A while back I was asked to speak on an unusual topic at an interdenominational conference for church leaders. The topic I was assigned was, “Worship: The Entertainment Model.”
I’d never heard the term before. In fact, at first, I was insulted that I would be asked to speak on such a topic. It was as if they were accusing me of using worship in our services to entertain people. But it made me do a lot of serious thinking about various models, styles and trends in worship today.
The assignment forced me to reexamine the Scriptures in order to distinguish between my personal tastes, my culture, my denominational biases and the biblical essentials. The project gave me a fresh insight into worship that is pleasing to God and meaningful to worshippers.
A GROWING CONCERN
I discovered that behind the invitation to speak on this topic was a growing concern in some parts of the church about the shift to a “star mentality” approach to church programming and away from congregations corporately approaching God with submission and adoration.
After considerable thought, I concluded that, at least in some circles, the entertainment model has become common. It caters to the egos of some preachers and panders to the appetites of those who want a warm fuzzy on Sunday morning rather than an encounter with a holy God. Some seem to believe that if the platform personalities are gifted enough, crowds will flock to such services. It certainly fits the spectator mindset of our world.
On the other hand, the entertainment model of worship is appalling to others. Many see flashing lights warning that true worship is being sacrificed to glitz and glamour on the altar of expediency. They fear a reemergence of the dichotomy between pulpit and pew as well as an increasing shallowness in spiritual experience.
WHERE DID THIS THINKING COME FROM?
It’s not hard to see how the entertainment model has developed. I see three factors.
First, there is a philosophical shift in ministry. Churches have moved away from “everyone a minister” theology to a philosophy that says everything important in worship takes place on the platform.
Second, the growth of larger congregations seems to require more professionalism which only increases the distance between the pulpit and the pew.
Third, television has affected our approach to worship. Religious television creates appetites that cry out for satisfaction in the local church.
HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND?
How do we establish corporate worship that is biblical, pleasing to God and meaningful to participants?
First, make worship holistic. We must see worship as part of all life experiences. Worship is an attitude that recognizes God’s majesty and our creatureliness 24/7. It results in humility, awe, surrender and adoration. Worship goes far beyond a 20-30 minute component in a service when the worship team or choir leads the rest in praise. Not only is all the service worship, all of life is worship.
Second, lead worship. Corporate worship doesn’t take place without leadership. Apart from spiritually sensitive direction, worshippers are prone to error and confusion. Our understanding of “the priesthood of all believers” does not negate the need for direction in worship. Without guidance, worship becomes confusing and open to improper influences.
Sometimes worship leaders talk too much; sometimes they don’t say enough. Sometimes they talk and say nothing but clichés. Leaders need to find the balance point between providing direction and intruding into the worshippers’ private intimacy with God. I continually find myself praying prior to leading services, “Lord, when do you want me to speak with a word of encouragement or exhortation, and when do you want me to be silent and let your Spirit individually work in each worshipper?”
Leaders need to provide time for people to respond to what God is doing in their hearts. They must recognize the emotional and mental condition of people as they arrive at the church door. People must be given time to become emotionally calm, mentally focused and spiritually cleansed. Nor should they be afraid of moments of deliberate silence.
Third, prepare spiritually for worship. Neither leader nor worshipper can barge into the holy presence of the Almighty without adequate preparation. The Old Testament speaks of men who “prepared their hearts to seek the Lord.” Plan the worship experience. The Bible does not place a premium on spontaneity.
Leaders need to go beyond simply preparing the mechanics of the praise service. They need to pray through the sequencing of the service, the choice of the musical selections and the comments that will be made and when. This is just as essential as the preacher praying through about what he will say.
Transitions in the service must be given forethought. Spiritual preparation involves praying through the words of each song, prayer and activity in the service. Spiritual preparation keeps you from being trite in your comments and predictable in your vocabulary.
Fourth, include variety in worship to sustain interest. Predictability kills worship. Of course, all novelty is unsettling and disruptive. God’s greatness and the diversity of God’s character can never be fully understood or explored. Surely there is enough diversity and creativity in our God to enable our worship to remain fresh and stimulating.
Many of our worship experiences are structured around practices that were meaningful to our grandparents. The familiarity of our cultural and denominational traditions not only provide us with comfort and stability, they can imprison us and rob us of the vitality that God wants us to know as we worship him.
Fifth, be careful to maintain balance.Keep a balance in tempo and content, new and old. Don’t limit Christian music just to praise and worship. The apostle Paul talked about teaching yourselves in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
Jesus said the Father is looking for those who will worship him “in spirit and in truth.” Biblical worship involves truth. It is based on a doctrinal foundation and flows out of the Scriptures. But worship is more than intellectual affirmations. It involves the human spirit. There is life and energy. It’s not just abstract theory; it’s practical experience.
Some folk emphasize truth at the expense of spirit. There is orthodoxy without a personal encounter with God. Everything is in order, but there is no vibrancy. Others emphasize experience at the expense of truth. There’s plenty of emotional response but the biblical content is downplayed. The Bible is tacked on to the worship experience.
Biblical worship provides balance between truth and spirit. Biblical truth excites the human spirit as the human spirit responds to biblical truth.
Sixth, model worship in a healthy way. The bottom line for church leaders is this: the people up front in the service must be the role models of worship with both words and actions. They must be genuine. People watch. Eventually they will worship as their leaders do.
Never prostitute the ministry by attracting attention away from God and onto yourself. Your ministry gifts must be surrendered to God constantly to be used for his glory and for the building up of his church.
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