Whereas I understand the concept that you do not want your congregation singing songs they do not fully mean, we must also firmly grasp that which is most important: we do not now, nor will we ever in this lifetime get things exactly right. If we wait until we are able to worship in a way that fits the song “well enough”, we will never worship at all. Almost every major worship song is out of the question for singing if you hold it up to the same standard you have held up to this song (the lyrics of which are some of the most biblical lyrics you will find in today’s worship music!). Consider songs like “At The Cross” by Hillsong ‘At the cross I bow my knee, where Your blood was shed for me.’ No one is literally bowing at the cross, nor are we humanly capable of creating within our minds or spirits an image, thought, or feeling worthy of comparing with this action. The same can go for songs as timeless and valuable to our faith as “Amazing Grace” — “I once was lost, but now am found. Was blind, but now I see.” I assume that the majority of your congregation was never blind, and to be entirely honest, is not capable of fully seeing the truth, simply glimpses of the mystery of the power of Christ’s resurrection.

Like many of the posts before me, I agree that worship is a part of our sanctification — something we grow in and move through. I also would say that as a worship leader, you have a responsiblity to encourage your congregation to worship biblically.

I hope this helps! As a fellow worship leader and child of God, I am encouraged to know you are seeking His will for your congregation. My simple encouragement is this: do not overlook the grace and significance of Christ so much that our failure to grasp Him fully keeps us from worshiping Him!

I pastor our music and arts ministry here (one of the hats I wear). I have read your post and all the comments and wanted to offer some insight.

Our church is a “blended” congregation. We have some elderly, regular baptist folks, the typical “middle aged evangelical Christian” types with kids in Jr High, young marrieds with kids, and the ever elusive mid-20’s single men and women. So I empathize with your position.

A real question I would challenge you to ask is what are the stated goals of your worship? You need to have it be more than “blending musical styles”, trying to accomodate the likes and preferences for every person with every song. Where do you want your people to move to with worship? Part of leading people is having a clear picture where God wants you to go, and then orienting all you do in ministry to get there. Realizing that some will move quickly, most will move slowly, and some won’t move at all. Unfortunately, these “non-movers” usually dictate the direction and speed for everyone else. And more unfortunately, leaders in general are too worried about stepping on toes to be the visionary leader for a move of God. This is not to say you write everyone off who does not agree with you. It just means that if God has given you direction, at some point you need to pursue it and let the chips fall where they may. Again, I would ask if you have really crystalized where you want your people to be.

Another question I have for you is do you have the support of your teaching pastor? I don’t mean tacit approval. I mean are you on the same page with the vision for worship? Again, simply “blending” styles is just the beginning. Is the pastor admonishing your people stop being consumers when it comes to muscial style, but rather to be participants in and with God in changing how you worship? Is he challenging your people to sacrifice their wants for the greater mission of God?

In addition, do you think your people trust you as a worship leader to lead them appropriately?

As far as the lyrics of songs, in my opinion, while it is admirable to be concerned about the authenticity in worship of singing words that are not accompanied by actions, it seems that you and the comittee have over-analyzed this one. Seriously, using your logic, you would have to throw out almost all the songs, hymns or whatever, as oftentimes they are singing words which don’t reflect your heart at the time.

Again, it falls back on what is your goal for worhsip? Our music should teach us about Jesus, contain deep theology, and be musically appealing. That is what Eph 5:16-19 and Col 3:15-18 are teaching. Just a suggestion, look at your master list and see how many of the songs are focued on “I” or on the “individual”, rather than on Jesus.

Personally, I think that much of what passes as “Christian” music is baby’s milk which focuses on the worhiping the individual rather than Jesus. Many of our songs at Grace are taken directly from scripture, some are original compostitions, or are hymns. However, most hymns were musically written for a society that no longer exists, so we change them stylistically, updating them for modern ears, all with electric guitars, drums, bass, keys, vocals,etc. And some resented that. Unfortunately, some of those people left. Yet God continues to bless our church because we are moving where He wants and have realized the cold hard truth that you can’t please everyone, all the time.

I know this is long, and I sure hope you are still reading this .

Blessings,

Matt Bayley
Grace Fellowhip

You have a great heart for your congregation and a sensitivity to where they are that is admirable. I fear that I do not possess the same patience. My question would be, “How do we meet people where they are in worship, and at the same time encourage them to grow in the worship of our Lord?”. Is that the place of the worship leader?

Merry Christmas from Vintage.

At our church, the worship is fairly “free”. If I choose to bow down during worhip (in my row) no one would really pay attention…because they are also worshipping not eying other people. Worship has become an intimate act between me and God.

I heard a minister tell this story and it is true…let me see if I can sum it up. A minister had a guy in his congregation who was very stoic during worship. He didn’t clap, raise his hands, or really even sing…very reserved. The pastor was trying to build some repore with the guy. The guy told him, that he just doesn’t “do that”. So one day the guy invites the pastor to a football game. The pastor said he wasn’t all that interested in the game. Their local team (college) hadn’t won a game in years. But he went anyway just to spend time with the guy. The game wasn’t terribly exciting. But at one point, the defense intercepted the ball…the guy from his church was standing up yelling, “Run, you fool..RUN!!”. The guy was so excited. The guy looked at the pastor and asked him, “Why aren’t you getting excited?” The pastor said, “I just don’t do that”. The point is, we will act like maniacs at football games or concerts but when it comes to Jesus Christ our savior we “just don’t do that”. Worship is a choice! You either choose to do it or you don’t.

Also, could it be sung as a future hope for what worship will look like before the actual throne of grace one day? I think off all the people in the Old Testament who spoke about a risen messiah even though that wasn’t true for them in the present tense because in their lifetimes they would never see the messiah or His resurrection. But i think they spoke with confidence in the present tense because of a future hope. I wonder if that could be true for us and our singing of raising hands in the present tense for the future hope of a fully picture of worship one day before Jesus Christ Himself?

My husband and I are very conservative about lyric content (and I brainstorm with him often). Also my pastor trusts in my leadership (proven).

I see what you’re saying, but that line of reasoning could say that you should only teach what people know and do.

If it isn’t true for them now, then you can’t teach it?

In a teaching (even secular) line of thinking, to me (as a teacher) it doesn’t make sense.

We create goals for people. We inspire them to move toward the Lord.

I’ll never forget the time in Children’s Ministry about 1998 when I was leading worship I used to sing a song by Don Jakson (CC Murietta) that said “I will raise my hands to the heavens and sing from my heart, You are Lord, Yes you are Lord…”

And this huge 6′ 5″ 300 lb all muscle bad boy image teacher of ours stood up, lifted his hands, and began to cry. For the first time! WOW.

But you have to follow your pastor’s leadership.

Be encouraged. Pray. Work within your leadership.

I’ve tossed songs for different congregations for the simple reason that it wasn’t our prayer for that season.

Don’t lose hope.

Love bridget