Hey sweet friends, here’s a rambling that’s probably just for me today but one I needed to get out on paper, or the proverbial paper anyways. This is about what I would deem “modern worship” in the church. If this subject isn’t for you… feel free to close it now. I absolutely respect your opinion and whether I know you or not, love you anyways!! In fact, the zealous opinions of my 20s, they’re all gone. I’ve evolved enough to know, I know nothing. In fact, life experiences leave just about anything up for change. This particular topic is one of the heart, and sweet friend I wouldn’t presume to know yours!! This is just some utterances of mine.
Last night, I went to a musical worship service. For those that don’t know, it is where you sing worship songs collectively together as one body. For what it’s worth, my preferred method is acoustic with a guitar and reworked hymns or psalms… can I get a little more Shane & Shane, am I right!? I love how this incorporates praise and lament, because life is so often full of both.
Also, I should say you are led in song by those on stage and if you’re lucky like me… you can stand next to someone that was blessed with beautiful song so you get to feel and experience the beauty of God in their gift, too. Maybe I should start issuing an apology to my neighbors??
Let me get a few things out that I totally do believe.
- I believe that there is not enough holy reverence for the Lord, especially in the modern church.
- I believe there is vast room for ancient sacred disciplines. These have totally changed my life.
- I think our desires to be more accommodating of the world and more palatable for culture has left too much room for watered down truth.
- Fear of the Lord, yeah that’s mentioned about 300 times in the Bible. If Paul was around, we would DEFINITELY be getting a letter.
- Are there people in the modern big C church that are there for performance and accolades in their own identity… Yes, and I actually would submit the same is true of any arena of life or time period. Also, Pharisees. I’m just going to leave that there.
- Lastly, do I think it’s totally fine to not enjoy certain musical styles and preferences? Absolutely.
I’m sure I’m leaving out thoughts, because I know they’re aplenty. As my beautiful friend Laura says, long story long…so I press on.
As I looked toward the front of the church, I see two young men, jumping and dancing emphatically. Having had the privilege of walking through life with people, I can tell you that those young men lost their father. Them jumping and shouting for the times they sing about Jesus overcoming the grave… meaning eternal life, meaning not just their creator and their father in heaven one day, but also their earthly father who loved them fiercely.
For the woman to my right that was moved in absolute abandoned emotion. She is really struggling, real world big stinking problems struggling, and is finding that in this season the only person she actually has to depend on is the Lord.
For me, I sing, and I lift my arms because for me who has sinned much, I have been forgiven more. In Luke 7, Jesus tells a story about two people with debt that’s forgiven, one much more than the other. So he says, “Who do you suppose loved him (him being the forgiver of the debt) more after that?”. The answer was, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt”. Jesus replied, “That’s right”. So I guess I’m saying, I’m the larger debt, friends!
There are tons and tons of verses on lifting your hands to the Lord, I personally love in Psalm 63 when the psalmist says, “I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.”.
Also on a purely secular note, the arms are really powerful. Body language experts tell you that crossing your arms is a sign of defensiveness, discomfort, and an attempt to create a barrier. Those same experts say arms raised and palms out signify openness. I don’t know about you, but I want an open heart and disposition.
So I think I’m saying, it’s all in the heart. All of it. When you take communion whether it’s in high church with reverence, sterling, and ritual or solo in a loud auditorium out of plastic cups… isn’t it the heart that matters? Isn’t reverence actually in the heart? Isn’t honor actually in the heart. Isn’t love from the heart?
For the Lord sees not what man sees. Man focuses on outward appearances, but the Lord looks on the heart.
Lord make it so in me, and in you too if you want it. May all that we do at home, in our city, at work, at church, our little corners of the world that we can put our hands to… may it be from a place of worship, honor, reverence, and love.
Praying you find yourself particularly ablaze today to shine your light.
Xoxo,
Sara
Four Girls Later 