WORSHIP WARS?
“There are
several reasons for opposing this new church music. Firstly, it’s too new.
Then, it’s often worldly, even blasphemous. The new Christian music is not as
pleasant as the more established style. There are so many new songs you can’t learn
them all. It puts too much emphasis on instrumental music rather than Godly
lyrics. This new music creates disturbances making people act indecently and
disorderly. The preceding generation got along without it. It’s a money making
scam and some of these new upstarts are lewd and loose.”
They weren’t attacking today’s Christian
music, but the hymn writer Isaac Watts, famous for writing, “When I Survey the
Wondrous Cross” in 1723!!
Did you know that many churches across
our country are engaged in war? They are
called “Worship wars.” Wars where music
directors challenge the pastor and the congregation by demanding to do the
music they want. Wars between the congregation and the worship team and leader.
The
Barna Group (Research and Pollster) writes, “Most of the church people who
fight about their musical preference do so because they don't understand the
relationship between music, communication, God and worship. Church leaders
foster the problem by focusing on how to please people with music or how to
offer enough styles of music to meet everyone's tastes rather dealing with the
underlying issues of limited interest in, comprehension of, and investment in
fervent worship of a holy, deserving God. The real issue is not the choice of
music by churches but rather people's interest in, understanding of, and
engagement in the act of worshiping God. Music is just a tool meant to enable
people to express themselves to God, yet we sometimes spend more time arguing
over the tool than over the product and purpose of the tool."
There are two dangers I face as a worship
leader. First, if we introduce too many
new songs, then it isn’t conducive to entering into worship…we are too busy just
trying to keep up with the words. So, I
pace out the new songs over the course of a year to make sure the congregation
isn’t overwhelmed.
The other danger is in repeating the same
songs to a point where we mindlessly mouth the words without catching the
message… that’s why I encourage other leaders to incorporate a calendar that
has approximately a 3 month rotation.
The word “repetition” has become
synonomous with “outdated,” “ineffective,” and “it doesn’t move me
anymore.” I believe God anoints songs,
just as He anoints singers. The gifts
and calling of God are without repentance.
In other words, the Lord is not an indian giver! The words of an
anointed song will always have the same power as when it was first
created. We can become complacent, but
if the “old songs” (repeated contemporary songs) fail to “move” us anymore, it
is not the fault of the song, but rather, with us. God doesn’t take back His anointing.
We must be taught that we are not singing the songs for the congregation… the
congregation is here to give to God, not to receive. Secondly, the
Worship Leader, choir and musicians must seek the face of God so that His
Spirit would anoint their ministry. We don’t seek the anointing, we seek
the Anointer…when we do that, the songs, (whether old or new) will have the
anointing and power to move individuals to worship God.
As we learn new powerful and anointed songs, let’s insure
that they have the same power and anointing two years from now as they do when
we first hear them!!!
I envision an hourglass set on it’s side
half way through it’s run. The sand has
stopped and there’s no movement between what happened, what’s happening, and
what is yet to be. That’s what happens during spirit worship.
It becomes timeless, and affects everything else we do.
My prayer for Worship Leaders and their teams: “Lord, your Word says, ‘Whosever will may come!’ Help us to be vessels of your Spirit to
change the hearts of those who “won’t,” to be those who “will!”
