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Permalink Reply by Steven Bliss on October 31, 2008 at 10:59am

A great subject... one that I, having been a worship leader for 15 years, have thought about more than a few times. I am a firm believer that excellence and skill is to be the goal of all who lead, but that isn't always the case. But there are a few things to consider. One, David's words about playing skillfully are very concentrated. What I mean by that is, those who were a part of the worship "experience" were a part of the corporate worship of the Nation of Israel, not like we understand worship to be. We don't have National worship as they did. We, unfortunately don't celebrate the Feasts of Israel, which actually belong to us, but are shunned. These were the worship experiences referred to by King David. So bringing it into our times and trying to bring clarity to a media-driven society and church, you find there is a lack of understanding and balance... and I believe that comes from a lack of education... but that education has to come from a true Hebraic Biblical perspective, and not a contemporary Greco/Roman Christian concept.

There is a massive difference between performance and the idea of "ushering in". Many in the church have bought into the idea that you have to "whip people up" in order to somehow "feel" like you are in the presence of God. Performance is nothing more than drawing the attention towards the creature and not the Creator, no matter how one tries to say that it's not. We think we've achieved great worship when everyone seems to have been "moved". This was never the Biblical view of true worship. On the contrary, the ones in the Bible who were into such displays were not those who were worshipping the Living God, but rather false gods, for the most part. Now I'm not saying that contemporary worship experiences that are like this are worshipping someone false, but I am saying that there is a "fine line" between this idea that we have to "feel" in order to experience and an authentic one that rests in faith. That concept in and of itself is spurious and only leads to a clouded view of true worship.

When God comes... He comes. There is no confusion. There is no doubt! It is never about a feeling, because when the Presence comes it is breath-taking, awe-inspiring and flat out overwhelming! It won't be just the emotionally driven few who experience it... it will do as it did in the Scriptures... put everyone on their faces... even the ones who never show a drop of emotion. It will be, "undeniable"!

So, how does this translate down to the guy like you and me who have been given the great privilege of leading the body in "song"? I thought I'd pass something on to you. In Judaism, the highest form of worship is not singing songs... the highest form of worship is study! Why? Because study is where one learns to "know" God! The ancient Hebrew word used sparingly in the Old Testament to describe the deepest level of "knowing" is "yada". It is the word that bypasses intellectual understanding and drives to the heart of "true knowledge". Interestingly enough, it is first used when God told Moses as He told him the story of Creation in Genesis 4:1 that Adam עדי֖/yada Eve and she conceived a child! It is God's desire that we have the deepest level of intimacy with Him... not an intellectual accent towards Him. Not a show! Songs can help us in this process. They can help us, through repetition, break through the mental barriers we all possess to allow for the possibility to "yada/know" Him as a man and woman have the deepest levels of knowing through sexual intimacy. This is the heart of God... to be known! Hard to believe, but He reveals that over and over again.

So performance does not draw the believer to this, but rather how great the worship service was tonight. It is horizontal experience rather than vertical. This is a modeling that comes down from those who think it's "the way" to experience worship. I am not judging hearts here. But I am saying that it's time to re-evaluate worship from a Hebraic point of view rather than a Greco/Roman one. It is time to be willing to chuck "what seems right" for a higher call. It is time for us to learn as Moses did, the pattern/way" by which God wants us to worship him... and not the way man says "is the way" to accomplish this.

It requires us to "yada" Him. It is there that the awe of God will compel us to the deepest levels of intimacy. It is there that the Holiness of God will be experienced and the revelation of our utter dependence and desperate need for Him will be revealed. And it's there we will lay vulnerable before the Lover of our souls... one on one... Husband and wife... to make love and be made love to...

It starts ands ends with you and me... if we go there... others will follow!

Permalink Reply by Gary Ballew on July 27, 2010 at 1:46pm

Amen Steven! There is a difference between praise and worship. The Bible tells us 'Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord'....if we don't praise Him.'.the rocks will cry out'...praise thanks God for our house, jobs, husband, wife, children, our health, clothes....even our shoes. True worship says.....even if I don't have any shoes.....I will worship Him! Worship means giving value or worth to someone or something. Every one on this earth worships someone or something. God wants that place. He wants to be #1 in each of our lives!

True worship often comes despite our situation, circumstances or feelings. "If any man come after me let him deny himself, pick up his cross and follow me."......Jesus wants us to get our focus off of ourselves and on to Him! I have been a Worship Pastor/ Minister of Music/ Artist for almost 25 years now. I have seen just about every type of "Song Service/Worship Service out there. Our job is simply to create an atmosphere of worship where the people can forget their problems and lose themselves in hIs presence. That is where the victory, freedom and joy comes....IN HIS PRESENCE!! I love what you said Steven in your last sentence......if we go there...others will follow. AMEN and AMEN!! This is so true my brother! Blessings to you and other music ministers on this network.

Permalink Reply by Dana B Martin on December 18, 2011 at 5:02pm

The Father has been shaping my approach to worship over the last couple of years.  Steven's and Chucks's posts  very articulately touch on what I've come to believe

I used to think that my job as a worship musician was to create an atmosphere in which the worshiper could approach the Father in praise. There is some value in that, I suppose, but I believe He has been changing my focus of late. The way I now (at least partially) resolve the performance/worship paradox is thus: one must sharpen his skill as a musician by diligently practicing his craft. Then, during the actual worship service I believe the musician approaches the Father in Worship first, which then draws the congregation in, instead of pushing them in to His presence.

An analogy might be a professional race car driver. He spends countless hours practicing his craft, sharpening his skill to the the utmost, so that at race time he doesn't have to think about the mechanics of driving, he just flows in what he knows. 

 In other words the worship leader LEADS, he doesn't need to whip the congregation into an emotional frenzy. Entering into His presence is not about emotion, it's about relationship.

 Steven, we Messianics don't shun His feasts, we participate in them because, as you allude to, they are still our feasts.

Thank you, Chuck and Steven, for your posts.