When do you worship God? Where do you worship? How do you worship Him? I fear that for many the answers would look the same . . . Sunday at church by singing. But worship is so much more than singing songs . . . and God has placed us here on this earth with a diversity of ways we can interact with him as we interact with stuff!
I truly believe that music is one of the most powerful methods of engaging our minds, emotions and bodies together in worship, but I throughly reject the notion that music is an essential component of worship. Music is merely one tool we use to worship God.
At ReCAST we have intentionally worked to select songs and a style that reflect worship in the routine of life. We desire that the style and “professionalism” (or lack thereof) are reflecting the reality that God is with us wherever we are.
Whether I am in my sweats and a t-shirt out for a run, driving my car, or eating dinner with my family, I should be worshipping God with my life. Worship is not something we should need to get hyped up for, it is not some internal ecstasy that is the exception in my otherwise mundane life. Worship should describe the WAY I live my life! Obviously I fall short of this, but anything worthwhile takes effort, right?
So our songs at ReCAST, our more casual atmosphere, and even my attempt to bring the Word into real life, are all part of a desire to demonstrate that God is God of our real lives. I desire as much as possible that the transition into a Sunday morning at ReCAST is not a huge transition (e.g. “Oh, now it’s time to worship”). And that as people leave it is not a huge mental shift (e.g. “Oh, now it’s time to get back to real life”).
Worship is not music, it isn’t a feeling, it is not a state of euphoria, it is not really about me at all . . . It is about a God who is worth my entire life, lived for His glory in all of its myriad facets.
Sometimes, I smile as I sing on Sunday mornings, knowing that in my heart the worship is flowing out of a heart that doesn’t FEEL like singing, but all the while is acknowledging that He is worthy. I am convinced that sometimes the best worship is offered from hearts that know He is worthy of worship and give it without any need for reciprocal euphoria or happiness.
But being honest, I am thankful for those moments when God allows my mind and my heart to align and I am emotionally charged. Sometimes that happens during an early morning run, sometimes watching my daughter dance, and sometimes it happens in the gathering of God’s people on Sunday morning.
Ahh “WORSHIP” I Like this Don, Thanks for sharing this message!