Each January, after the hustle and bustle of Christmas is over, our church family takes time to focus on the coming year. We gather on a Friday night to seek the face of God - 10pm Friday to 6am Saturday morning. Our night of prayer is broken up into various prayer themes and devotional times. We’re given different options listed on a prayer guide. This year during the devotional time, I began reading “They Walked With the Savior” (Charisma House) by Scott Hagan. It was early in the morning when I read “The Story of the Sinful Worshiper”. We all know this story of the women forgiven of much, shedding tears of thankfulness, lavishly anointing the feet of Jesus with expensive oil and the smug embarrassed Pharisee who watched the scene play out before his very eyes. Hagan writes, “Earnest worship involves both a physical action and a loving intent, both a leaning forward with the body and a reaching out with the soul to touch with both life and lyric the divine magnificence of the Father.” But there’s a disturbing flip side to this scene as Hagan gives his assessment of the Pharisee. He writes, “We don’t worship because we don’t feel forgiven. And we don’t feel forgiven because we don’t feel that we were much of a sinner in the first place. You see mediocre sinners make mediocre worshipers.” Our initial response is “yeah, I know people like that” but the story isn’t about those people. This story reminds each of us that we must be an active participant in worship and not simply an observer, whoever we are and whatever our position in the church.
For the Music Minister or Senior Pastor struggling with concerns about corporate worship, here are a few suggestions I humbly offer.
When was the last time worship was a sermon topic or series?
What does authentic corporate worship look like (what am I comparing too)?
How much tangible preparation have I given to this valuable part of the service?
What possible distractions exist that could be fixed
(wrong style of music for the congregation, music too loud, too soft etc.)?
Who am I investing in to assist in the facilitation of corporate worship?
None of this is easy, I know. It all begins with prayer and brutal honesty. But I can be brutally honest (even with myself) if I know it will help others. The Lord will lead and use me in the process if I remain open and listen to His voice.
God is good!
Tim Covert
Tags: Christian Music, Devotional, Worship
