Blended Worship
The crowd begins to gather. A few gather to talk and catch up on the week behind. Some will help lead and now is the time for final preparations. The last of the announcements fades from the screen. People begin to find their seats. Words of welcome are given and music begins to play. The Christians are about to worship. 
These Christians realize that the church is in a time of transition in worship. Many churches in town have chosen to use newer songs and musical styles in worship. Many have chosen very traditional worship elements and present them through the instruments that have been used for the last few generations of Christian churches. This church though feels led to bridge this gap. This morning they have prepared a service that blends both the new and the old, the contemplative and the celebrative, the head and the heart. By the end of worship there have been organ preludes, guitar led praise choruses, organized readings and spontaneous prayer.
Now, here’s my question and I can’t say more without giving away my hand. This description of the blending of styles is beautiful, but when Christians try it, is the end result beautiful? Have we brought worshipers of different personalities and generations together in true worship or have we simply created a service in which nobody is able to truly sink into the worship of their God?
In other words, do blended services work? I’m still deciding what I think. What do you think?
These Christians realize that the church is in a time of transition in worship. Many churches in town have chosen to use newer songs and musical styles in worship. Many have chosen very traditional worship elements and present them through the instruments that have been used for the last few generations of Christian churches. This church though feels led to bridge this gap. This morning they have prepared a service that blends both the new and the old, the contemplative and the celebrative, the head and the heart. By the end of worship there have been organ preludes, guitar led praise choruses, organized readings and spontaneous prayer.
Now, here’s my question and I can’t say more without giving away my hand. This description of the blending of styles is beautiful, but when Christians try it, is the end result beautiful? Have we brought worshipers of different personalities and generations together in true worship or have we simply created a service in which nobody is able to truly sink into the worship of their God?
In other words, do blended services work? I’m still deciding what I think. What do you think?
posted by Aaron McMillan at 9:42 AM
4 Comments:
Pastor Aaron,
I appreciate your forthrightness in dealing with Worship of the Almighty God. I think it is important for us, as Christians and leaders, to discuss the question: Do blended services work?
Maybe a better question would be: What does God desire in Worship?
Styles will come and go and there will always be those who decide to complain and those who decide to Worship joyfully. I believe that true Worship is an individual heart condition. I have personally experienced this with most worship styles and can say that without the Spirit flowing through my soul when I worship, I am totally unable to do so with a joyful and honoring heart. We need to take seriously the Worship of The Creator of the Universe (as is evident in bringing the unholy fire by Aaron's sons in Leviticus) and come into His Presence with a clean and joyful heart, ready to Worship in Truth and Spirit no matter what the presentation looks like.
Keep up the great work and God Bless!
George
Since the discussion began about worship, I have been doing some studying on it myself.
I did not know, that I did not know what worship really is. I am learning. I believe we have complicated it because we don't know what each other means by worship. Perhaps for the discussion on worship to be productive there needs to be an understanding of what worship is and only when we agree on what it is can we discuss how we as a church are going to express our worship.
What is worship? Can we worship God only to the degree in which our heart is filled with love for God? If worship includes praise and adoration, then it seems to be a way to express love. (Forgive me for the example; I don't have children.)I praise and adore my cat. I can praise and adore my cat because I know and love my cat. Is it too much of a stretch to say the more I know God the more natural worship will be to me? I can only worship what I know, value and appreciate.
Is this understanding of worship too simple?
I know God is the audience, but I do not relate to performing. I don't think God judges my worship as it has been suggested. I don't think I have to ask God questions like "how did I do?' When your child looks at you and says 'Dad you're great' or 'Dad I love you' do you judge it or do you just accept it as your heart overflows with joy. I don't think worship is a performance but an expression.
My first blog ever!
Ruth
My dearest husband, I so love that you're truly inquiring into worship as opposed to callously assuming one way is the only way. It's important that we remain open to all spectrums of praising our living God. I can't say that doesn't mean I don't get grumpy when I feel like worship should be a certain way. I think that's my fallacy though. Worship to me means that one is communing intimately with our Savior. This can (and should) be done corporately and personally as called for in the scriptures.
As far as corporate worship is concerned, I think the end means should be to create a setting that is most conducive to glorifying our great God. There are many facets of a service that can draw people intimately towards our Father. I feel that a service should sometimes almost trick even the grumpiest of spirits into worship. I know because I've been there. Granted, it's much easier to praise God when you're already in a good frame of being to start off with, but shouldn't a service be a place that guides us toward that worshiping mindset and ultimately result in a tremendous movement of the Spirit?
Here's another question - are we all drawn to the Father the same way? It seems like the answer to that would determine the mode of the service or services. Shouldn't the end means of our services be to praise God as effectively as possible?
Blended worship. I like those words - though I know you don't mean them in the way that I'm taking them. God desires for us to worship Him in spirit and in truth. I like what George said about unholy fire. To me, that's when the words are sung without substance.
Blended worship - when we gather together to worship God together out of our daily individual worship we have practiced all week long. Then it really doesn't matter what the venue is. We listen to the words and decide to send them to our Father from our spirit and from the truth of who we know He is out of our varied relationships with Him. How sweet that must sound to Him.
Blended worship - the superficial "what style are we going to use this morning to please and appease the people" surely must be more about worshipping people and the desires of their hearts.
- Mollie Thompson
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