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6 Ways to Make Sure It's Worship, Not Performance
Candice Lucey
Contributing Writer
David danced up the
hill with the Ark of the
Covenant in 2 Samuel.
Angels sang about
their glorious King in Luke 2 and will sing
when Jesus’ returns according to Revelation 5.
“Sing to the Lord,
all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day.” – 1 Chronicles
16:23
We are not only
permitted but commanded to sing, dance, and generally exalt the name of God.
Artists, however,
will tell you – it’s easy to cross the line where worship becomes performance.
What is worship?
The International
Standard Bible Encyclopedia online defines worship thus:
“Honor, reverence, homage, in thought, feeling, or act, paid to men, angels,
or other ‘spiritual’ beings, and figuratively to other entities, ideas, powers
or qualities, but specifically and supremely to Deity.”
How can we
demonstrate “acceptable worship with reverence and awe?” - (Hebrews 12:28)
Worship is our gift
to the Lord, and like an earthly father receiving a lopsided clay pot from his
kindergarten child on Father’s Day, God graciously accepts what we offer as
long as we give it as an act of gratitude and a demonstration of love.
What does it take
to put together a worship session that glorifies Jesus?
There should be an
element of sacrifice.
Take time to
carefully select songs so they support the pastor’s message.
Take time to
rehearse and prepare.
Pray for yourselves
and those listening; to give thanks to God. And finally, lead worship on Sunday
morning.
When musicians lead
worship on stage, all attention is redirected upwards and inwards; to Jesus and
to His Spirit in us.
The words we sing,
the way we dress, and our movements are thoughtful and devotional.
What is performance?
Dictionary
definitions of performance are not nuanced enough to
convey the influence of pride and vanity.
Performance directs
attention to a singer’s acrobatics and range, the guitarist’s nimble fingers,
trendy clothes, or a dazzling light show.
Performers want
applause and recognition for themselves.
Chosen songs may
highlight the leader’s musical preferences and might not support the pastor’s
message or encourage congregational singing.
So, when you’re
preparing to lead worship that serves the Lord’s purposes, here are six
facets to consider:
1. Plan for the congregation’s sake
Tunes with catchy,
memorable melodies are easiest to follow and remember.
It’s helpful for
worship teams to sing in a key comfortable for the majority of singers.
Our worship teams
make mistakes and we hear about them from the pastor or from a member of the
congregation who found the songs hard to follow, the drums too loud, or the key
too high.
On a good day,
however, I cannot hear my own voice because the congregation is making a joyful
sound.
A
multi-generational audience represents assorted musical preferences, so
consider adding at least one hymn to the set out of respect and kindness
towards your older members.
If you want to
select a modern arrangement which follows the rules above, sometimes this helps
worshipers to hear excellent lyrics with fresh ears while the words remain
familiar.
2. Remember your job
The job of a singer
or musician on Sunday morning is to engage, not to entertain.
Sing clearly and
loudly enough so that, if a song is new, the building isn’t filled with
uncomfortable silence.
Practice and
prepare to set a joyful, enthusiastic example.
Maybe someone in
the congregation needs to see that it’s okay not to stand like a statue in
church.
Show some energy,
but nothing ostentatious like spontaneous break dancing, vocal gymnastics, or a
drum solo.
Worship leaders are
communicating with God and helping others do the same as a “demonstration of
respect,” but that bland definition misses the fullness of conversation.
We don’t just sing
into the ether and hope that God picks up the thread of a tune as He passes by
on His way to do something more important.
He is everywhere,
all the time, eager for us to talk to Him. We can do that in song, with full
hearts, praising, asking, confessing directly to Him.
3. Encourage joy
Here is the
mind-blowing part: God talks back.
When we worship the
Lord in music, swaying, hands-waving, abandoned joyfully to the rhythms of the
Holy Spirit, Jesus uses lyrics and music to express His love back to us.
As we sing, He
reminds us of some truth we might need that week, or encourages us when we are
suffering.
He connects with us
individually and corporately.
Music adds a
visceral component to the voice of God for ears which often fail to truly hear
Him through the week.
Scripture set to
song is more memorable, replaying itself in one’s mind for days. Even the
unbeliever will find truth stuck in his or head throughout the week.
It’s okay to dance
on stage; in fact, many people are moved to bounce on the spot by the activity
of musicians and singers.
This should be a time of joy. James asked “Is anyone happy?
Let them sing songs of praise.” (James 5:13)
A background
vocalist raises her hands, gets excited, can’t hold it in. The truth about
Jesus really is exciting, moving, and a reason for joy.
How can one sing
lyrics full of truth and beauty, yet not be moved to... move?
4. Support the message
Our worship pastor
has created a checklist for song choices. Lyrics must be supported biblically,
not just enjoyable or popular.
As noted above,
setting words to songs makes them easier to remember, so we want the
congregation to remember truth.
The words to songs
we choose on a Sunday connect listeners to the message, helping them to recall
what the pastor said more easily as they reflect during the rest of the week.
5. Honor modesty.
Even when the music
points believers to Jesus, showing too much flesh or wearing a tight outfit
causes competition between worship and gawking.
In fact, if the job
is done right, musicians become invisible.
True, God accepts
us as we are, regardless of the clothes we wear, and praise the Lord every time
someone enters church half-naked or unwashed.
Churches are to
open their arms to prostitutes and the homeless. Leaders on stage, however, are
ambassadors of redemption.
Carelessness in
dress or visuals suggests a careless attitude towards the Messiah, the Gospel,
and those we are serving.
A multi-colored
light show isn’t necessary to promote praise, but good lighting helps musicians
to see what they are doing.
It enables the
congregation to witness expressions of delight during worship, and also helps
shy musicians focus on music and prayer, rather than an audience, by casting
the congregation into shadow.
6. Lose yourself in worship.
When will you know
that performance gave way to worship?
Like discerning
whether or not you are wise or humble: if you know you are, then you aren’t.
You might be unaware until someone tells you.
I often close my
eyes and the people in front of me disappear. Jesus descends over the whole
place physically.
I might be crying,
or smiling like an idiot, and I am definitely dancing. I’ve seen this emotional
response from other singers.
If my mind was
wandering, their emotion has jolted me back to the words.
What Christ did for
us on the cross should overwhelm, even take us by surprise.
No one is immune,
and sometimes getting choked up is the eye-opener someone out there needs to
understand that the Bible isn’t just words.
Church is indeed
more than a way to fill up Sunday morning. We worship a living God every day.
Don’t be afraid
that this sense of abandon will happen to you; it will. It’s a reward of
praising God authentically.
He comes so close you can feel His breath. Zephaniah 3:17 says “The Lord your God
is in your midst” and He will “rejoice over you with gladness.”
Worship in response
to this promise, for the congregation and for yourself, but mostly to glorify
the Father who taught us how to sing.
Candice
Lucey is
a writer who loves Jesus. She lives in one of the most beautiful parts of
British Columbia, Canada, with her family.
Candice
Lucey loves Christ and writing about His promises brings her much
pleasure. She lives in the mountains of BC, Canada with her family.
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