I have really been enjoying The Message translation of the Bible. It's not a direct translation, or even a paraphrase, but what is called an Interpretive Translation. It's not what I would consider a "study worthy" version, but one that I do enjoy to get a modern take on what is being said.
Basically, when I come across an interesting passage in my NASB, my NKVJ or my ESV, I then look it up on The Message just get a more "modern / pop culture" take on it. Some things it really hits the nail right on the head.
One thing that has really been on my heart lately is the state of the modern American church. Those that follow me on Facebook know that this has come up many times in my statuses.
I think American churches are really missing the mark here and are worried more about a large audience rather than an audience of One. God doesn't care about or even want "Gee Wiz" lighting, a wall of sound, fog machines and lasers. He wants our worship. I know there is an argument that all the lighting, amazing sounds, lasers, etc., help draw people into the "worship experience."
But then I have to think...if I need "eye candy" or "ear candy" to worship God better, is my heart REALLY prepared to worship or am I being entertained by the lights and sound?
Regardless of the style of worship, what really bothers me is that it seems to be all emotionalism. It's so easy to get "caught up" in the experience, then go home and live out your life without God involvement. In other words, we can talk the talk, but do we walk the walk?
Anyway, this is one of the cases where I think The Message really nails it on the head.
It's from Isaiah 1:13-17:
“Quit your worship charades.
I can’t stand your trivial religious games:
Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings—
meetings, meetings, meetings—I can’t stand one more!
Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them!
You’ve worn me out!
I’m sick of your religion, religion, religion,
while you go right on sinning.
When you put on your next prayer-performance,
I’ll be looking the other way.
No matter how long or loud or often you pray,
I’ll not be listening.
And do you know why? Because you’ve been tearing
people to pieces, and your hands are bloody.
Go home and wash up.
Clean up your act.
Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings
so I don’t have to look at them any longer.
Say no to wrong.
Learn to do good.
Work for justice.
Help the down-and-out.
Stand up for the homeless.
Go to bat for the defenseless.
I can’t stand your trivial religious games:
Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings—
meetings, meetings, meetings—I can’t stand one more!
Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them!
You’ve worn me out!
I’m sick of your religion, religion, religion,
while you go right on sinning.
When you put on your next prayer-performance,
I’ll be looking the other way.
No matter how long or loud or often you pray,
I’ll not be listening.
And do you know why? Because you’ve been tearing
people to pieces, and your hands are bloody.
Go home and wash up.
Clean up your act.
Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings
so I don’t have to look at them any longer.
Say no to wrong.
Learn to do good.
Work for justice.
Help the down-and-out.
Stand up for the homeless.
Go to bat for the defenseless.
After you read that, check it out in the other translations as well, and you'll see that The Message really gets this one right and really brings to light what I consider to be a major problem in modern churches today.
That is all.
Gregg
That is all.
Gregg
Wow. Excuse me, but these are my toes you're stepping on!
ReplyDeleteI work tech (as you know) and I often get caught up in what my set looks like and how my lights are glitching and forget to just sit and worship. Even when I'm not working, I'm still "working" because I can't come into Benson Great Hall (where we have chapel/Vespers/etc) without automatically thinking of all the tech stuff. This is something I've gotta work on. Thanks for the reminder.
About that passage: WOW. Talk about hitting the nail on the head.
My toes too, really, Sara. I love playing in a worship band, and it is SO easy to get caught up in making a performance and hoping you get it right, and if people notice the incredible run you just did, or how amazing your Hammond B3 Organ sounds, and forget to actually worship in the process.
ReplyDeleteLet me play Devil's advocate for a moment. There are churches who have only pipe organ and maybe a piano, whose music style is classical/traditional. I have no doubt a lot of those people worship. A lot of them do not. I know this for a fact because I've talked to them. For many of them it's a habit or they just like hearing that type of music, whether the lyrics have anything to do with God or not. I'm not dissing them because I certainly can worship to some Bach or Handel or even Mozart. I'm just saying. Just because there is no "emotional appeal" or lights or cameras doesn't mean it's worshipful. Same goes with a guy singing and playing the guitar. I guess it depends on what songs he is using to gain "emotional appeal" but if he's not using eye candy, does that make it more conducive to worship? Yes, indeed, we SHOULD be able to worship with only this, but that doesn't mean it's the only way. I won't even get into the subject of excellence...well, maybe later.
ReplyDeleteI would challenge you to find an "ideal" worship setting that is actually conducive to worship. I don't think you'll find it. You know why? Because worship is subjective and for every person on the planet you'll find another opinion about what moves them to worship. Some people only want guitar or piano. Some only voices. Some choirs. Some soloists. Some a mixture of all that, old and new songs. The list goes on. Worship is a way of life--our response to who God is and what He has done. Music is only a part of it. But music does engage our emotions, so I think you'd be hard-pressed to find music that doesn't affect us with some emotion. It's the nature of it.
I will agree with you that if the entire service is based on playing to people's emotions, any change that happens to the people will not last. It's like coming home from a youth event where the kids had a mountain top experience and then when they get back to their normal lives, their promises to God go out the window. (That's not to say youth events can't be formative because I've been formed by them in the long term.) Obviously, the music, in whatever form it comes, should be used to bring the people closer to God in some way. To help them take that next step toward him. It's going to be different for everyone. That's why there are so many different churches.
I lead worship for children K-5, up to 100 at a time, (and yes we have lights and fog) and I find that when I'm very prepared, I worship a lot better than when I'm worried about the lyrics or harmonies or words I'm going to say or monitor levels or what have you. When I have practiced and know I can do an excellent job, then I "get out of the way" once I'm on stage under the lights and I sing my heart out for Jesus. I hope they see that and want to imitate it. But I digress.
In conclusion, I do agree that the music part of the worship service should not JUST be emotional appeal. It can't be the primary motivator. However, emotions are a part of us and a part of music, so they will come into play. As for us being leaders/participators and not worshipping, well, it's hard, I know. But you do have a "job" to do to make things the best they can be and so you have to think about that stuff and worship at the same time. It's possible.
A P.S. of sorts...could you give an example of a church that is totally emotionally oriented? I don't think I've ever been in one, so I probably shouldn't be defensive at all that my church is huge and flashy and stuff. Because we're also real. Check us out here: http://www.portcitychurch.org/videos/new_players/death.php?autoplayvid=50940807&part=1&musicmsg=2
Good thoughts, KC. I totally see your point about the pipe organ / piano only thing. As far as the "ideal" worship setting, I think it has to do with each person individually, honestly.
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong, I am not saying that using contemporary settings is wrong, but if a church is using them to draw people in, I think they are using them for the wrong motivations. Sunday service is not intended to draw the world in. It's intended for us to go to have a place to worship. If someone outside the church comes to visit, great. If they come to know the Lord, AWESOME. I just don't think we should use those tactics to draw people in. Music is VERY powerful, and is VERY emotional. Emotions are great. They are of God, but it is SO easy to allow them to overtake us and we be caught up in them and only them. You know what I mean? I think what it boils down to is this...so many times when we have the lighting, the fog, the video, that makes the music stick to a "script" with no room for the Spirit to move and prompt the worship leader to say "Let's repeat that chorus" or "You know...I feel prompted to do another song..." Not that the worship leader couldn't add a song, but it typically does not happen in fear of throwing the tech crew off, or the band who may not have rehearsed. Read up on Matt Redman. I think his book "The Heart Of Worship" really speaks to this. It's why he gave up the "rock" scene as a worship leader for quite a while. He was convicted that he wasn't hearing the Holy Spirit prompting him.
I guess, another thing that it all comes down to...what is the message like? If the message is watered down, the incredible music / lights / fog is just throwing pearls before swine.
I think you're assuming a lot. Like that all contemporary churches are using music to draw people in and then give them an emotional experience and watered down message. Obviously, this is not universally true.
ReplyDeleteSo, what SHOULD be used to draw people in? I would argue that most of the things churches do are to draw people in...they have groups and activities and programs and good preaching and whatever else. They're not going to purposely do things that DON'T draw people in unless they are a small, old, dead church that doesn't want to grow.
That said, I get your point. I have thought about the "being Spirit led" issue a lot over the years, and while it's optimal to be able to just stop the music or do another chorus or add a song or whatever, sometimes it's not possible, either due to time constraints (our church has 4 services all in the same day) or because they are timing everything exactly either for t.v. or their own video use or just because they want to honor the people and not go over time too much (the nursery workers appreciate this). I also like to think that the Spirit is involved in the planning process--our church picks out the song sets very deliberately and they are practiced to perfection so nothing will distract the people from worshiping (like wrong notes or being off key or forgetting words). This honors the Spirit also. They are not doing anything halfway, but 100%. Our church sometimes builds in an extra a cappella chorus or a minute or two in which the worship leader(s) can speak to the congregation during the music time. It may not be optimal to you, but it works, and people know what to expect within reason.
I own "The Heart of Worship" and read it years ago. I'll have to go back and skim over it again because I've forgotten most of it. I know the premise, though.
One more thing. The church's chosen style of music is usually either: one that they have used since the inception of the church and that's the way they are going to be no matter what, OR, it's a style that changes along with the congregation (I've seen both). I personally like the former way, because it guards against worship wars (the battle between traditional and blended, blended and contemporary, etc.). My current church has always been contemporary. It's how they started out 13 years ago when they only had 20 people--they drew in a lot of college kids that way (we are a college town of sorts) at the beginning. I don't think that was their goal--it just happened. And people know that's what our church does. There is no unrest in the congregation (I use that word loosely because we don't have formal membership) because some want a different style of music. There is no dialog about it. If someone doesn't like the church's music, they can go somewhere else. Believe me, it's preferable this way because when you are adding in a hymn or a new song because people have complained, that's definitely NOT being Spirit led.
All that said, no church is perfect just like no believer is perfect, and we all have some learning and maturing to do. There are always things we wish we could change. We have no power to do that, though, except through prayer and through being an example ourselves that others can see and follow. Or you could start your own church. ;)
Another thought...it's interesting that you think a church is only a place for believers to come and worship. Yes, it's that. But much more, don't you think? Or should it be, in your opinion?
ReplyDeleteI don't like the thought that all spiritual things happen in church and that you have to go there to get saved, do bible study, sing songs, do ministry, etc. We should be out in the world talking about God and spurring one another to love and good deeds and doing ministry in our community. But once we have made friendships and shared God with people, don't they need people to come along side them and help them in their next step towards God? To teach them how to pray, worship, study their bibles, etc.? Don't non-believers benefit from church? They are not believers going to worship. But the church can exist for them, too, right? To point them in the right direction. I am eager to hear your thoughts on this.
Sorry, I wasn't entirely clear. I left out part of my thought in that sentence. What I meant to say was, "If a church is using contemporary music to draw people in, along with a message that purposefully avoids stepping on toes so as not to offend..."
ReplyDeleteNot all churches that use contemporary music do this. My church uses it, but the message is rock solid.
I think you misunderstood me also. Do I believe that a church is only a place for believers to come and worship? No. I believe that that is a primary "function" though. I also do not like the thought that all spiritual things happen in church, and if I implied that, I didn't mean to. My point was, I do not believe the church should cater their Sunday morning message to be entertaining just to draw a crowd. We shouldn't water down our message. We shouldn't gear the music solely around drawing the unsaved in. It's not a rock concert. Is it ok for the music to be contemporary? Absolutely! Is it ok to have lighting? Absolutely. But when the music and the lighting overpowers the message to where they are the reason people are coming, that is the problem.
I agree that non believers can (and often do) benefit from church. Yes, it can point them in the right direction. Absolutely. It just saddens me to see churches bending over backwards to make the service appealing to the non believers but not doing anything about it other than putting on an awesome rock concert and giving a "safe" message that won't offend: A message that never mentions the blood of Jesus (because it is too gory) or mentions Hell because it is too controversial, or mentions Atonement because that makes you admit that you are a dirty, rotten sinner and someone has to pay for your crimes against God.
This is what I am seeing more and more in Western churches. We used to go to a church that started playing secular music in their service. For example, a Kanye West song called "Love Lockdown." Read the lyrics. Sure, the message of the sermon was about being faithful, but wasn't there a better song that could have been used rather than performing a song that was a major hit on secular radio by a singer that is quite outspoken about his own promiscuous activities? Should the church condone that kind of music?
That's where I am coming from. Believe me, if your ministry is using music and lighting and it is bringing people to a place of true worship of God and not worship of the music or the musicians, then I have no problem with that at all. But too many times, I hear believers referring to a seeker sensitive church like the one I used to attend (we have many in this area) "I felt like I was at a rock concert and I didn't really get anything out of the message..." and then on the flip side I know people that attend a church like this but don't know a thing about being a Christian.
I'm not trying to be judgmental, but one person I know has attended a church like this for years and doesn't know what it means to be saved. They know various Bible stories like Noah and The Ark, Creation, even many stories about Jesus' miracles, but when we started talking about going to Heaven, their comment was, "I really hope I go there when I die." There should be no question. If that church was truly preaching the gospel, they should have NO doubt.
That started me thinking, praying and ultimately finding a church that I felt was staying true to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
By the way, We invited that same person to our new church, which is a Christian Missionary Alliance church and they found it boring. There was no light show. They didn't know any of the songs because they aren't "on the radio", and they didn't understand the message.
I don't know. It's just been on my heart a lot lately. I'm probably being a judgmental jerk, but I think that many Western Churches have become too worried about numbers rather than souls.
My church in Omaha, many years ago actually had a discussion about if they should be "seeker friendly" or just let it all hang out. Because the thing is... God isn't at all concerned with that people think. He's not afraid of people being offended, we are. If we've decided that our goal is to draw people in... what if God asks us to do something that we don't think will draw people in? Should drawing people in even be our goal?
ReplyDeleteGod also doesn't care about our time and schedule -- our love of schedules is very cultural. We tend to put our time and schedules above Him. I tend to think that the moment He'll respond is 10 minutes after we think we should have moved on because, ohmygosh, the sermon is going to start late, then the service is going to start late, and the whole morning will be ruined!
I've been in services where the Lord's presence was OBVIOUSLY there, but the leaders shut it down because their was a schedule. I'll choose God's presence in worship over a sermon any and every day. I've also been in services where God showed up in the first service... so the dumped the message and just kept worshiping. At the end of the 1st service they said, "This is the time, you're welcome to leave or stay. You may have to squeeze in to make room for the next service. If you're coming for the second service, this is what's happening, jump in!" At the end of the second service they said, "This is the time, you're welcome to leave or stay. We do ask that you go pick up your children to honor our childcare workers, but you're welcome to bring your children back in here with you." We started at 9am and left at 5pm. It was amazing. I guarantee they didn't have 8 hours of music prepared -- maybe an hour. We did that for about 2 months. It wasn't planned any of those weeks. They'd prepared, but gave God room to overturn their preparations. That's the thing I've rarely seen in churches.
God is also quite fantastic at music Himself. I've heard songs that were 10 minutes long and "Spirit-led" -- completely spontaneous, no practice for it, the band in perfect unison and quite powerful. (I've actually been looking for one of them that I just can't find!)
Of course there's a place for giving God our best, but we have to be careful not to let it get to the point of performance and perfectionism. If we're worried about pulling a worship set off perfectly, we've lost the real Goal (Jesus). If people in the audience are expecting a perfect performance, they've taken their eyes off the real Goal. Why should we cater the to demands of people who want a perfect show? Sure, have a plan, practice, but after that, whatever God wants. No one on a worship team should EVER feel like they have to perform well.
A worship team members role is to set their hearts on the Lord in worship to create an environment of worship. All the other stuff doesn't matter. The crisis response training I went to in Oregon, one day they randomly asked for 2 volunteers to lead worship. So it was instrument free with zero planning, much less practice. And... we somehow all ended up in a congo-line of sorts going around the room. It definitely wasn't hyped-up emotionalism because their was nothing obvious to be hyped-up about, but God stirred our hearts during simple, "lame", slightly off-key worship. I do enjoy the style of drums, guitar, harmonies, all that, but the most important thing is people's hearts being engaged -- I can take or leave everything else.