ANECDOTE 8
While I was attending one of the better-known , large “ worship conferences ” in the US a few years ago , an announcement was made from the platform that sparked my attention . Later in the conference , the winners of the “ Excellence in Worship Awards ” for the past year were to be announced . I knew what they meant , but I did have a little cynical groan to myself . I wondered if God - the object of our worship - had been given the opportunity to cast His vote .
ANECDOTE 9
On any given Monday morning , many pastors receive communication from disgruntled members of their congregation complaining about , what is commonly referred to as worship . “ I did not like the worship this morning !” the dissatisfied worshiper might say . They make criticisms that may include ( but are not limited to ) their opinion that the songs were too old or too new , too repetitive or not repetitive enough , too loud or not loud enough , too long or too short , too high or too low , too fast or too slow , too familiar or not familiar enough , and so on . It ’ s just my opinion , but it seems to me that those annoyed congregants might be confusing the worship of God with their personal , musical preferences .
As I struggle forward to better understand what worship - the worship of God - truly is and what it means to be a worshiper , I am finding it super helpful to keep these things in mind . Maybe you will too :
2 ) If I think of ( and use ) the word “ worship ” only as a verb - a doing word rather than a noun or the most common adjective of 21st Century Christian-ese - it helps me take a big step towards its original and more potent meaning . For me , to worship God is simply to show the worth of God . To ascribe value to Him . I often find myself switching the word “ worship ” with the way it was spoken and written 300 or so years ago in its original form : worthship . The opportunity to worthship God is in every moment of every day . Not just when I gather with other believers and sing songs of praise .
3 ) There is only one entity that can truly , ultimately measure the worshipfulness of worship . That ’ s God . Who am I to say that one person ’ s , or group of people ’ s worship of God is better or worse than another ’ s ? And I certainly can ’ t measure the worshipfulness of my own worship . It ’ s unhelpful if I use language that suggests I can . My limited , human perspective is tragically inadequate for such a role . God looks at the heart . I cannot , even if I think I can .
I may have a sense of what God finds worshipful , but I am by no means the authority . I want to be a more worshipful worshiper of God , but I ’ ve got a long way to go . I believe that the Holy Spirit and the written Word of God are guiding me as I grow as a worshiper . But I must remember that my opinion of what God finds worshipful is just my opinion . On the issue of worship ( and everything else for that matter ) the only opinion that really counts is God ’ s .
1 ) I am surrounded by a Christian culture that frequently overuses and misuses the word “ worship ” in ways that are out of step with the ways it is used in The Bible . Perhaps terms like “ worship leader ”, “ worship song ” and “ worship experience ” can hide the original and deeper meaning of what it means to worship God .
Grant Norsworthy founder of MoreThanMusicMentor . com providing training for worshipping musicians .
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