Bob's Beat"The Sunday Show"
File this blog under the category of personal grips! After working for 30 years as the artistic director, producer and paid performer of the "Sunday Worship Show," I just can't take it any more. Forgive me if this sounds sacrilegious, but in far too many places the worship service focuses more on pleasing the worshippers than on pleasing the one we claim to be worshipping. As a pastor,
I used to spend the biggest chuck of my time each week preparing the Sunday production. And I felt pretty good about the crowd of people who would gather. After all, that's what we're supposed to do isn't it? Isn't Sunday about creating a worship environment that will bless the members and attract newcomers? In the past I was committed to doing whatever I could to draw a crowd and introduce them to Jesus.
That just doesn't work for me any more. It feels dishonest and manipulative; not the kind of stuff that we want to be wrapped up in when we approach the living God. Jesus said that true worshippers worship in spirit and in truth. We will never be able to get very close to God if we aren't willing to take off our shoes: that is, humble ourselves and become vulnerable. Jesus talked about the danger of doing things in order to be seen by others; things like prayer and giving and fasting. He said that if we do those things in order to be seen by others we may impress them with our piety, but that's all that will happen. I'm tired of trying to do things that will impress people. I want to give myself to doing the things that will impress and honor the Lord.
That is one of the things I like about being part of a house church. The worship that takes place when a small group of believers gather in someones living room is more likely to authentic than gathering with a crowd of strangers in an large auditorium. It is far harder to fake authentic worship when you're in a living room than when you're in an auditorium. Auditoriums are for performing. Living rooms are for living. I think God is bored by our maticulously rehearsed worship productions and our beautifully performed songs. God longs to meet with us right where we live. Why do you think we call it the lliving room. -- Bob
4 comments:
nice bald look bob. don't forget that you're not in jos anymore! :)
Actually, I'm going with a new look in the hair department right now, but I thought the bold, bald look would be good for my "Bob's Beat" posts. -- Bob
Love the "no hair"! I actually got a little glimpse of Grandpap which took me back a number of years - good memories. Also, I have always thought you and mom looked alike, but that picture without the hair really confirms that!!! Maybe because I saw her bald a while back. I am keeping you and Carol and the boys in my prayers daily. Love and miss you guys.
Also, I agree about worship. I sing on praise team with 3 other vocalist and although I love worshipping through song, I don't really like being up on stage in front of so many people worshipping cause it feels like a performance sometimes. I really seek faces when I am on stage and try to connect with them through worship. The one good thing about being on stage is I know whose in church and if "so and so" came and "oh, there so and so right on time (late)".
Worship is incredible and some of my best worshipping has been when it is just me and God and I am belting out a song, tears freely flowing, and I feel His presence all around me, and I am reminded that He treasures me - regardless of how I may let Him down. He still treasures me.
I agree with what you said. Just read your blog to my supervisor up
here at LVYFC as we talked about how to reach out to urban youth to
develop worshippers. Good to have you back. Look forward to meeting
you somtime when you come to Fairland. Peace!
PS. How does your mind to that just by staring at three dots!?!
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