John 4:24, "God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." 

     What are you feelings about worship and church in general?   Modern day worship can be  a conduit to the heart of God, but it can also be equally distracting and shallow.  As I have visited various churches in the past 15 years I have noticed that there are several takes on the modern day worship service.   Imagine this scenario.  You walk into a contemporary service at an otherwise spiritually bankrupt church.  The board members noticed that the average age of the church was declining.  Whether by disinterest in God or sudden interest  in the church across town, they are losing the congregation.    Drastic measures are called for.  The church pools together a team of musical artists and offers a contemporary praise and worship service in addition to its traditional service.  The music is extremely good, and the church (at least that service) begins to grow.  The board is ecstatic with their seemingly wise decision.  Are they better off now than before?

     How about this scenario?  A large church with a vibrant and jubilant praise and worship service.  The music is rockin’ and powerful.  Lights dim and brighten as the mood of the music changes.  The leader addresses the crowd saying…you are welcome in this place!  This is what worship is to us!  Just let yourself go  and get crazy for God.  If you can gets wild at a basketball game, or a rock concert, you can get crazy hear for God.  So lets hear it!!!  Does this group necessarily got it right??

    If given only two choices,  I would personally like to attend the type of service that is the later, though they are not necessarily pleasing God.  Both scenarios can be descriptive of the world and its way of doing things.  Producing something unreal in Gods eyes, yet real in the eyes of the world, as in scenario one, is almost an insult to God.  It is His spirit that draws men unto Himself, not a contemporary worship service. A few years ago I visited a large church in a big city that did this exact thing.  The music was so good, yet the Spirit of God was clearly not present.  Most of the people, based on my interpretation of their body language, were some what lethargic.  They may have been clapping, but their eyes were wandering around watching the band or the people.  Some of them were yawning, or talking to their neighbor. I really don’t think they were thinking or directing their attention to God.  (and as you may have observed…I guess I wasn’t either)   Fortunately, while enjoying a fresh cup of Dunki__ Donut’s coffee, they were able to stay awake through the still Biblically dead, joke and story filled, attempt at a youthfully slang-filled  message…..given by a 50 year old pastor dress as if they were 20.  This was a good way to bring people into the church, but not to bring the church into people.

   How about scenerio number two?    You have the most beautifully dressed people and talented people in the church leading worship as if at a rock concert.  They are the best speakers  and leaders that money can buy.   The environment is filled with black lights and dimmers.  Music is loud, perfect, and the people are into it.  Even the message is biblical, upbeat, emotional, and relevant to the times.   But just because the message is good, doesn’t mean that the people were drawn into the presence of God during the worship part.  I have visited a couple churches in this scenario.  They had a measure of truth, but were inaccurate in their pursuit of it.  Some may have been in love with God, but the children and young Christians seemed to not get it.  It was like if the show wasn’t bigger and better each time, you weren’t really reaching the place God wanted you.  They looked alive on the outside, but unbalanced on the inside. 

     I believe that people are not just looking for another concert, or competition, or another place to feel inadequate about themselves.  People, given a heart for God, want God!  They want the genuine article. No matter what they look like on the outside, they are consumed with the Spirit on the inside.  They want to draw into the presence of His Spirit and be changed.  Their heart cry is for Truth, righteousness, and restoration to their maker. I have been in churches that really have this right. During worship, the congregation is simply seeking God…It seems to me that based on their body language they  appear engulfed in the Holy Spirit.  They are singing, raising their hands, praying in the Spirit,  even their eyes seem focused on God, or closed in beautiful reverence.  Only a few are looking around in disinterest, or talking to their neighbors---seems you got this in every church.  The leaders are concentrating on playing and singing  well, but are also in worship themselves.    Don’t get me wrong, I believe in the pursuit of excellence in all things, including worship. The more an artist is prepared, the more they can concentrate on leading, and the less they distract others.     In all things we should do them as if we were doing  them unto Christ himself.   But let’s not forget that we are pursuing God.   It is our prayer that at the Lighthouse, you will be drawn into the presence of the Lord during Worship, that whether the music is contemporary or traditional, played perfectly not, you will experience God.  I pray that if you do look around, you will see imperfect people truly worshiping the perfect Lord.  You will find a place were you will not feel inadequate, but loved.  A church where the congregation is vibrant and alive and truly on fire for God.    Maybe we will have a few looking around or distracted, but don’t let that bother you….  Concentrate on your Savior the one who created all things and in Him all things consist.  So lift up you voice, lift up your hands, lift up your heart in jubilant, but genuine, worship to God.  Any comments are welcome.... just click below on the word "comments."

--C