For: The Institute Of Contemporary Worship And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essential’s Red Online Worship History Course, with Dan Wilt
Worship is in most ways, an act of public prayer and scripture reading. Public prayer in the sense that we as a church body sing and pray words out loud from a hymn book or screen on the wall, and scripture reading as we sing songs of worship that usually are born from the scriptures themselves.
Here’s an idea of how we could freshly apply the worship languages of public prayer and scripture reading to our contemporary worship expression: First and foremost, having our hearts in tune and receptive to the Holy Spirits’ guidance, the congregation as a body could pray that the Holy Spirit would place verses or words on their hearts as the worship team plays a chord progression, etc. As this is happening, anyone who receives a word from God could speak out loud and have someone from the worship team record the verses etc. It would be amazing to see and hear what creation would manifest as the church body becomes engaged in a live song-writing process! That would be pretty incredible!
Here’s another idea: When I was attending a church in Ontario, my fellow worship team members and I imagined how the dynamic of the worship service would change if the worship team was at the back, or off to the side of the church during worship.
We thought that if the Lord was at the center of the whole service, especially during such a vulnerable time when everyone is worshipping, the Holy Spirit could possibly see this as a proper ‘conduit’ to break through the atmosphere and do His wonders if He so chooses.
As, we spoke more on the subject, we realized that ‘worship’ for an individual, begins in the heart; where an attitude of ‘performance’ is replaced by the attitude of worship. I do believe there is a time and a place to soulfully and passionately play with such technique and flare, (which is at last beginning to happen with Christian music these days, and it’s encouraging to see and hear that the verse, (1)”Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise (Psalm 33:3),” is being materialized in Christian music), that it would raise the awareness in the secular world that us Christians are ‘free’ and capable to connect with the Master of the Universe and allow him, the creator of all things, instruments, sounds, progressions… to play through us.
This may not sit well with some people, but I used to find ‘Christian’ music…boring. I couldn’t stand to hear the same progression over and over and over again. It seemed as if Christian artists were ‘afraid’ to be free with their instruments. What a shame, because around this time was when secular music began to lure me in musically. It’s a matter of fact that secular artists like Steve Vai, John Petrucci, Joe Satriani, Edward Van Halen, bands like Rush, Dream Theater, Metallica, Van Halen (to say the least) are of the worlds’ most extremely gifted and talented individuals musically. But, of course the enemy had to steal and use for his kingdom what was initially God’s given talent. What patience our Lord has had! At last, we’re breaking through to the revelation of God’s Talent… the way it was meant to be done.
In conclusion, I believe that every individual worshipper has a ‘unique’ worship style, just as each of us has our own unique personalities. Whether it be with our voices, stringed instruments, etc, we can come together with our individual flames of passion for our Lord, whom is the All Consuming Fire, and allow for the new body to form in His glory.
(1) Holy Bible. King James Bible, Year unkown, Psalm 33:3
