Worship is a Risk
July 2, 2008
I believe that the heart of worship is sacrifice. God’s glory demands personal humbling and the exaltation of Him above all else. Yet, we often subliminally assume that this sacrifice does not involve risk. We stand in our pews on Sunday and sing tentatively, hands down to our sides, trying not to stick out or do anything embarrassing, and assume that we have fulfilled our responsibility in worship. Just exactly what is it about sacrifice that doesn’t sound risky (sarcasm implied)? Surely Abraham was taking an incredible risk as he climbed a mountain to sacrifice his firstborn to God.
We worship leaders often fall into the same trap while we point fingers at the tentative congregation we work with. How many of us strive to make our bands and vocalists sound exactly like what we’ve heard on the radio? We have gotten really good at simply copy-catting Tomlin and Hall; our bands sound great, but what have we risked? Why do we assume that an infinitely creative God would want us to simply find something beautiful and creative in our worship culture and vomit it back up with no growth Sunday after Sunday?
So, as you think about band practice this week, perhaps you’ll reconsider your desire to emulate the pack. Why not take the structures in the songs that you know like the back of your hand, and make them into something new and fresh? Let the musicians in your band be creators, because one of the best ways that we can praise our creator is by imitation. Write a new guitar accompaniment, a new vocal line, a new piano solo, something that distinguishes your band’s voice from everyone elses. Although feeble in comparison, when each of us create on an artistic scale, we are being thoroughly worshipful to the One from whom all creativity comes from.
Your thoughts?
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Article by Jeremy Killian, revised for TheWorshipCommunity.Com, originally published @ MilestoneWorship.Com
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I think it’s very restrictive for worship teams (especially in small churches) to feel like they have to do things “just like the CD.” How can you do things just like the CD if you have no electric guitar player and no system available to play an electric guitar track?
It’s also restrictive to the congregation to have to do 5 choruses at the end of the song plus the bridge that’s way too high for them.
We also should take risks to lead the congregational in physical expressiveness. Sometimes we’re afraid to do what we want the congregation to do. This might involved finding a way to get your singers to not use music stands. This is a risk, but it will pay off in the end!
This is so true, Jeremy.
We are overwhelmed with so many great resources, it’s easy to just let other gifted people “make the sacrifice” for us, and we just use their leftovers. There’s nothing wrong with using great resources, covering great songs, etc …. but I agree, we should press on and take some risks … some sacrifices, and put our own signatures on some of what we offer to God.
Do you remember that story where the man was going to freely give the threshing floor to the prophet for an altar, and the prophet said “I won’t sacrifice anything to God that didn’t cost me something” (paraphrase)
Great thoughts Jeremy.
One of our keyboardists — who is moving into a band leader/arranger role — HATES being tied to ‘how it is on the CD’. Just by growling when anyone refers to the CD arrangement, he pushes all of us to be more creative… to really hear what WE sound like, really think about what we COULD sound like, and make creative decisions accordingly.
I do think this requires a high level of maturity among band members, however, both personally and musically. When I’ve worked with younger bands (like high school students), aiming for something-in-the-general-ball-park-of-the-CD is in itself a risk. Maybe for developing musicians, that’s an important step toward developing personal and band creativity. Which then leads to the dilemma of how to risk, push, and pull in a band that includes people with widely varied levels of experience and ability.
I love chucking the CD, creating, writing, aranging. It’s freeing and inspiring when your whole teams gets in on the process and I believe it leads to more passionate worship on Sunday morning.
CD’s are all evil though. Doing the CD arrangement can lead to more risk.
When you always throw new arrangements at your musicians and tech crew they become insecure and don’t play out on Sunday morning. Instead they hold back, afraid to make a mistake. By following a set, planned out pattern you free your musicians and tech crew to perform with confidence for the Audience of One.
Great thoughts. God has uniquely gifted each of us. He brings churches and worship teams together through his sovereign will. There is no reason to think that a band in Louisville should sound exactly like a band in Philly or San Antonio. Or, for that matter, that two bands in San Antonio should sound exactly alike.
First, let me say thanks for the encouraging words to step out and try new things. I think that a lot of corporate worship leaders feel like they have to play the latest “worship hit” available by the newest “worship artist” so that the people they serve are always on the “in” with worship music. (forgive all the quotations)
I think the biggest risk (but probably the most rewarding) most corporate worship leaders could take would be to STOP doing the latest and greatest and START doing some research with some hymns. Most hymns are just lyrics - the tunes were usually added later on by other musicians. Go find some hymns, that are typically much more objective in content, and put a new spin on them. Don’t try and rehash the last “Top 20″ worship song wonder - people can’t help but subconciously compare it to the original - - go find some lyrics that haven’t been sung in the last hundred years and reteach it with your bands own creativity. I’m not bagging on modern worship songs - I just don’t think changing one of those songs is risky - it might be fresh and different - but not risky. Risky would be doing songs with words that you might actually have to explain.
This will not only serve your congregation well by deepening their understanding of God by engaging more of their minds, but it will also build confidence in your team that they don’t have to rely on “worship artists” for ideas and arrangements to serve and lead well.
Brad Loser
http://www.thinkworship.com
Worship is a sacrifice. It’s risky climbing up the mountain like Abraham, but if our focus is in obeying God’s direction, God will provide for us the sacrificial lamb and eventually our sacrifice being accepted by God…our WORSHIP ACCEPTED by God.
As worship leaders, our focus is in leading the people to God’s presence, and when in HIS presence, we all together worship Him. However, many worship teams tend to immitate their favorite band, just because they are the “hit” songs, and apply during the worship service; the songs programmed, neglecting some aspects as discerning the need of the people. That’s why if there’s a need for more of God, then give songs that have lyrics as “More Love, More Power, More of you in my life…for You are my Lord”. And if the worship leader discerned that the people (generally) needs to drawing close to GOD, then sing songs that have lyricsthat brings draws the people to God , i.e. “Draw me close to You”.
In worship, we take risk. Climbers need preparation and skill inorder to climb Mt. Everest. Without it, their life will be at risk. Worship leaders also need preparation and skill, specially the Annointing of God. PREPARING includes discerning the Voice of God, even until the worship time when we need to know “is it time to release the people to worship? Are we already in the pesence of God? In Genesis, Abraham was about to offer his son Isaac, but Abraham was so sensitive and heared God’s voice and instructed him about another lamb to offer. Taking risk includes laying down our will, and say let Thy will be done. This includes laying down our isaacs …our voices…our music…our drums…guitars…keyboards…and others…and putting Jesus Christ alone in our hearts… worshipping God in His Presence!
I think another way to break the mold is to be writing original songs for your congregation to sing. Our team too listens to the CD and can emulate it very well, however you should see what they come up with when you give them something that has never been done before. Often times I have the basic chords and melody, but they will help the song find it’s groove.