We have been discussing worship at our church. There are all kinds of worship, including the songs we sing before each sermon. Our pastor pointed out that a week from this past Sunday, we could all get together and talk about the contents of his message… and not remember much about it at all. He suggested that a discussion would mention that he talked about the Bible. Yes, and we would be sure that he mentioned God. And certainly, there was talk about Jesus. Yes, of course, Jesus. That it was a really great sermon!
While we might not remember much of the sermon, the songs of worship would stick with us much longer.
My husband and I talked about this with some other church members and, sure enough, we didn’t remember much about the sermon but we all remembered what the pastor said we might remember. Though it had nothing to do with Christianity in and of itself, I think that that part of this particular sermon will stick with us all for a long, long time.
What it did spark off was a discussion of the type of musical worship we had each grown up with and had experienced as adults. For a number of the individuals, they had had very regimented times of song. Mostly old-fashioned hymns. Some of the individuals said there were times in the worship when they would stand and then sit down. Then repeat.
Others, like myself as a child, simply sang old hymns and had choirs and, perhaps, an organist. There were hymn books in the seat backs in front of the pews. Oh yes, there were hard wood pews and not cushioned seats.
For one individual, his only experience had been with our current church. He loves the music and it was a big part of what drew his interest in Christianity. For another, the change was so drastic from the regimented churches of her prior years, that she, too, was drawn to the church.
Others were used to quieter, acoustic songs that set the moment for receiving the word. Louder music was a bit jarring and is taking some getting used to.
My husband had extremely regimented services when he was a child. They were handed schedules of what was going to happen and at what time. The songs they were to sing were listed on a board inside of the sanctuary. When he met me and starting attending the style of church I was used to, the change was like night and day.
I became a Christian during the latter part of the Jesus freak movement of the 1960-1970’s. Church was, quite often, held on the beaches of Southern California. The music was provided by individuals who had guitars and brought them with them. Baptisms were held in the Pacific Ocean. The services did not conform to any time or subject. The worship was joyous with loud singing and no one leading.
Over the years, my churches became a little more restrained and certainly, more polished. They were held in sanctuaries (though sometimes in the basement of another church) and the worship started to have a set group of musicians and a worship leader who chose the songs we were to sing.
I’ve attended all kinds of churches over the years. Everything from very staid services where I felt out of place to services with choirs swinging and swaying and congregants singing and dancing up and down the aisles.
While I was certainly a little more inhibited than the latter, I felt more at home in those churches. No one was paying attention to what I wore and how I sang and how I danced (not that I danced out loud but I was doing it inside.) It was as if, in the midst of it all, the only one watching was God himself. I would think about David and how he danced with all his heart and soul in the roadway in front of the Ark of Covenant. Even though his own wife was ashamed of him, God was not. God was pleased with him. With all of David’s issues and problems (of which there were many), God said David was a man after His own heart.
Our current church has a much more rehearsed time of song worship. The musicians are excellent and the worship time has the look and feel of a concert at times instead of being a part of a church service. There is nothing wrong with that, it is just different from what I am used to. I’m enjoying it a lot via live stream and could only wish that the words to the songs stayed together with the singing a bit better so I could sing along more easily.
In the end, the important part of worship is pouring ones heart out to God. You are singing from your soul, no matter who wrote the words of the song you are singing. If you stand stock still, or half-raise your arms, or maybe hold them above your head, perhaps even move your legs or not, it doesn’t matter. God knows what is in your heart.
Worshiping God, when done with your whole heart and in truth and in spirit, gives God great joy. Our pastor says that God is watching and is even sometimes dancing in joy over each of us. I like to think that that is especially true during the worship portions of church services.
So next week, though I may struggle a bit trying to remember the sermon, I think that I will remember much of the worship portion of the day. I hope you do, too. You might even try to remember the sermon, too. I’m sure that the Bible, God and Jesus will be a big part of it.
Psalms 96
Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.
Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.