On "Let's Make A Deal," the entire show leads to the chance for the winning player to select between three different doors behind which is a surprise gift. Sometimes, it's a car. And sometimes, it's a goat eating a bale of hay. It all comes down to the random choice the contestant makes. There is really no logic to that choice. It's based on how they feel in the moment. You know, like Vegas.
Now, if there was a clearly defined rule as to how one should make their selection, that might make things easier. For example, if Door #1 was always green, and you were told that the Green Door is the best one to select, then you would always select Door #1, right?
What if I told you that, regarding our worship, the Green Door will always lead you to the right place? Wouldn't you always want to go through that door? I would.
But here's what's happened with worship in so many of our churches. We have not clearly defined what it is. Most believers think we know what worship is based on our understanding of the Bible. But even among believers - even mature believers - there continues to be confusion regarding the word, "worship" and how we define, program and chase it.
The problem is compounded for those who lead in worship, primarily pastor and music or worship leaders. (Yes, there are even some pastors who are not quite sure what worship is - or - they have simply aligned with the culture to avoid confrontation.)
The first thing we must do is settle on an accurate definition of the word, "worship." I have always liked a definition I first heard from Willow Creek church in Barrington, IL. "Worship is responding to God for all He is with everything we are." I like how personal and simple that is. No mention of song styles or worship service length or use of media and other tech. Just - a full-bodied response (heart, soul, mind and strength) to the God of all we have ever, or will ever, know. That response can occur with choral music, hymns, moderns songs, rock bands, one guitar player, three people singing a Christian folk tune... how we get there is almost irrelevant. The most important factor here is that we do, actually, really, authentically, RESPOND to the Almighty God with a heart of surrender and humility giving all that we have to give.
So, just for clarity - "worship" is NEVER a music style, a hymn, a CCM song, a choir, a band, a prayer or a sermon. "Worship" is our RESPONSE to God and those things mentioned here (hymn, CCM song, music style, etc.) are HOW we get there. We are completely missing the focus when we refer to a set of songs, for example, as a "worship set." A set of songs is only "worship" when those leading and singing are truly surrendering themselves to God, through Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Which leads me to some important distinctions that needs to be made.
I believe that, today, in our churches, we have (in general) created four "worship doors" we tend to offer to our congregations. (Only one of them is the "green" door, btw...)
WORSHIP PERFORMING
This seems to be the current flavor of choice and we all recognize what this is. There is a high level of stage presence and near celebrity persona taking place. Choreographed movements, a band in sync with a click track, the hope to replicate and perform the song as heard on Christian radio, lights and other tech to enhance the stage presentation, etc. The goal here, it seems to me, is to lure people in following a slick, "American Idol" type experience. The congregation, (which closer resembles an audience than a true "worshiping congregation") for the most part, watches the "worship concert." If they happen to know the songs, they might sing or clap along. In the end, this can be a very uplifting enjoyable experience or even show that may or may not actually "worship" God. That is, of course, between the worshiper and God himself. Just remember that simply singing a song with the words "God" or "Jesus" in them does not automatically mean you are worshiping. Just like singing along to a secular song that talks about drugs does not automatically make you a drug addict. It's all a matter of the HEART that is singing.
WORSHIP FORCING
I have seen this in a lot of churches. The worship leadership team feels pressure to replicate what they see on worship song videos from large, mega churches. They do their best to get their musicians to learn the songs with perfection so they can, again, perform them well. Then, they launch off into their worship set, telling everyone to stand, singing songs that often times are in keys that most are unable to participate with, which can leave the congregation easily slipping into that first model of Worship Performance - where they became an audience watching the worship team sing for them. This becomes a type of forcing when the worship leader begins offering specific commands into the mic such as "let's all stand now" or "everyone sing louder now." People don't like to be forced into a mold like that and it has nothing to do with shepherding your flock.
WORSHIP DIRECTING
This is the term or title that is most often used in churches today. The lead musician is the church "worship director" which implies that they "lead" the worship. There are two main problems with this. First, the Holy Spirit actually leads the worship - period. He does not need our help. He simply needs us to pay attention to how He is moving (see below). He decides the direction of the worship as created by the collective and individual spiritual needs of those in the gathering. Second, in many churches, the church policy dictates that the Senior Pastor of the church is the one responsible for the worship in the gathering making them, by definition, the "leader" of worship for that church. All choices for the worship service fall under their pastoral leadership. In the best case scenario, the Pastor has spent time seeking the wisdom of the Holy Spirit for his church, and has clearly communicated that to the chief musician who then shares that vision with his team of musicians which leads to song selections and other elements of the service that support what the Holy Spirit has brought forth. If that sounds like a lot of work, it is, and, it should be! And, sadly, this happens far less often that you might care to believe or admit. When we take on the role of "directing the worship," then we are saying, by implication, that we agree with the reality that the Holy Spirit is our true "worship director" and that everything we do comes from His guidance. The question to ask is, are we really doing this?
WORSHIP LEADING
I saved this one for last because, in my opinion, this occurs the least amount of time in most of today's churches. Contrary to all three listed above, in this situation, there is a spiritually gifted leader - not necessarily a musician - who pays attention to the moving and guiding of the Holy Spirit during the assembly. I believe this can happen in a setting where the songs have been rehearsed and prepared in a "set" and I have also seen it occur with impact in a setting where no songs are planned, no slides ready to go, no rehearsal. Because the preparation of the music is not as important to encountering God's presence as we have been led to believe. But that is not the only thing that helps someone lead a congregation into worship. In order to be "led in worship," the people in the gathering themselves must be eager to encounter God's holy and mighty presence in the power of the Holy Spirit. If the congregation does not want to encounter God's presence, the worship leader will be unable to lead and very quickly slip into the role of "worship directing," or "forcing" shouting out commands like, "come on," or "let's clap," or "you can sing louder!" This is not leading in worship and has nothing to do with paying attention to the spiritual DNA of your congregation.
If you want to see your church explode in its effectiveness and impact your congregation and your surrounding community, I strongly suggest you examine which "worship door" you tend to walk through and see if God might be encouraging you to try a new path.
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