Preaching

Right now Sarah and I are "choosing a church." This might be the most interesting process I have ever been through. I mean, church has always been a part of my life, but I have never been in the position to have to choose one. Especially not in a city such as Charlotte which offers every church you could imagine.

So Sarah has different criteria in her church choosing than I do, and I find it interesting. I am someone who tries to look at content. What comprehensively the church has to offer. Small groups, challenging pastor, solid beliefs, good organization, friendly people, meaningful worship, etc. Of course outward appearance is important too just like in everything, but more important to me is the substance.

A church can always make the outward appearance look however it wants, but you can always tell what a church really is by what it does and the message it portrays. Many churches are starting to look alike. Which is good and bad. It is good because you know what to expect, but it is bad because it causes apathy. I like churches that are different. I appreciate challenging pastors who push the envelope and challenge congregations like the Scriptures say to. However, the hardest thing about most churches that are trying to be different is the unfortunate movement towards completely contemporary worship. I love music. And this generation loves a more rock style to their worship. I tend to agree. A band with a lead acoustic guitar, guy and girl singers, bass, electric, drums, keyboard, etc. It is all wonderful. However, when we fly towards completely contemporary music we abandon some of the depth that worship through music once had.

I am not a traditional kind of guy for the most part, but the words in hymns provide the depth that worship needs. Yes, emotions are important in praise, but what you are saying is also. Our worship unfortunately has become shallow and somewhat showy with this new influx of contemporary worship. The band is on stage "putting on a show." The words are simple and sometimes shallow. We need depth to go with the emotions. We must recognize God as the complex being he is, not just what he has to offer us. The only way to do that means we must combine two elements of worship that can seem so distant at times, and manage to do it all in such a way that we do not draw attention to ourselves, but only to God.

Yes it is tough, and pretty much impossible to pull off, but it must be done. At all costs we must point people to Christ and God the Father. And if others are looking at us too much without knowing we are strictly pointing them to Him, it can have destructive possibilities for both us and them. We must quit impressing people with our contemporary worship, and challenge people to worship with both their emotions and intellect. So if you play contemporary worship music I challenge you to be a pastor to those you lead in worship and challenge them with the truth of the Scriptures during worship. Choose challenging songs, both emotionally and intellectually. Be a true worshiper of Christ in front of others, and create more worshipers of Christ, don't simply lead them in worship. Allow them to worship Him for all that He is with all of their being.

"For in Christ, we live and move and have our being"
Paul