Worship...Are We too Concerned About the Wrong Things?

[Kyle Lane]

Last week, I had a discussion with a friend of mine who is a worship minister at a local church in Jacksonville. This is a topic that has come along with the "new" church of our generation. It seems with modern day worship becoming more concerned with the production, the experience, and of course, the music creating an emotional experience with God rather than teaching about Christ, and helping those to be closer to God. This is a valid statement, sure. I just want to ask: from a scriptural point of view, are we too concerned with the experience of worshiping God, rather than becoming closer to Christ, or are we, as the new generation of followers, on the right track in creating new innovative ways to worship?

Leave me your thoughts and we'll discuss...

Kyle

[Kelsey Linduff]

I heard him speak at a few conferences. Let me see if we have any cd teachings from him I can get to you.

[Kyle Lane]

I completely agree with you. To be perfectly honest, I love modern-day worship. It's fun, passionate, exciting and edgy., but my concern is that we are getting too involved with relating to culture (secular that is) rather than using these tools to glorify God, bring Him praise, and to bring others into a CLOSER relationship with Him.

That name does sound familiar. Does he have a podcast, a book or something?

[Kelsey Linduff]

I do think it can be easy to get caught up in the emotional experience and sometimes I think the church does cater to that. God seeks those who will worship Him in "spirit and in truth" (John 4) and I do think our generation has a tendency to stray from that sometimes and rather worship the music, the lyrics, and even the worship leader. However its not always the case. All through Psalms it talks about singing a "new song" to God so I also believe that creative, new worship is glorifying to God... as long as it is done in spirit and in truth. Have you ever heard J.D. Walt? He is a prof. at Asbury and has some really great insights about worship.