We're all familiar with this...
But what's going on here?
I think the answer to this question describes some of the differences we see in philosophies of worship in our churches today.
Let me explain...
I recently read Louie Giglio's book, The Air I Breathe, in which he describes what he believes to be true worship. In this book, he talks about the excitement displayed in an audience during a concert or a crowd at a game. He says:
"Some of the purest forms of worship are found outside the walls of the church and have no reference to the God of all creation. All you have to do is drop in on a concert at the local arena or go to a sporting event at a nearby stadium to see amazing worship...the same expressions of worship that God desires and deserves."
Someone taking Giglio's point would argue that such an audience is doing what they were naturally created to do: worship.
Natural conclusion: we need that type of excitement, expression, and abandon in corporate worship. If an audience can worship a rock artist with that much passion how much more passionately should we worship our God?
Here's my problem...
I agree with Giglio that worship is natural to the human being. I also agree that when audiences attend a concert, they tend to act in a way that agrees with their nature.
But I also believe that unregenerate man is naturally sinful. I have a hard time seeing unregenerate man's expression of worship (whatever he/she may be worshiping) and saying it is "the same expression of worship God desires and deserves."
Should our corporate worship include emotion? One hundred times, YES!! But will we express it in the same way? Probably not. (Psalm 51:17; Psalm 29:2)
So...should our worship look like this...
or like this...
or is there a better way?
These are some of the things that have been occupying my thoughts over the past couple days. It helps to write them down.
Any ideas? What should our worship look like?
