Subjective Worship
I was reminded again during two worship services yesterday just how subjective our worship is. Regardless of how much we claim otherwise, it IS about us and not so much about HIM. What we deem as REAL worship is usually that which elicits a certain emotional response from us, with little or no thought given to the supposed object of our worship. It seems that we can even abide horrendous theology if the music to which it is set gives us goose bumps or brings tears to our eyes.
Paul addressed this issue in 1 Corinthians 14 when he said, "What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding." There should be thought given to our worship, whether in prayer, quiet meditation or music. Worship is not about calling forth some visceral response from deep in our gut. It is about acknowledging the ONE to whom we pray, and of whom we sing. Worship must be firmly based on the truth of scripture. And, interestingly enough, scripture doesn't address STYLE but rather CONTENT.
George Mueller, in listing "How to Ascertain the Will Of God" said, "I see the will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the scriptures and never contrary to them." That sounds a bit like the answer that Jesus gave the woman at the well regarding worship. "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24)
There is a line from a worship chorus that I think captures the essence of what I'm trying to say; "Let's forget about ourselves, and concentrate on Him and worship Him."
Paul addressed this issue in 1 Corinthians 14 when he said, "What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding." There should be thought given to our worship, whether in prayer, quiet meditation or music. Worship is not about calling forth some visceral response from deep in our gut. It is about acknowledging the ONE to whom we pray, and of whom we sing. Worship must be firmly based on the truth of scripture. And, interestingly enough, scripture doesn't address STYLE but rather CONTENT.
George Mueller, in listing "How to Ascertain the Will Of God" said, "I see the will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the scriptures and never contrary to them." That sounds a bit like the answer that Jesus gave the woman at the well regarding worship. "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24)
There is a line from a worship chorus that I think captures the essence of what I'm trying to say; "Let's forget about ourselves, and concentrate on Him and worship Him."
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