Worship: An Interesting Concept

Here at Southwest we've been having a lot of discussion about worship. So, since this has become such an interesting topic, I though I would post a Q&A I did last year on my philosophy of worship and leadership as the Pastor of Worship Arts here at SCC.

Q: What represents the key components of your worship philosophy? 

A:  Reflection / Revelation / Relationship
1. Purpose – To reveal God’s grace on us as His creation or on God and His attributes by providing a mirror or a window depending on where you shine the light between man and God.
• A Mirror = Allows man to see himself for who he is, sinful, needful, and dying.
And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more. 2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT
• A Window = Seeing God as holy, loving and personal.
Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?" Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD. Psalms 4:6 NIV

2. Plan – Moving people into God’s presence.
Using the Temple or Tabernacle model; the corporate worship experience should be an active rather than passive exercise within the life of a believer.
• Enter
"For generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD. There I will meet you and speak to you; Exodus 29:42 (NIV)
   - song example: “Come Now is the Time to Worship”
• Expose
Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die. Exodus 30:20a (NIV)
   - song example: “Friend of God”
• Educate
When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. Hebrews 9:6 (NIV)
   - song example: “He Knows My Name”
• Experience
Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7:15-17 (NIV)
   - song example: “Draw Me Close to You”
• Express
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22 (NIV)
   - song example: “I Love You Lord”

3. Practice
• Worship isn’t just singing it’s a way of living.
   Defined by Spirit and Truth
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:23-24 (NIV)

• Worship requires sacrifice.
   It was modeled in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament
And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10:10 (NIV)

As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him-- you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:4-5 (NIV)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1 (NIV)

• Worship is a physical thing.
   It requires our lips…
I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD. Psalms 40:9 (NIV)
   It requires our hands…
Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. Psalms 47:1 (NIV)
   It requires our humble posture…
But I, by your great mercy, will come into your house; in reverence will I bow down toward your holy temple. Psalms 5:7 (NIV)
   It requires our skill…
Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. Psalms 33:3 (NIV)
   It requires our feet…
Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp. Psalms 149:3 (NIV)
   It requires our heart…
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Matthew 5:8 (NIV)

Q: What main factors formulate your leadership style?

A: L.E.A.D.
   1. Listen
The hardest thing I’ve learned over the years is someone else might just have a better idea than me. I tried for years to get everyone on board with my ideas only to find that they not only resented the notion I thought that I was the only talented and gifted person worthy of an opinion but they were less likely to get involved in anything I would attempt. Which then led me to understand: The first key to leadership is to know your team; their personalities and temperaments which help reveal their strengths and weaknesses. Often we expect too much from someone with the wrong gifting and too little from them in the area they can excel. Therefore, whether at the office or in life the best way to discover their potential, their passions and their fears, is to listen.

   2. Encourage
Coming alongside a colleague and encouraging them is the greatest motivator. A team with high morale will look forward to coming to work and producing extraordinary results even in the face of long hours and difficult deadlines. I highly value a fun and relaxed work environment and believe in rewards for results.
   3. Aim
Leaders lead. They can either do so by being out front leading the charge and showing the way or they can do so standing behind and giving instructions. But in either case it takes experience and knowledge. A leader must have a vision, state a direction and have the means to get there. Finally, leaders are most effective when they are humbly willing to serve those who follow and show by example a transparency which breeds trust.
   4. Decide
Far too many casualties occur due to a lack of decisiveness. A leader can not afford to be negligent by making quick and rash decisions but must have the ability to make unpopular decisions in the light scrutiny for the health of its establishment. Seldom have any liked to follow a leader who stands at a crossroad waiting for the winds to blow before deciding which way to turn.

Q: How do you ensure that the contents of your worship order and style of leading the congregation emphasize a cutting edge contemporary approach to worship? 

A:  Personally, I’m a “culture watcher.” I believe to be effective in reaching today’s sophisticated “post-modern” you must address the world we live in as it is not as we wish it to be. Collectively, I would make certain I wasn’t the only person involved in the process. As mentioned before we all have various gifts. Each person is uniquely shaped to offer different perspectives and insights. Besides, many hands make for light work and using a synergistic approach to planning provides multiple views to our culture.

Q: What is the difference between leading worship and engaging in worship?  Also, specifically, how do you lead worshippers to engage in worship?

A:   If the worship leader is a worshipper and not a performer, he has the same experience before God than those who are being led to God. If the worship leader draws attention to herself rather than God she becomes the object of worship. My specific means to lead worshippers to engage in worship is objectively stated above in the plan of worship. However, subjectively I desire to worship God more than anything and because I’ve experienced God’s mercy I know when I seek to have my heart changed, my life touched by the grace of God and to hear His voice speak comfort to me I then can say with conviction, “Come with me. I know it’s real, it’s available and it works.”

Q: How do you stay up-to-date on current worship trends?

A: I don’t go to Christian bookstores; I look online… I don’t wait for music subscriptions; I ask my worship-freak friends what they’re listening to… I don’t buy entire albums; I download songs I like… I avoid the hymnal; even though I enjoy hymns. I don’t even read CCM; I stay current via the web and worship music resources. Bottom line, I listen to what my kids give me, take suggestions from my young, single, with-too-much-time-on-their-hands, staff and Air -1 (radio).

Q: If you walked into a Christian music store, what section or style of music would you be drawn to?

A:  Like I said, I don’t go to Christian bookstores… but if I did; I would most likely go to the worship section. Seek out a few artists that I like and stare at the colorful CD covers.

Q: How do you manage the busy and ever-demanding needs of ministry to being a husband and father? What do you do to balance a healthy home with work and creative activities?

A:  I can tell you more of what I’ve done wrong than what I’ve done right here. But to put it simply, I love to spend time with my family. Therefore, due to the rigors of seasonal ministry, we are diligent to schedule two family vacations a year; summer and winter with girls. And we schedule two getaways, just Joy and I, for the spring and fall. Although our “nest” is becoming empty, we still endeavor to protect family time. Saturday nights we keep to ourselves for a tradition that is very dear to us. And because ministry weekends keep Dad away from the usual family time that is reserved for normal families we have assured our girls that the trade off is me getting to attend all the midweek activities, presentations, field trips, etc. at school. Beyond praying with and for each other Joy and I have an understanding regarding ministry; she only has to be involved in the ministry that she chooses and I place no expectation on her to be an unpaid staff member of my team. We also, believe we should have our own hobbies and collective hobbies and after twenty years of marriage we find our love is secured through our commitment to each other and the work God has called us to. Finally, we are proud of our girls as they grow into young women and we realize that by God’s grace our home has not been a reason for disqualification from ministry (1 Tim 3:4,5).

Q: How do you handle the Artist? What do you employ to keep a servant of Christ from becoming a pseudo-humble ego maniac? 

A:  This is an interesting question… What seem to be universal in churches today are the wars that rage over the status of those who serve on the stage. There are those who think they deserve solos and those who get them who are hurt by the personal comments made about them behind their backs… The best way to address this issue, whether it is artistically, spiritually or personally, is to create community among the artists. They need to see themselves as a team and not “lone rangers.” This is accomplished by setting a standard and educating people toward meeting the standard. There also needs to be some honesty and careful counsel toward those who, by gifting, need to be told of their ability and whether they are in the right place. Finally, they should understand and be constantly reminded that God is honored by excellence but not necessarily honored by the artist. He can and often does use anything, even rocks if need be, to glorify Himself. Isaiah, plainly stated, “I am the Lord that is my name… I will share my glory with no one.” Isa. 42:8 However, it takes a good leader to present that in an encouraging and convicting manner which is not offensive.

Q: How do you release and employ a wide variety of arts into the worship culture of your church?
   
A:  First, I understand a wide variety of arts. Second, I can understand the unique and often difficult-to-discern mind of the artist. Third, I’m passionate about reaching this media savvy society with the gospel and I know how the arts can still communicate beyond the barriers of the spoken word. Finally, I enjoy seeing artists create. They will do more to make the church attractive by appealing to the senses and bringing the Word of God to life.

Q: What is the scope of your role as the Pastor of Worship Arts? Please list, by priority in an outline form, what you do?   

A:   1. Lead
- A team of dedicated servants to the body of Christ
- Worship Arts Staff
- Creative Artists
- Worship personnel
- The congregation
- A movement in the worship experience
- Personally
- Unity in worship
- Excellence in worship
- People who are without faith to a place of eternal, godly purpose
- Worship with a sense for evangelism
- Creative connection to the community

  2. Pastor/Shepherd
- The lives of W.A. staff and family and those who serve in the arts to grow into fully devoted followers of Christ
- Those in the congregation who sense a certain affinity to me as their pastor

3. Develop
- Strong teams of servants in their gifts
- Resources for weekend ministry
- Resources for other churches to use in the W.A.
- Projects that puts the art of the artists into the hand of the congregation and community
- Successful systems for managing the W.A. for efficiency
- New opportunities for artists to express their gifts

  4. Create
- As an artist
- Write/Direct/Produce special events that benefit the church and the community
- Media that enhances the weekly message and establishment of the church

  5. Teach
- Occasionally as needed in various venues

6. Have Fun!