Committed to a Church That Doesn't Speak Your "Worship Language"?

[Jenni Biegler]

I have an appreciate for differences in worship styles and I've always been bothered by the "Worship Wars" that too often occur in the Church.  I think of the early church and of persecuted churches and realize that they probably weren't standing around arguing about instruments or the type of music that would be sung.  But I wonder if they ever had the problem of some of the music distracting them from worship rather than drawing them to worship.

 

I have attended very large churches with the latest and greatest technological gadgets, giant screens, and contemporary music.  But I found myself walking away from church week after week feeling like I'd been at Christian concert or a sports event rather than a time of drawing closer to God.  When things are so loud, I find myself stressed & irritated and not able to enter a spirit of worship.  I've looked around me and see people dancing, clapping, and sometimes whistling and all I want is some quiet so that I can hear God and I can respond in my own way to what I've heard.   So what do you do if your "worship language" is different than the one that your church speaks?

[George Krickl]

Good question and I do not have an answer. I do not like our 15 minutes of worship we get at my church. too many services and not an emphasis on worship. It takes me 15 minutes to get warmed up!

I have left two churches because I could not get into worship there so that has been my answer for me, but I would like to hear what others have to say about it.

[Jeremy Hatch]

George Krickl said:

Good question and I do not have an answer. I do not like our 15 minutes of worship we get at my church. too many services and not an emphasis on worship. It takes me 15 minutes to get warmed up!

I have left two churches because I could not get into worship there so that has been my answer for me, but I would like to hear what others have to say about it.

/i>
I remember being taught at a church I was once affiliated, that we need to come expecting from the Lord, already in worship to Him before we even get in the car to come to church. That we should already be warmed up before we enter His House.

Not sure IF that's sound advice or just PR...

[George Krickl]

I know that church and the worship was the best I have ever experienced...too bad the doctrine was off...


Jeremy Hatch said:

George Krickl said:

Good question and I do not have an answer. I do not like our 15 minutes of worship we get at my church. too many services and not an emphasis on worship. It takes me 15 minutes to get warmed up!

I have left two churches because I could not get into worship there so that has been my answer for me, but I would like to hear what others have to say about it.

/i>
I remember being taught at a church I was once affiliated, that we need to come expecting from the Lord, already in worship to Him before we even get in the car to come to church. That we should already be warmed up before we enter His House.

Not sure IF that's sound advice or just PR...

[Jeremy Hatch]

George, the one thing I did learn at THAT church... and not from the pulpit, worship is not about who is playing the music or doing the singing. It's about the heart that is lifting itself to Him, for Him, and because of Him. No other object(s) should have any affiliation during/for/because/to the Lord in that person's worshipping Him.

Many years at that church, worship was just me singing the songs, going through the motions, even with the exceptional worship leader we had. During those years I found myself in the throne room in my vehicle more often than any other place.

I wonder - does it matter "where" one worships the Lord? Does it have to be a corporate setting to be right? There is so much written of about worship and I have come to agree, our lives, all that we do, is supposed to be a form or type of worship to the Lord.

[George Krickl]

At THAT church worship was emphasized and taught. We had a good 45 minutes of worship so that for me is important. Today in church we had twenty minutes of worship that was interrupted with 5 minutes of announcements...that just drives me crazy.

Corporate worship is important as we see when David organized music and singing in the temple.

I think that worship should be done privately and corporately...and yes I believe our lives are to be worshipful at all times; recognizing the presence of a Holy God and His working in our lives at all times...yes, yes, and more yes!


Jeremy Hatch said:

George, the one thing I did learn at THAT church... and not from the pulpit, worship is not about who is playing the music or doing the singing. It's about the heart that is lifting itself to Him, for Him, and because of Him. No other object(s) should have any affiliation during/for/because/to the Lord in that person's worshipping Him.

Many years at that church, worship was just me singing the songs, going through the motions, even with the exceptional worship leader we had. During those years I found myself in the throne room in my vehicle more often than any other place.

I wonder - does it matter "where" one worships the Lord? Does it have to be a corporate setting to be right? There is so much written of about worship and I have come to agree, our lives, all that we do, is supposed to be a form or type of worship to the Lord.

[Jenni Biegler]

My whole point in the usage of the terms "Worship Language" is to recognize that to a certain degree, worship is very unique to our relationship with God. I guess the challenge in corporate worship is to have a language that everyone can understand and related to.

I attend a particular church on the weekend that is contemporary (loud music, drums--more like a concert) but during the week, I attend one that is quieter and more worshipful to me (acoustical guitar). In one environment, I feel aggitated and in the other, I feel drawn into the presence of God--the tension of my week melts away, my heart softens, etc. In the one church I feel free to kneel before the Lord as the Spirit leads. In the other, I do not feel that freedom.

[Jeremy Hatch]

Hi Jenni,
I am noticing your worship language resonates from a soft-quiet setting more so than in the concert style.

At "that" church I have been speaking of, the setting was concert style I guess, and very ummmm... Hillsongs-ish. Our worship leader 'reeeeeeked' of the Holy Spirit when she would lead us in worship...many times at the first note of her voice I would no longer notice where I was physically. All I had on my mind was the love I felt to Him.
At this church there would be most of us with our hands raised toward the Lord, others would be on their knees with hands raised, and very few would just standing there singing (me for a few years).

Yet, when I am alone, listening in my vehicle to a CD, I would find myself in worship listening to pretty much any kind of style of music. Although, whenever I listen to Marty Goetz, I am automatically in worship to my Lord, and have noticed I am less stressed at my job because of my time. (note to self, listen more to this guy - lol)

All in all, I have to agree with you, worship is in a degree varied on our relationship to the Lord...

[George Krickl]

I can understand that we all have our favorite form of worship music and it does have an affect on worshiping the Lord. It is a touchy subject with a lot of people. People tend to be highly critical of music they don't like a worship music. I, like you, prefer the softer music and I seek out that type of experience as much as I can. I also attend services where there is the concert style as well. We have to make choices of where we attend corporate worship and I have no answers for anybody, but I can find myself worshipping the Lord under any style, but with the style that does not suit me it takes me longer to get there.


Jenni Biegler said:

My whole point in the usage of the terms "Worship Language" is to recognize that to a certain degree, worship is very unique to our relationship with God. I guess the challenge in corporate worship is to have a language that everyone can understand and related to.

I attend a particular church on the weekend that is contemporary (loud music, drums--more like a concert) but during the week, I attend one that is quieter and more worshipful to me (acoustical guitar). In one environment, I feel aggitated and in the other, I feel drawn into the presence of God--the tension of my week melts away, my heart softens, etc. In the one church I feel free to kneel before the Lord as the Spirit leads. In the other, I do not feel that freedom.

[Gerald Polmateer]

In many cases the music and songs a person likes is related to a time when God reached that person. When I was in seminary a professor had us tell of a time when we felt we worshiped God the most. In a class of about 60 only two said it was in church. Worship for many has a lot to with a time of letting go. Many cannot let go around others but they can in private.

[Sally Hunter]

Ah, a kindred spirit! I enjoy contemporary Christian music (not the loud, cacophanous type) while driving in my car, especially. It's uplifting, joyful and puts me in a positive "mood". But you're right - in church, I need something to speak to me of God's greatness, His grace, His salvation, while bringing me to His throne to hear what He has to say to me for the day. In this way, I can worship Him and listen to Him.

Good question, what one does if your worship language differs... after praying about it, listen for God's leading. If it's still difficult to worship there, I guess I would look for another place to worship.

[Gerald Polmateer]

Is not worship more about God than it is about me. When I think about the word for worship isn't it more about serving and humility. So I would ask the question, "Is worship more about music and me or more about counting others as more important than myself, and bowing down in humility to the living God?"

[Jerry Linnins]

I worship in a multi-cultural Presbyterian church. The litergy gets in the way of feeling like I am actually "worshipping." SO much reading of prayers, responsive readings, etc. However, I recently attended a Baptist church that my daughter attends in Somerset, KY. The "worship band" was SO loud that you could literally feel the beat vibrations in the pews. The pastor's message was great. However, it seemed so out of context with what came before it. There has got to be balance. I attended Jack Hayford's Fall Leadership Conference a year ago. The worship leader, the prayer, the messages all seemed to combine into a seamless whole that literally moved me to tears. It was so authentic. I find myself wishing my church had that kind of experience. Instead, it seems to be moving more and more into a form that often leaves me hungry.