I love to worship! I love to use music in my worship experiences. I’m so thankful that we have the kind of worship music we do today—I totally love most of the music that the leading worship songwriters are putting out these days.
However, there is a good reason I say we should “stop the music” so we can “start to worship.” God has blessed some incredible people with a gift to write worship music (I am still praying that He’ll give that gift to me—I so want to write some worship music to use in our services). Don’t get me wrong, I believe God is using the songwriters of today, He is anointing them to write songs that honor and exalt God. But when we sing the songs they have written, we are singing words that come from the heart of someone other than ourselves.
When we “stop the music” and “start to worship,” we begin the process of using words and thoughts that come from our own heart—praise that is based out of the place you are in life, the good places and the bad. As we begin to worship, without music (I’m speaking of music that others have written), with thoughts and words from deep in out own heart, I believe it’s there where God finds the worship that He speaks of in John 4:23-24, “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (ESV)
I challenge you, in your personal worship experiences, to not only worship along with songs that others have written, but to dare to “stop the music” and “start to worship” with words, thoughts, and melodies that are birthed in your heart.
Someone once said that the real worship begins when ths song ends…
Hmmm…wonder who that was Paul?
Good stuff John! Maybe the key to us writing our own music is hiding somewhere deep in the message you just delivered. May the origin of our worship spring forth from grateful hearts that are in awe of who he is, not a chord progression.
Deep Kevin, but good…very good!
Love it. Here’s the issue. The church is programmed to worship congregationally, singing the words given to them. How do we as worship leaders drive people into this type of worship which is deeper and individualized. I believe we should rename ourselves first and be ‘worship examples’ rather than worship leaders. A leader has examine his followers and evaluate the progress that is possible. An example doesnt look to others for anything, instead shoots from the heart and people gravitate. I could be wrong, but thats how it feels to me.
I happened across your blog by searching “worship music” and I just wanted to discuss the topic some further. I agree with what you had to say. I feel there is a divide between the heart of worship and the worshiping with your heart. Many can’t see that they are disconnected from worship, it hasn’t become personal. At the same time I would also bring the question, what about the Bible? Not to take an extremist view point, but is the worshiping others’ songs not the same as reading others’ thoughts from the Bible? Just a thought.
- Robert