Come Let Us Worship and Bow Down

Come Let Us Worship and Bow Down

My people have been lost sheep;
their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains.
They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place.
(Jer 50:6 NIV)

A problem of idol worship in the church

This article was prompted by a recent email I received from a gentleman who had served in a praise band for five years. He stepped down because what he saw from the platform each week troubled him. He said he had played in secular bands in years past and the crowds he had played to then were no different than the congregation he was leading now with the hopeful exception of the alcohol and drugs. He felt the music was being received as entertainment and not as the worship tool it was intended. What a troubling yet far too common commentary on Christian worship services.

If you have been listening to or studying contemporary praise and worship music for long you have probably heard the story of the pastor who, concerned that the people of his church had lost the focus of their worship, put a stop to the music for a time. When the proper attitude was restored the worship leader, Matt Redman, introduced the song The Heart of Worship. The concern was the people were worshiping the music (or the worship leader) - it happens.

In the examples just mentioned, the concern is over idol worship, meaning anything that is worshiped above God. In both cases the idol is the music. That it can happen is sometimes used as a reason to prevent a praise band from playing contemporary music in an older established church. The fact is idol worship is just as likely in a piano and organ driven service. It is the function (who we worship) not the form (the style of music used) that will generally determine whether its proper worship or idol worship.

More examples of this improper form of worship:

I went to a small church one evening to hear a national recording artist who had just released a praise and worship album. The event began with the local house band. They played congregational praise songs they had written in an acoustic folk style. They were talented and the songs worshipful but most sitting around me in the sanctuary talked through the songs. Next, the national artist, who admittedly we had all come to hear, came out rockin’. Immediately everyone rose to their feet and started clapping to the beat. The guy behind me clapped so loudly (the rest of the evening without stopping) that he actually gave me a headache. The lady in front of me drew little circles in the air with her index finger – I have no idea what she was doing but she seemed to be enjoying the evening. I remember looking around and noticing how many people with upraised hands seemed immersed in their own little world of worship. I left feeling troubled.

I have no problem that the crowd came to hear the national artist. I did as well. I have no problem that they enjoyed the music or that they could easily worship while hearing it. Me too. I did feel bad for the house band that was ignored by a rude and oblivious crowd, but what I really found troubling was how the ‘worship’ experience was turned on like a switch the moment the ‘star’ walked on stage. Was God not in the building when the house band played, or did their god walk out on stage with a Stratocaster strapped across his shoulder? I remember thinking about the Heart of Worship story.

Then there was the time in an older established church where a recently formed bluegrass band volunteered to lead the worship service one Sunday. They had an upright bass, guitar, and banjo. They played the sacred old hymns this traditional congregation demanded with great talent, yet some in the congregation sat arms crossed glaring at the group. Others sat with their face in their hands avoiding all eye contact. Most in the congregation did enjoy their songs and worshiped with the band. The rejecting attitude of the few was so painfully obvious it caused the group to doubt if their humble praise offering was worthy in the LORD's eyes. After the song portion of the service was over, the group literally went into the foyer and cried.

In this same congregation, I watched as the people who had complained about the bluegrass band fell all over themselves to be the first in line to tell the new pianist how badly she was needed at the church. Apparently, while god played electric guitar in the previous church, the god in this church played piano. It makes you want to cry out, "Come back to the heart of worship people!"

Let Us Kneel Before The LORD Our Maker

What you should grasp from the previous examples is: It is always wrong to worship the person on the platform playing or leading the songs. It is always wrong to worship the instruments being used. It is always wrong to worship the songs being sung. It is always wrong to worship the style in which the songs are performed. It is just as wrong to despise the person, instruments, songs, or style. In such instances you are just as guilty of idol worship.

While it is perfectly acceptable to have a favorite leader, song, or style that helps draw you into worship, the object of our worship must always be our God and Savior. The 'star' worship example is pretty easy to see in others but we need to be careful we don't fall into the same sin, whether sitting in the congregation or standing on the platform. How can you claim to be worshiping God if you are worshiping what is happening on the stage? Likewise, how can you claim to love God if you despise your brother leading the songs? These things ought not to be! If you are unable to worship during the music unless it is 'your' songs played your way, you need to consider if you are focused properly. If you intentionally hinder others from worship because you personally don't like the songs you need to stop it!

The Bible tells us God says of himself that he is a jealous God. He will not share our worship with any one or anything else for he alone is worthy of all praise, honor, and glory. The Bible also instructs us not to love the praise of men more than the praise of the Father. Jesus tells us to love our enemies, to bless and not curse them. He sums up the law of God saying, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” We cannot worship in spirit and in truth if we are clinging to or fighting over idols. We must stop seeking the temporary things of this world. Instead, let us fall on our knees before the throne of grace and thank him for saving us. Let us make room for one another at his feet. Let us not be a stumbling block for any who would worship the King.

O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
(Psa 95:6-7a. KJV)

Links to some of my articles:

Praise Band A little bit about how we got started.

Our Continuing Journey latest updates.

Introducing praise music in an established church This has become more of a history lesson of our struggle and our mistakes

Blended Services Do Work! The experts were wrong - We finally figured out how to make it work!

Come Let Us Worship And Bow Down The problem of Idol worship in the church

Hymns Versus Praise Songs A humorous look

A Little Musician Humor Lighten up!

Guitars! Jesus wants me to have a new guitar?

Terrorism In The Church Take a stand against spiritual abuse.

Cool Links Some helpful resources

Guest Article:

Blended Worship - Good for the Body A wondeful article by Pastor of Music Ron Man