Worship, smership. What is it anyway? I attended worship. I was part of the worship service. I worshiped. Noun, adjective, verb. Google’s first definition for worship is “the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity.” A feeling or expression. Reverence and adoration.
Her lips parted as he strode into the room. The look in her eyes was one of pure adoration…. Not a completely unfamiliar scene in a romance novel or movie, right? But Google’s definition finishes by directing these feelings or expressions to God!
As a member of a somewhat conservative faith fellowship, my expressions are often muted. I slip into the pew silently, soon bowing my head for a quick prayer of focus on my Father. Often my verbal utterances or expressions are limited to a somber “amen” in support of the pastor and a particularly moving sermon passage.
Stephen Altrogge, a Pennsylvania pastor, writes about our unwillingness to praise, especially out loud. We use our conservatism or introversion to justify our controlled and subdued responses. If you’ve done such a thing, as I have on occasion, remember with me that our response to something glorious should supersede our personality traits or preferences.
Several stories in the New Testament refer to paid mourners, those hired to wail and cry at the funeral of a loved one. This tradition has always disgusted me just a bit. However, when I think of my worshipful utterances, how often am I guilty of relying on others to make them for me? I allow a talented and energetic praise band to sing and play, with my singalong lyrics all but inaudible. In fact, I have observed this phenomena several times, seeing the dominating performance of talented musicians, whether praise bands or pipe organs, make congregants feel as if their melodic contributions are unnecessary at best and contraindicated at worst.
I have also attended services where the singing from the pews, regardless of the music genre, was the dominant source of volume in the sanctuary. And, again, by observing my fellow “worshipers”, I can tell you that the expression of reverence and adoration was far more powerful when we were participants rather than spectators.
I challenge you to re-evaluate how you contribute to the musical part of your next church experience. Unless your voice is so unsuitable for singing that you bring great pain to all around you and window glass shatters, I encourage you to sing, not under your breath, but LOUDLY! BTW, if you are a glass shatterer, please still sing, but maybe at lower decibels. Your outpouring of adoration is still important to your experience and to your Heavenly Father. Let’s sing out loud!
Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. –Isaiah 12:5, NIV.
Also check out Let’s Make a Little Noise!