Since the time I was in middle school I have been involved in the leading of Sunday morning church services. When I look back and think about that, it is just crazy. Where else do both children and seniors takes turns and come together in leading one another in something so serious? I really can't think of any other place other than in the House of the Lord...aka, church!
Leading others in worship. Wow, take a second to take that in. That is incredible. I encourage you to read what the dictionary says about worship. Although it could be quite obvious to you what it is, there is something so profound about hearing/reading the meaning of it again and meditating on it.
Personally, I love going to church and my favourite part is singing and praying. I could do both of those things for hours on a Sunday if I was given the opportunity to (of course that doesn't mean I can't do that on my own time, but that is what I thrive on during a service). I love sitting in the pews with the rest of the congregation, but I also love standing on the platform with the music team leading the rest of the church family in worship.
There are three scenarios that can happen to me on a Sunday morning. Firstly, some days I will be ready, excited, not tired, not feeling sick and on fire for God. While other days I feel so unworthy, inadequate and the worst sinner in the world...surely not someone who should be leading God's people.
Then the third possible scenario for my Sunday morning: Sometimes the preparation for this thirty minute segment of the service is so stressful and sickening that I don't even want to be there. Everyone has their own style and opinion of how a service should go, and we a team of 2-6 people have to work together in a God honouring fashion to get that underway. That should be easy...in theory. Unfortunately, Satan is not exactly pleased with what we are doing and wants to make a constant disaster of worshipping God and being a church family. There is always a brutal spiritual battle going on.
Aside from the interpersonal skills within the music team, I (and I'm sure we, the team) are in constant wonder of what the rest of the church would like to see happen on a Sunday morning. All we know is that everyone worships God differently. Everyone likes different styles of music. Everyone communicates with God in a different way. Myself, I am a people-pleaser, so I find this very challenging. Sure, you could say that if someone doesn't like the service format, or thinks the music is too loud, or too slow, or whatever, then they can just look for another church to attend. That however, is not as simple as it sounds.
If the worship is honoring to God, why do we complain? If we are legally allowed to worship our Heavenly Father in this country, why do we complain? If we are surrounded by other Christians while we worship God, why do we complain? Why can't everyone just sing, cry, or shout till their heart's content while we are worshiping?
Of course I have a personal preference in music, and I love good quality music...but I set that aside to the best of my ability to embrace the service and set my heart set towards God. It grieves me deeply when I have thoroughly enjoyed a church service, have felt the presence of God so close to me, and then afterwards hear my friends, family, or others bash certain aspects of the service. How do you think that makes God feel? Talk about a major bubble burst.
As I'm writing this post the song "Heart of Worship" comes to mind:
"I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about you
It's all about you, Jesus
I'm sorry Lord for the things I've made it
When it's all about you
It's all about you, Jesus"
Why do we continually backhandedly bring worship back to ourselves? Please do not sing that song unless you do not complain about your church. Because if you do complain, you are saying that it IS indeed more about you and your preferences of worship than it is about actually worshipping God.
It makes me so mad that society has made us into thinkers and doers of self-righteous personal improvement. We are all under construction, but we are under the construction of personal improvement to strive to get as close to the bar Jesus has set for us. To become more like Christ...not what we want to see ourselves as.
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus...Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God..."
Philippians 2:5, 14-15
I can't wait for the day when we all stand in heaven around the throne of Glory and worship. Worship. Worship. Worship Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Show our adoration, gratitude, and respect to God. I have no idea what worship is going to look like in Heaven...but I'm positive that it is going to look and feel a lot different than it does here on Earth.
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