Throughout the Bible we have examples of people gathering together to worship God without music being a controversial issue. But as people became more mobile and exposed to different cultures, new ideas began to be introduced into churches. Today’s technology exposes everyone to a variety of music styles and genres. People have strong opinions about what they like and dislike so it’s only natural our preferences spill over into a church setting.
Gathering together in corporate worship is not the same as private worship. Corporate worship cannot replace private worship. If the only time we are filling up our spiritual gas tanks is at church, we are going to be running on empty most of the time. We have six days to draw close to God listening to and singing those worship songs we love. When we come to church and gather together to partake in corporate worship it is a shared experience.
It actually involves other people – a family of believers. And in a family you have different likes, dislikes, and opinions. Personal benefits in corporate worship are derived from being in the body of believers and praising God together. The Bible says there is a certain power when believers gather together to worship God. (Matthew 18:20)
However many of us have not mastered the art of a shared experience. We are more interested in what we like rather than what the other person likes or even what God likes.
Here are some complaints about worship in church.
- Songs are too fast
- Songs are too slow
- Not enough spontaneity
- Too much spontaneity
- Order of service never varies
- Order of service varies too much
- Want a more traditional service
- Want more contemporary Christian music
- Want more live musicians
- Have too many live musicians
- Don’t like the worship leader
- Don’t want people to raise their hands
- Don’t want people to clap to the music
- Don’t like old hymns sung in a modern way
- Don’t like new songs
- Want liturgical dance
- Don’t like the sound system
- Music is too loud
- Don’t like the worship style
- Don’t like Power Point
- There is no choir
- There is no special music
- Don’t like it when people sing off key
- Don’t like songs with repetition
- The list is endless
Now these are all legitimate complaints, but they are our preferences. There is nothing wrong with us having preferences but realize they’re our preferences, not God’s. We need to be able to differentiate between our preferences and God’s likes and dislikes. In other words these are not things God is concerned about in worship. He loves to hear us worship him in song whether it’s fast, slow, loud, soft, on PP, in a hymnal, live music, CDs, traditional or contemporary. And the bottom line is that worship is supposed to be about God, not about us.
I’m not going to take the time to go into each one of these complaints and show biblical examples of how they are okay with God. But here are a few examples.
- Repetition: Revelation 4:8 tells us the four living creatures rest not day and night saying, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” We are talking 24/7 here so I don’t think God minds a little repetition.
- Clapping hands: Psalm 47:1 says, “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.” And this Psalm was for the chief musicians, so I don’t think God minds us clapping hands with the music.
- Too loud: Several biblical passages talk about making joyful noises like Psalm 98:4, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.” Noise indicates shouting, letting your voice and instruments be heard. So I don’t think God minds the volume as much as we do.
- Dance: Psalm 149:3 says, “Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.” So I don’t think he minds a little dancing.
- Lifting hands: Psalm 134:2 says, “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.” So I don’t think he minds us lifting our hands.
- New songs: Many scriptures refer to singing a new song to the Lord. Psalm 33:3 says, “Sing unto him a new song;” So I don’t think God minds new songs.
I could go on and on. All of these complaints might be irritating to us but they are not unbiblical. They are not heresy. The caption on this cartoon was too small to read but it said, “The church organ being replaced by drums and guitars. Overheads replace hymnals, and the pastor ain’t wearin’ a tie! It must be the end times!”
Now the purpose of this blog is not to put us on a guilt trip if we gravitate towards a church that has the kind of music we like. However, we need to clearly understand we do so because of our preferences, not God’s. And yes, it might be nice to gather together to worship with everyone who likes exactly the same things we do, but we lose a bit of that family atmosphere when we do. If we don’t develop a little tolerance and patience we may end up worshipping all alone – which does away with the biblical concept of gathering together.
