Comments on: Confessions from a Worship Leader…Part 2

By: Anthony Orzo

Anthony Orzo — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:59:55 +0000

That’s a great point Pat, however I would not (as I know you are not) ever short sell the importance of expression.

If we express our values in a way that does not take into account our culture my fear is many people will never get to the substance we value so higly.

By: Patrick Altes

Patrick Altes — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:40:41 +0000

My past two posts have been sort of “tips and techniques” at least from my perspective. I don’t think those really are the biggest issues, at all, about the value of worship. I have been simply speaking about my opinion of the “expression” of worship. The substance really is the main thing, by a long shot.
I think Sharon touches on this when she speaks about the ancient hymnwriters addressing God in response to fear, illness, death…real life issues, in which the heart is often driven to the Cross and its message of forgiveness and hope.

By: Sharon Bruce

Sharon Bruce — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:21:13 +0000

I love what you said about the church no longer being a source of great music or art. After I became a Christian, I wanted to find music in the styles that I liked. I had limited success with that, but I dove in. Sometimes I found really good profound music, sometimes it was just fun to find some music to rock out to without worrying about vile lyrics. So often though it was (and is) a poor imitation of latest secular style with a sickening sugary over-tone. The writers of the old hymns and of the vespers were so much more honest. They struggled with sin and fear and illness and slavery and death and war and called out to God for help through song. They praised him for being delivered from those things they feared and for being delivered from themselves. Perhaps the musical style is archaic, but the lyrics are not. So much of “contemporary” Christian art, music, and thought is dumbed down to make it marketable…pretty pictures and catchy perky tunes and easy-to-remember catch phrases. It is no wonder the world doesn’t take us seriously. Your son put it well when he said as Christians we tend to be like “babies marninating in our own stink.” God doesn’t want cute and insincere. When we worship we need to be honest, to sing to God our fears and failures and hopes. It needs to be done in a way that reaches the culture and shows “them” that we are just as battered and weary as they are and point them to the One who hears us when we cry out in pain or laugh with joy.

By: Anthony Orzo

Anthony Orzo — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:24:24 +0000

I really appreciate your willingness to write about an issue that seems somewhat like a no brainer, but really can be a source of tension amongst Christian faith communities.

I often find it ironic, or somewhat strategic, that one of the very things meant to unify the people of God (corporate worship) can often be so divisive.

To quote Dana Carvey, “Hmhhhhhh…can somebody say Satan”.

Again, thanks for the post.