I am pretty sure you have and can relate.
You want to say something loving, romantic to someone, and without rehearsal or too much forethought at all, you say something from the heart.
It is genuine.
It is expressing your true feelings.
But does it need to be perfect, shakespearean, even 100% theologically correct?
Over the years I have said plenty of things to my wife which are:
Genuine.
My true feelings.
Not perfect.
But I believe she knew what I meant, and that was the point.
When we see talk about worship lately in the online space, there are some pretty passionate critiques related to this topic!
But I am just going to put this out there. I am growing a little weary of the “Christian” online media world where the narratives are based on critiquing worship.
Hunting for fault.
Where a particular channel has the sole focus on criticism.
For the record, I am 100% for doing all we can to make sure our lyrics are theologically correct. Doing the best we can in this matter, because worship song lyrics tend to influence theology for the people singing these particular songs.
It is just that I have an internal niggle about popular social media posts where their main brand and message is all why this Church or this worship leader is wrong, and why they should be avoided at all costs.
Yes we are to make judgements about important matters like these, but also have an awareness that we will be judged accordingly.
Scripture talks about “with the measure you use”. That is sobering to me and I think it should be to all involved in “heresy hunting ministries” as well as general life.
I also have noticed that many have a bias they seem blissfully willing to ignore for the sake of their argument.
The crowd who believe that the Holy Spirit finished his work and after the Apostle Paul’s time, hate songs mentioning the Holy Spirit, songs asking for His help or desire for connection, ministry or more.
Some come for a declared denominational stream which makes some critique look very one sided, and tainted by position and personal preference.
It does seem to me that the “worship wars” from the past decade have never stopped, just maybe just that we changed or expanded the battle lines.
As I have thought about this over the last few months, something keeps coming back to my thoughts.
What is God looking for?
Here is are my simple thoughts around this today…
It is about Spirit and Truth
Jesus words one day resonate quite strongly for me:
“God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4:24.
Let me be clear, context matters I think here.
This came from a discussion He was having about worship with someone who was focusing on location and tradition. Jesus never says they don’t matter and points to something better, something that God wants to see going forward.
My belief is that Spirit here relates to the Holy Spirit, worship that is influenced and directed by the Holy Spirit in some way. Maybe via a prompting or creativity or a task or a response.
It doesn’t mean it is not true worship if we aren’t mentioning the Spirit, but that it is Spirit influenced.
The second part is always important.
It must be true!
True in the sense it is coming from your own personal conviction, that it is best from your heart, what you believe, from your genuine motivation to express worship, beyond religious convention and expectation. And that God’s truth is reflected in the expression.
It is about the Heart
The first point I think leads nicely to the second.
God clearly states in his Word that he looks at the heart over the appearance. 1 Samuel 16:7
Yes this scriptural statement relates to David, but again relates to worship, as David is said to have been a worshipper with many songs written and skill on instruments. His obvious skill is mentioned many times and also his anointing for worship (reflect on his ministry to Saul).
But God says “heart” trumps it all!
I believe God wants to see and hear your heart in worship.
I wonder if He looks at our heart over looking our clumsy theology many times?
Again I am not saying to ignore theology.
Just that our hearts and mouths in a moment, may not work perfectly in sync.
Theology shifts and pivots can happen over a lifetime, but your heart is a true reflection of you and God in any moment.
It can be Messy
David wrote many many Psalms.
Were they all what we call these days “worship bangers”?
Should all of Davids heartfelt musings in the Pslams be considered perfect for personal and corporate worship today? Of course not.
They reflected heart in that moment. Many times reflecting the pain of David’s heart, the brokenness, the longing, full of raw heartfelt emotion.
And God includes them in His Word.
That says a lot I think!
It is beyond the Music and the “Churchy” Moment
Worship is not restricted to Sunday or a Meeting or another corporate Church moment.
Worship in the New Testament is how we live all of life.
Our relationship privately with God.
How we treat others.
What we do to serve the Kingdom and what we do navigating the challenges of life.
To wrap this up, I am not trying to make a case of turning our brains off and having a Pentecostal stupor event, blinbdly thinking that is always correct.
I am not arguing for theology to be ignored.
I am genuinely wondering where the balance is, the right place to sit in this argument and journey.
And ultimately us all discovering what is worship that God likes looks like.
I wonder what you think?
