Concluding the church music series....
4. Sacrifice can be good for the soul.
What does the culture in your community look like? What types of music do the people listen to? What are their interests?
I ask these questions, because a lot of churches in America today are running their worship services opposite to the needs of the next generation of people communities.
To often, what appeals to the younger generation does not appeal to the older generations. But, because the older generations are in charge of local churches, the worship style is tilted toward the older crowd's preferences.
An older gentleman told me one time that his generation had the same battle with his grandparents' generation. That seems to fall in line with the history of the worship wars that I referenced yesterday. Each new generation of worshippers has had to battle older worshippers to express what is in their hearts and minds through worship.
That doesn't sound very Christian-like, and having experienced some of these battles first hand, I can tell you they can get down right ugly.
Simply put, we all like what we like. We all have preferences. That applies to worship style and preaching. Change those, and we can get upset about the adjustments.
But, is our determination to have it our way biblical? I would contend that it isn't. Our driving force in the church should be to fulfill the Great Commission - to share the Gospel with the entire world, including new and different generations of people. When we refuse the newer generations the opportunity to lead, worship and teach in the ways that speak to them, we are blocking them from fulfilling God's commands on their lives. We're also allowing our selfishness to get in the way.
Allow me one little side commentary that goes along with this point, and the one on lyrics. I've heard the complaint about repetitive lyrics, and how that is ungodly and sinful. Most times, those making that argument cite the biblical reference that speaks against repetitive prayers. And, these individuals take that truth and dovetail it into music. But, they are in error. Repetitive music, like praise and worship can be, if it has substance in it, can be very God honoring, and it most certainly isn't sinful. Folks that have issue with repetitive choruses will really have a problem with the scene in Heaven some day.
Okay, back on track. We need to be willing to sacrifice our personal preferences and ideas in the effort to draw the newer generations of believers into our churches, and to win them to Jesus.
5. Music and worship should be exciting.
Have you ever been in a church service where it felt as though you were walking through knee-deep mud just to get through a song? Few things are worse to sit through in church (and not God-honoring) than boring worship.
Jesus died on a cross. God brought Him back to life. Jesus went to Heaven, and will return again someday. That is EXCITING. Don't do these truths injustice by conducting lifeless worship.
Regardless of your music style, worship should be exciting. We're singing about the Risen Savior.
If your church is in a worship rut, something has to change. You might need a new worship pastor, new music, oxygen, ANYTHING. Worshipping God should invoke excitement in your congregation.
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 14:26 that the purpose of a church service is to strengthen the believers. That includes the worship time.
Worship is designed to honor God. In return, God comes to those who worship Him. Jesus told the Samaritan woman in John 4, "But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way."
Sadly, I think we forget these facts, and the end result is something that's boring to both us and God. I know from experience that after sitting through a boring service, I don't feel strenthened, and I doubt God feels very honored.
Maybe, just maybe, what is needed is someone willing to be the odd ball - to refuse to allow the boring worship to continue - and to be excited as an individual in order to set the example for others.
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