who aren't very good musically, ya know? And the reverse is true if you are someone who normally likes hymns over modern worship.

So is it really a matter of style that brings this complaint or poor developed leadership skills combined with a general lack of talent? A lot of what you describe sounds like a journeyman musician. They play what they can instead of what is needed.

A lot of variables have to be in place at the same time for congregational worship. First and foremost is the congregation! Are these people who worship God daily in spirit and in truth already? Or does this worship leader have to figure out what "gets them going"?

If the congregation is already full of worshippers, a music leader is just establishing a place for the congregation to come together...and when everyone is joining in the time of corporate worship, it doesn't matter who plays what instruments or how...

Those who choose to worship know nothing can stop them....not even a pathetic band!

Let everything that has breath come and praise the Lord!

[Guest gogoswing]

Thank you for the replies!

Years ago, when I first became christian, I used to attend a youth worship service that had different bands play every sunday. There was some rock but it seemed fine back then because of where I was spiritually at the time. But lately I've been questioning how style of music, certain lyrics, and how a worship service is drawn out effects true worship.

I mean, worship is about reverence for God. If you look at the Psalms there are times David talked about himself and other things but it always came back to the One who created all things. Some of these contemporary songs nowadays I can even get into because they are so self centered and unspiritual. But you look at songs like "A mighty fortress is our God" or "How great thou art" and its like the Holy Ghost is all up in there.

Now check this out, can you imagine singing a Death Metal version of "How great thou art" or a Rap version of "A mighty fortress is our God"? I mean some people will look at this and say " I don't know about that" but why? It just doesn't seem right.

If you know anything about Rap you know that its street level and the focus is on the one rapping. With Death Metal alot of people would agree that its of a demonic influence. I mean it doesn't matter how spiritual you try to make the lyrics, you cant deny that there is a certain vibe that goes with the music because of where it comes from.

Was there ever a time where you just came from a worship service where the Spirit of God was so heavy in that building, then you got into your car and tryed playing some christianized rock music and it started to bring you down from that Spiritual high that you had in the service? I mean, I hear people say "God created all forms of music so it doesn't matter" and " worship is a decision between you and God" but now Im thinking music does matter just like lyrics matter.

[Guest yod]

There certainly are types of music that are not appropriate for a particular setting. It is up to the worship leader to be sensitive to that...

But their job isn't just to play music....they should be leading in worship and worship is so much more than just singing....but when we all lift our voices together it is beautiful.

[serotta]

One must remembeer though, as Super Jew was getting at, true worship is giving God what he wants, not what we want to give. It is not about being fed. Worship is a time to give God our praise and adoration. Mature Christians should be able to find a way to do this in any situation. "Younger" Christians might need a more familiar environment.

In the contemporary service at our church they've started playing little "movies" behind the song lyrics that are projected. I find it extremely annoying, so I close my eyes as much as possible and focus on singing the lyrics to God when I attend that service.

[Guest yod]

Serotta you have hit on something mentioned in the Torah about how to adorn the Tabernacle and/or Temple

DECORATIONS ARE FORBIDDEN!

Not a single picture of past High Priests or a statue in honor of God. No pictures of animals or symbols of any kind.

Holiness is nakedness before God...not decorating fig leaves.

[JesusisGod2]

I myself think that petioning God is also a form of worship, for we are acknowledging His "worthship" as our God and our Provider.

Jesus says we have not because we ask not and in His teachings on how we should pray which is definately worship one of the teachings was to petition God for our needs "Give us this day our daily bread".

When ever we acknowledge God in any matter of our life big our small, petition or praise, it is worshipping God.

Just my thoughts!

Kevin