More Than a Song

On any given Sunday morning in churches throughout the community, people will fill the pews and each congregation...each individual...will have a different worship experience.  Some churches offer services that use traditional hymns during their worship times which are led by a song leader and accompanied by organ and piano.  Some services offer a blended style in their worship service and use both hymns and older praise choruses.  Some offer a more contemporary style of music and have a worship leader backed by a full band and use lyrics projected on screens with fancy backgrounds. Other churches go the extra mile and add fog and light shows to offer a rock concert type of experience.  And others simply lift up their voices in praise without any instruments at all.  

Regardless of the style of service, much planning goes into creating the experience: choosing songs that compliment each other, making sure they are in keys that are singable for everyone, adding scripture to be read, planning transitioning times, band rehearsals, working with media systems and the tech crew, and the list can go on and on.  I think it's crucial that we clearly define exactly what it is that we want to be experienced.  What's really important?  Is it a flawless performance by the band?  Is it adhering to finely orchestrated time allotments and closing the service on time?  Is it following the trends and growing in numbers because of the "cool" environment?  These things in and of themselves aren't bad.  We're called to a level of excellence...to use our abilities to their fullest extent. Sure...we want an experience to be enjoyable.  But, have we, as a modern society put so much of our focus on all these things that we've lost sight of the One who we are worshiping?

Hopefully, the desire is to facilitate a time of personal response to our Savior.  As worship leaders, what is the posture of our hearts?  Are we leading from a place of transparency?  Do we draw attention to ourselves or the the One to whom we sing?To be able to effectively lead a congregation in worship, our hearts must be filled to overflowing from our personal encounters with the Father, and this comes from spending time in his presence and in his Word.  We cannot give what we don't have.  Is our well dry or bursting with praise?  Have we been changed by his grace?  Have we been broken for our sins?  Have we torn down idols that have replaced our devotion to the Lord?  Are we truly in love with Jesus?  Is He sovereign in our lives?  Are we in awe of his greatness?  Are we worshiping in spirit and in truth or are we just going through the motions?  

One of my voice students recently introduced me to the song "Clear the Stage" which was written by Ross King (http://rosskingmusic.com) and recorded by Christian artist Jimmy Needham (http://jimmyneedham.com).  I was subsequently reduced to tears.  Listen to the song.  Read the lyrics.  Be challenged.  

Clear the stage and set the sound and lights ablaze

if that's the measure you must take to crush the idols

Jerk the pews and all the decorations, too,

until the congregation's few, then have revival

Tell your friends that this is where the party ends

Until you're broken for your sins, you can't be social

Then seek the Lord and wait for what he has in store

and know that great is your reward so just be hopeful

'Cause you can sing all you want to...Yes, you can sing all you want to

You can sing all you want to and still get it wrong...worship is more than a song

Take a break from all the plans that you have made

and sit at home alone and wait for God to whisper

Beg him please to open up his mouth and speak

and pray for real upon your knees until they blister

Shine the light on every corner of your life

until the pride and lust and lies are in the open

Then read the word and put to test the things you've heard

until your heart and soul are stirred and rocked and broken

'Cause you can sing all you want to...Yes, you can sing all you want to

You can sing all you want to and still get it wrong...worship is more than a song

We must not worship something that's not even worth it

Clear the stage, make some space for the one who deserves it

Anything I put before my God is an idol

Anything I want with all my heart is an idol

Anything I can't stop thinking of is an idol

Anything that I give all my all my love is an idol

'Cause I can sing all I want to...Yes, I can sing all I want to

And we can sing all we want to...And we can sing all we want to

We can sing all we want to and still get it wrong

Worship is more than a song

Clear the stage and set the sound and lights ablaze

If that's the measure you must take to crush the idols