It's Not About Me!

Being a life-long student of worship, which really began at the age of 10 when I first realized there was something more to worship in the church than I was being taught or even understood. I have discovered something about the growing debate on worship, and music in worship. The thing that I have discovered is this: It's not about you. It's not about me. It's not about what I like or dislike. It's not even about the music. Worship is not about making everyone happy. Worship is about making God happy; making God smile on His children. It after all is what we were created for.

It seems that in the last 10 years people think that we are fighting "worship wars" in our churches for the first time. I can remember when people in my church thought that Bill Gaither was too contemporary and that we should only sing the "old hymns." Do people not realize that even the old hymns were contemporary at one time? Do people not realize that Martin Luther was considered a rebel in his day? Come on folks, this guy wrote down 95 complaints that he had against the church and NAILED it to the church door! We should not look down our noses as we see the younger generation "find themselves" and their own way of expressing love and gratitude to God the Father.

And for those of you "Contemporaries" who look down your noses at those who just "don't get" your kind of musical expression: Stop it. Worship is not about you or your music either. Worship is not about the music at all. Worship is all about Jesus. It is all about the love of God shown to us vile, wicked, evil, undeserving souls. It is only by His grace that we are saved. Worship is about expressing our love and gratitude for His love and mercy and grace.

Worship is all about focusing your mind's attention and your heart's affection on the Lord. Let's find ways to meet on even ground and worship the Father together. When the church is unified with goal, purpose and vision the church will be increased. We will be winning people to Jesus so that they can worship the same God that we worship. We will be the church.

"Worship is the expression of love and gratitude from the heart of God's child to the heart of God the Father."