“Have you ever felt about worship like Charlie Brown did at Christmas? You knew that everyone else seemed to get something out of it, but nothing about it made you happy, and you weren’t quite sure what it was all about. Could you use a Linus to help you out?
Our view of God directs our worship. Downsize God and He becomes secondary to something else…Whether an emotional high, or being entertained. But His train filled the temple, and there’s no room for anything else.”
Randy Pope
What should 24/7 worship look like in your life, your family, and your Sunday morning worship experience? 40 minutes invested in watching or listening to this message on the topic of worship would be time well spent to help you understand what God has to say.
Incidentally, if you aren’t familiar with Perimeter Church, Grammy & Dove award winner Laura Story is one of several worship leaders on staff as was Aaron Shust several years ago.
If you prefer audio, you can download the MP3 for part one here and part two here, and the notes for part one here and part two here.
Isolated quotes from the message notes:
* Why do we come to worship and how do we determine if our worship is a good experience?
“People have the tendency to approach worship as consumers. The focus is on my
experience, sitting back with arms folded and saying to those leading worship, ‘Wow me. Do something to grab my attention, catch my interest.’ They assume worship is like watching a movie; it’s something I critique afterward. — John Ortberg & Pam Howell:
Biblical worship services provide healthy environments for worship and feeding rather than environments for entertainment and self-help inspiration.
* Who should the target audience be during a worship service, and is it appropriate to have performers in a worship service?
Anonymous:
It is functional blasphemy to stand in the place of God. God is the audience of worship. If we become the audience, it is blasphemy.
* What are the experiences a Christian should have during a time of worship?
1. “WOW” True worshippers experience a pondering of their Savior (adoration), see God’s prominence, perfection, praiseworthiness, power. (Isaiah 6:1-4)
2. SORRY – True worshippers experience a prostrating of self (confession). Isaiah 6:5
3. YEA – True worshippers experience a purging of sin (restoration). Isaiah 6:6-7
4. O.K. – True worshippers experience a professing of submission (submission). Isaiah 6:8
I have been attending Perimeter for over 15 years and I find it impossible to worship God there amidst all the loud, flashy, self-serving, highly charged emotional “rock and roll” music and numerous other stage “performance” distractions.
Randy preaches to just not “pay attention” to all this and not to look at it as “performances” but for us to just “worship God.” But its like the lead guitarist at a rock and roll concert trying to teach a fan how to pray while he jams out on his Gibson! Instead I feel like just “flicking my Bic” and swaying with the fans as we all pretend to be cool and relevant and not like those “other” old-fashioned Hymn/Psalm singers like…well like David!
Calvin, you told the truth. As much as we try to “enhance” the worship experience with great music, attractive stage presence, and technology, all those things can become a distraction. We gather on Sunday morning to worship God, and for no other reason. If there were no music and no musicians, worship ought to still take place. In John 4:23-24 Jesus never mentions music, musicians, teams, or anything external. Jesus said, “in spirit and in truth.” That’s it. Whatever form that takes, that is Jesus’ criterion. Be encouraged, my brother. Continue to seek Him even through the distractions.
Donna u cudnt be far frm the truth its posble to be a singer and not aworshiper.it is alifestyle not a moment in achurch progrm.am in africa/kenya raising the standad of worship.
I am starving to worship God at Perimeter….I know I don’t deserve too and maybe the Lord wants me to starve, I am not sure. But it seems like if us “unordained” simpletons (and there are many of us in Atlanta) get it, why is that the ordained theologoically astute can’t see this? I have to go to other church’s just to be able to sing and worship God….its so sad!!
what churches do you visit in atlanta that do a good job of singing and worshipping God?
Calvin my friend I know nothing here except your pain. My hand reaches out to take yours and ask this: Can you tell what the “story of the morning ” is? If you cannot tell that then I would submit that this is what you really miss. What ist he actual context we are worshipping within. The book Epic opened my eyes to this. In it the author talks about how the whole of Chrisitianity is presented to us without context. Many of us do not know why “there is nothing that will separate us from the Lord.” All we here is that this is true. The book helps us remember that we are coming in at the tail end of the story. There is a lot more to know. I think that the Pastor and the Worship folks may have missed this if you and others do not see that what they are doing is inviting you to Worship with them. Too many times we simply say here is what we are doing and we can feel how it Honors the Lord but we lose contact with helping everyone make that same connection.
I too offer my prayers that you will find Worship. I seek it every day and in every day I find some time of Worship The Lord is faithful my friend my brother in Christ. He is able to make alive. Let Him do that and …. put away your lighter 🙂 your soul shines bright enough so let it shine.
Excellent. Facing head-on the seductive power of using the forms and sounds of worship in order to please an audience, or even to attract the lost, is a brave message in this day and age. Randy’s insights are a challenge to all who measure their church by its ability to entertain them and meet their needs. It’s what many laypeople end up thinking. It’s what many leaders assume to be true. In the end, though, no matter how effective is might appear, it is our own golden calf.
Great post and heads-up on a church I want to learn more about.