Worship is... or is not...

As a Music Director for our church (I dislike the term Worship Leader), I am often bombarded with:
 
   "Hymns are true worship"
   "The drums are too loud and I can't worship"
   "The guitar is too loud and I can't worship"
   "We can do away with hymns, they're old fashioned and I can't worship"
   "Tell us the story behind the hymns, so we can truly appreciate and worship"
   and more, and more statements like these.

When I hear, read or overhear these sentiments I want to just scream, "the music is not your worship!" But, I refrain. Yes, we worship God through music as well as through scripture reading, prayer, sermon, bible study and some of my favorites, while doing laundry, washing dishes, wiping a child's snotty nose or changing a messy diaper. We worship God by living our lives in such a way that there is no doubt we love Him.

Even in our frustrations we can worship Him. It's not a joy to have to pay for home repairs, but it is a blessing to have a home to live in, that provides safety for myself and my family, that provides a place for fellowship with family and friends, and shelter for any who may need it. And I can praise and worship God while paying for repairs to keep our home a safe haven.

It isn't enjoyable to be worried late into the night about a child who hasn't made it home by curfew. But, knowing that that child is safe once they do arrive home and knowing that they understand you love them and are there for them at whatever time they arrive home, is truly a gift I would not give away. And I can praise and worship God while waiting up and praying for my child's safety, and yes thanking God for them regardless of the pain I may experience at the time.

Worship isn't music or a music style, it isn't about hymns vs. contemporary vs. rock, and it certainly isn't conflict between groups of people and their likes/dislikes of style. Worship is us, our lives, every single day choosing to praise our creator and savior for all the good things, through the storms and for eternity of His sacrifice of love for us.

Isn't it time we get past the battle of the music in our corporate worship? Isn't it time to be grateful for the freedom to have corporate worship? Isn't it time to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth regardless of our personal likes or dislikes of music?

As a Music Director for our church, I choose an eclectic blend of songs for our congregation. I choose to try to please everyone a little bit of the time instead of only one portion all of the time. Is this the solution to the problem? No. But, I'm not looking for a solution to a problem that shouldn't even be there. I'm looking to praise and worship God with my church family through every song we sing, even if it's not one of my favorites. I'm looking to get past the unnecessary hullabaloo surrounding praise music in church.

Romans 12:1  Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 

"living sacrifice" - worship is how we live, not what we sing or how we act during music on Sunday morning at church.

Here's a link to another article that's quite good: http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/idolatry-in-corporate-worship

Getting to know you...

... getting to know all about you. It's a lyric from a familiar (if you're above the age of 25) song.

My name is Libby. I'm a christian, a wife to Tim, mother to John and Jason, and teacher/aunt to James. Music is a passion and I sing, play piano and bass guitar. I love to cook and host dinners and parties. Being around people generally energizes me and I can easily get depressed if I am cooped up indoors for too long.

As most people, I have my little pet-peeves. Also like most people, I'm a little OCD (or CDO as my husband likes to tease me about).But really, at the the core, I'm just a person who likes to get along with people and am flexible with schedules and change. I'll ignore affronts or at least keep them private to give myself time to let them go. I'm not eloquent or poetic, and I'm not one to "toot my own horn" very often. I'm fine with being involved in activities without accolades.

However, there are some things that I am seeing, hearing , reading, being approached about that bother me -greatly. Increasingly so. Hence, the reason for this blog. I just want an outlet to put down my thoughts about these things as I think them and if any are interested, hearing from you, your thoughts on the same subject.