Two Songs…Worship?
UUUGGGHHHHHHH! I saw it again! A service I visited recently had the following format: 2 songs, announcements, a song during the offering, a sermon, and a closing song. In asking a few questions of some friends following the service, I discovered that what I had observed was the normative structure. I was heartbroken, because the thousands of people who gather for that service now think that worship is like that…a sort of a sermon setup! I wanted to yell….”NO, THAT’S NOT WORSHIP!” I see this kind of a pattern over and over again. My mantra has become, “Any four songs does not equal worship!” If your church is doing that, don’t allow it…say something…make a difference! Insist on the real thing!
Jubal, sorry for my ranting on this…but it’s just not right!
May 9th, 2010 at 6:11 pm
Jubal,
Couldn’t agree more. My frustration for years has been music for the sake of sounding nice and filling a hole in the service order. Worship is not just well performed music. It is leading others to the throne room of our God. Then we need to step out of the way and let God speak. Silence is not always bad.
Jubal,
How do I share my frustration with those in authority? I know it needs to be done but I lack the words/courage to start the conversation. Who am I to comment on those that God has placed in authority?
May 10th, 2010 at 8:41 am
As a person who keeps his eyes (and ears) on this kind of thing (as I know you know), I’m curious if your concern is with the structure, or with the apparent lack of consideration going into what songs are chosen. Or is it the primacy given the sermon (as opposed to other aspects of worship), perhaps? What is it that you would change in the service described above, if you had the ability to do so?
May 15th, 2010 at 9:14 pm
I know you are very thoughtful about these things…in a good way! My concerns are with all of what you mentioned…lack of consideration into what the songs are, the structure, the imbalance of the sermon in terms of time, etc. It indicates a lack of true worship philosophy on the part of leadership, which of course is the foundational concern.
May 15th, 2010 at 9:22 pm
As for Jeff…the foundational issue I believe to be a sermon domination philosophy by the leadership. The probable attitude is for music to be a “set up” for the preaching. I think you might begin by asking some of the worship leadership how they see the whole picture. If they have similar frustrations, then it might lead to a wider discussion. If they let you know that the pastor is calling all the shots and there is no discussion point on the topic, then….? It is a common philosophy among Bible churches and the seminaries that train many pastors in that tradition. Not a very open or whole picture view of ministry…and generally no training or thought about the theology of worship and related issues.