Almost without exception, when we find ourselves in a place that has seats pointed toward a stage or screen, we are there to be entertained or educated. Weather it is a stage play, movie theater, concert hall, seminar, or classroom – the "audience" has an automatic expectation that the people up front have something of value to give them. When we assemble in places like that, there are usually 3 distinct groups: the audience, the performers, and various "backstage" folks (like sound, lights, video, etc). Each has a distinct role to play. The performers are there to "deliver the goods" to the audience; the backstage crew is there to assist the performers without drawing attention to themselves; and the audience is there to enjoy what is being delivered, and many times, they paid good money to be there.
No wonder so many Christians get worship backwards when we gather in our church buildings. It’s the furniture.
We walk into church on Sunday mornings and think “...oh look.. where shall I sit? I sure hope no one took my favorite seat? After all, I’ve been coming here long enough to have season tickets, right? OK, now that I’m settled, let’s see the program, who’s performing today, and is there a special singer or guest speaker? – wouldn’t that be nice... At least I hope they play my favorite songs. I hate having to learn new ones, it's so annoying and ruins my mood for worship…”
Because of the familiar seating arrangement, we just assume that we are the audience, the people on the stage are the performers, and the people in the sound booth are the backstage crew. When that happens in the minds of would-be worshipers, whatever happens next is not going to be worship. At least, not the kind of worship God is looking for.
The simple truth is: There is only ONE seat in the audience of a true worship service. It is a Throne in Heaven. And yes, that seat is taken. You are not the audience in worship. Nobody came to worship you. Worship is not for your entertainment, your enjoyment, or even your benefit (although true worship naturally brings profound blessing to the worshiper).
God is the only One worthy of worship. Anything else is idolatry. So He is the audience in our worship services, and He came to receive a blessing from you, not just the people on the stage. His enjoyment of what YOU bring Him in worship is more important than the style of music or getting to hear your favorite songs.
Our getting “bored” is not the biggest concern. The worst thing that could happen is God getting bored or even insulted with our half-hearted, self-centered, lame participation in worship. Once God told the Israelites exactly how disappointed He was with their worship...
“I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me!
Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them.
Away with the noise of your songs! (Amos 5:21-23)
Is it possible God has ever felt that way about us - that our worship stinks?
Let’s be honest – if we paid $100 to see a play and the actors were obviously missing their lines, texting on their cell phones, and joking with each other when they thought no one was looking - we would be disappointed (to say the least) and possibly angry enough to demand our money back.
The Creator of the universe is worthy of worship from His creation - by definition. Then consider He also paid the ultimate admission price (the life blood of His one and only Son) to occupy the highest place in our hearts as well as the only seat in our worship. Yet how often does He endure lifeless Sunday meetings, where worshipers come expecting to be entertained – or where the musicians, singers, and preachers (the spiritual backstage crew) thought that everybody came to watch them worship for us. Both scenarios make God sad, or sick, or both.
The great news is - we have the ability to make worship the profound experience it was meant to be (for God and for us) - every time. When God is touched by our worship, we experience something amazing. His word promises that when we draw near to Him, He draws near to us. That is a promise. Never underestimate the life-changing power of closeness (intimacy) with God. It's what we're made for - what every human heart thirsts for, more than anything else - whether we recognize it or not.
Armed with the proper perspective and the desire to give Jesus the honor and glory He deserves, we can actually touch and bless God’s heart in worship, sense His glory, and feel His joy as He smiles on us. I live for those moments, when I sing my lungs out until I feel God is so close that I can’t sing anymore because of the lump in my throat and the tears in my eyes. In my book, this is as close to heaven as it gets in this life. The only thing better is experiencing these things with lots and lots of fellow-worshipers!
So there you have it. Don’t be fooled by the furniture. The people on (and behind) the stage are there to help people in the seats worship the One who sits on the Throne!
This is what I imagine when I think of worship at LCC. This is what I'm asking God to bring about – that our building(s) would be filled with believers who know their part in worship, and who passionately, recklessly pour out their hearts to God in praise; where the singing is so loud that it drowns out the instruments and shakes the windows – and people buying their Slurpees at 7-11 wonder, “What in the world is going on over there?”
For His Glory,
Dave
_________________________
No wonder so many Christians get worship backwards when we gather in our church buildings. It’s the furniture.
We walk into church on Sunday mornings and think “...oh look.. where shall I sit? I sure hope no one took my favorite seat? After all, I’ve been coming here long enough to have season tickets, right? OK, now that I’m settled, let’s see the program, who’s performing today, and is there a special singer or guest speaker? – wouldn’t that be nice... At least I hope they play my favorite songs. I hate having to learn new ones, it's so annoying and ruins my mood for worship…”
Because of the familiar seating arrangement, we just assume that we are the audience, the people on the stage are the performers, and the people in the sound booth are the backstage crew. When that happens in the minds of would-be worshipers, whatever happens next is not going to be worship. At least, not the kind of worship God is looking for.
The simple truth is: There is only ONE seat in the audience of a true worship service. It is a Throne in Heaven. And yes, that seat is taken. You are not the audience in worship. Nobody came to worship you. Worship is not for your entertainment, your enjoyment, or even your benefit (although true worship naturally brings profound blessing to the worshiper).
God is the only One worthy of worship. Anything else is idolatry. So He is the audience in our worship services, and He came to receive a blessing from you, not just the people on the stage. His enjoyment of what YOU bring Him in worship is more important than the style of music or getting to hear your favorite songs.
Our getting “bored” is not the biggest concern. The worst thing that could happen is God getting bored or even insulted with our half-hearted, self-centered, lame participation in worship. Once God told the Israelites exactly how disappointed He was with their worship...
“I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me!
Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them.
Away with the noise of your songs! (Amos 5:21-23)
Is it possible God has ever felt that way about us - that our worship stinks?
Let’s be honest – if we paid $100 to see a play and the actors were obviously missing their lines, texting on their cell phones, and joking with each other when they thought no one was looking - we would be disappointed (to say the least) and possibly angry enough to demand our money back.
The Creator of the universe is worthy of worship from His creation - by definition. Then consider He also paid the ultimate admission price (the life blood of His one and only Son) to occupy the highest place in our hearts as well as the only seat in our worship. Yet how often does He endure lifeless Sunday meetings, where worshipers come expecting to be entertained – or where the musicians, singers, and preachers (the spiritual backstage crew) thought that everybody came to watch them worship for us. Both scenarios make God sad, or sick, or both.
The great news is - we have the ability to make worship the profound experience it was meant to be (for God and for us) - every time. When God is touched by our worship, we experience something amazing. His word promises that when we draw near to Him, He draws near to us. That is a promise. Never underestimate the life-changing power of closeness (intimacy) with God. It's what we're made for - what every human heart thirsts for, more than anything else - whether we recognize it or not.
Armed with the proper perspective and the desire to give Jesus the honor and glory He deserves, we can actually touch and bless God’s heart in worship, sense His glory, and feel His joy as He smiles on us. I live for those moments, when I sing my lungs out until I feel God is so close that I can’t sing anymore because of the lump in my throat and the tears in my eyes. In my book, this is as close to heaven as it gets in this life. The only thing better is experiencing these things with lots and lots of fellow-worshipers!
So there you have it. Don’t be fooled by the furniture. The people on (and behind) the stage are there to help people in the seats worship the One who sits on the Throne!
This is what I imagine when I think of worship at LCC. This is what I'm asking God to bring about – that our building(s) would be filled with believers who know their part in worship, and who passionately, recklessly pour out their hearts to God in praise; where the singing is so loud that it drowns out the instruments and shakes the windows – and people buying their Slurpees at 7-11 wonder, “What in the world is going on over there?”
For His Glory,
Dave
_________________________