What up ya'll? (Is there an apostrophe in "ya'll" I don't know but that is not important). it has been a couple of weeks since my last blog and I have been doing some heavy reading in school so I am in over-thinking mode! Anyway, I was reading an article from a magazine I used to have a subscription from. The article was all about entertainment. Yes, awesomeness, I love entertainment: video games, movies, TV shows, music, you name it. The article focused not on these forms of mass media but instead entertainment in church. There is a debate a brewin' all about heart felt worship versus entertaining people. Wow what an issue. What does it mean? Should I focus as a worship leader on heart felt worship or entertaining the people who come to service? Well, obviously as a Christ loving leader, I want to bring glory to God, but are my motives always clear?
So here I am over-thinking everything from the motives of the American Revolution to how the Mongols allowed assimilated religions in their culture (I fully understand how this might not be interesting to anyone other than History nerds like myself). And this article pops up. What am I supposed to make of it? Are my motives as a leader focused on God or on man's idea of a good time? I think it comes to the forefront as I step back and look at myself and my relationship with God. The Bible talks about doing all things for the glory of God, not man. So how could I, if I am worshiping God, put people first?
There has been a pretty large movement in churches across the country of making the worship experience full of bright lights, crazy motion backgrounds, and cool backdrops. This can all be really awesome and add to the experience of worshiping God, but what about a simple acoustic guitar with a black screen and lyrics? As long as I seek him with an open heart ready to submit, God will not communicate with me differently in either case. So what then can be said about all the bells and whistles of some contemporary worship services? Are they a waste? Are they glorifying the experience of church rather than God?
My take is that true worship can be demonstrated in a slew of different ways. By video, drama, music, art, service, and lighting. If I was a lighting designer and technician, wanting to use gifts that have come from God, then why shouldn't I be able to worship Him using those gifts? The issue then moves from the practitioner of the service to the attender. How do we judge service, the coolest laser light show or best visual display? Should we look to the building or the cars outside? Maybe we should focus on the people, how they live their lives, the judgement that is reserved for God, the heart of the leaders, the message of Christ that is being expressed.
This is a bit divergent from the original article (I'll attach the URL so you can see it below), but I think it is important as we visit new churches or even attend the same church that we understand the priority that should be paramount in a group of people, Loving God and Loving People. I'm not even saying the Journey has this all together but we are continually hoping for progression closer to what God wants from us.
http://www.collidemagazine.com/article/219/our-entertainment-worship-culture
Love Ya'll! ~Christian
There has been a pretty large movement in churches across the country of making the worship experience full of bright lights, crazy motion backgrounds, and cool backdrops. This can all be really awesome and add to the experience of worshiping God, but what about a simple acoustic guitar with a black screen and lyrics? As long as I seek him with an open heart ready to submit, God will not communicate with me differently in either case. So what then can be said about all the bells and whistles of some contemporary worship services? Are they a waste? Are they glorifying the experience of church rather than God?
My take is that true worship can be demonstrated in a slew of different ways. By video, drama, music, art, service, and lighting. If I was a lighting designer and technician, wanting to use gifts that have come from God, then why shouldn't I be able to worship Him using those gifts? The issue then moves from the practitioner of the service to the attender. How do we judge service, the coolest laser light show or best visual display? Should we look to the building or the cars outside? Maybe we should focus on the people, how they live their lives, the judgement that is reserved for God, the heart of the leaders, the message of Christ that is being expressed.
This is a bit divergent from the original article (I'll attach the URL so you can see it below), but I think it is important as we visit new churches or even attend the same church that we understand the priority that should be paramount in a group of people, Loving God and Loving People. I'm not even saying the Journey has this all together but we are continually hoping for progression closer to what God wants from us.
http://www.collidemagazine.com/article/219/our-entertainment-worship-culture
Love Ya'll! ~Christian
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