The Journey

You are a worship leader. Follower of Christ, I'm talking to you. You stand in church on Sundays during the singing and you're probably from either of two schools--you sing your heart out to God or you have your hands in your pockets, maybe mouthing along with a few lyrics. The thing you probably don't realize is it influences others. People wonder why you sing and even why you may not be singing. As new people encounter any particular worship culture, they learn how to do it. But when people encounter authentic worship, it changes from something they do (singing) to someone they are (a true worshiper). They learn to know and experience God through song, scripture, prayer and meditation and they become worship leaders too. On and on it goes.

I'm talking about building a culture. And you, worshiper, are a huge part of it. But you shouldn't sing so that others will sing or just to build the culture (that would build the wrong culture). You should sing because God is worthy...because you mean it...because we have something to say to him.

Part of what we teach at The Journey is we worship to respond to God for who he is, what's he's doing, and what he's done through Christ Jesus (that's the short version). We teach our worship is to be authentic, as in John 4:22, when Jesus says the Father is looking for "true worshipers." Though important, we don't care as much about music styles or experiences because those ideas change about every 5 years. We care about what Jesus said...the "spirit and truth" part. But what is "true worship?" Worship is more than just singing. We worship with everything we do, right? Romans 12 says I worship with my body! So what about the singing?

On Sunday we do what Christians call "corporate worship." It's a small sliver of our worship to God, but it's also an incredibly powerful and awesome thing when people who love God come together, and in oneness, devote their hearts, minds, voices and even their money to the creator of all things-the Most High God, the redeemer of lost people. Colossians 3:16 says we're to "Let the word of Christ dwell richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in our hearts to God."

But we must remember this: He is above all other gods. He's above everything...which means he's above all the created things we love and devote ourselves to so regularly. God is worthy of our worship. Do you know that? He's more worthy than food, sex, possessions and everything else we make into an idol. And here's what I think is cool. Worship and repentance are tied together. Repentance is the act of turning from your sin and in the same motion, turning back towards God. We're trading one object of worship for the right focus of our worship. When we truly worship God in our hearts and our lives, we can't do it authentically until we turn from the idols that rule our hearts.

In corporate worship, I believe that notion is part of the reason why after communion, people are so much more likely to sing than in the beginning of the service. When we come to the Lord's table in repentance, in humility and gratitude for the grace of God through Jesus Christ, the idols that have stolen our heart's worship have been surrendered, which leaves room for-and an impetus towards-worshiping God. We're often ready hearers of the Word, but not ready worshipers when we arrive on Sunday. How come?

Some of us at The Journey are just checking out Christianity. It is an awesome privilege to be a church where people can come and learn about who God is without judgment. Those same people are learning about worship, too. They're watching Christians and wondering why they sing, and sometimes why they don't. I've heard some of these folks admit that they just plain don't get it. And that's okay. If I believe the gospel has the power it does, then our job is just to keep proclaiming it and exalting the name of Jesus. God will do the rest. Some of us at the Journey are new Christians. We're learning what it means to follow God in this jacked up world. We're not just learning about how to worship but about whom to worship.

And some of us love God, but we had trouble getting the kids ready this morning; we got a speeding ticket on the way in, or maybe we didn't resolve a fight the night before. Our hearts love God deep down, but rushing into church we're finding it hard to focus...hard to sing...hard to mean it.

These are the questions I have to ask myself daily, first as a Christian and secondly as a worship leader.
Does the gospel move me to respond to God and if not, do I really get it?
Does Christ's great sacrifice change me at a heart level-not just in my behavior?
Do I believe he's worthy of all the praise and glory I can give him and what does it look like for me to give that to him daily?
Do I believe God is pleased when I sing to him?
Do I know him?

If we as a church ask these questions and answer them when we sing, we'll build a culture of worship that influences everyone who enters. Authentic worship is a mighty thing when it's in "spirit and truth." God loves it. I know he does. His word says so.

I have a picture in my mind sometimes of the walls of Jericho crumbling at the sound of the Israelites voices and trumpets and then of the walls and idols in my heart crumbling, too, at the sound of God's people worshiping him...but not because they like to sing or because the music's cool...but because God is freaking awesome and we love him for it.