Very recently, I was privileged to attend a songwriters’ retreat on the campus of the International Learning Center, owned and operated by the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. This unique event was born in the heart of IMB leaders who are growing in their concern about congregational worship practices in the United States. Many of these leaders have spent 30+ years on full-time mission assignments around the world, and upon their return to America, have been struck by what they would characterize as congregational worship marked by an extreme sense of “performancism.”
Over the course of the retreat, those of us attending shared time with dozens of missionaries with the opportunity to hear first-hand about the worship of our brothers and sisters in all four corners of the globe. We heard story after story about worship gatherings under Banyan trees on the African Plains, in underground house churches in creative access countries, in remote village churches along the banks of the Amazon River, in communist prisons, and countless other locations. In each of these instances, regardless of the indigenous language spoken or culture, there were notable and consistent marks shared about the worship of the people in each region:
- The name of Jesus is unabashedly proclaimed/sung with power and authority.
- Everyone is involved.
- Joy is abundant.
- Gratitude abounds.
- Songs of testimony to the power of God are numerous.
- Biblical story songs are numerous, as well, and are passed from generation to generation, especially in world areas where illiteracy prevails.
- Worship is vibrant, authentic, and transformational.
In some locations, crude, handcrafted instruments accompany the singing of the people. Other groups lift only their voices as an offering. In each unique instance, the people of God use what is in their hearts and hands in order to express their praise to God.
There was another significant common denominator about the stories we heard during the IMB retreat. Christians in the majority of the world are worshiping God in the middle of extreme persecution. Christian worship in many places is against the law and punishable by imprisonment, beating, and even death. In these places, there is nothing convenient or comfortable about worship — obedience, surrender, and faith are what compels Christians to offer a sacrifice of praise to God.
Several of the missionaries, with whom I spent time at the IMB retreat, remarked independently about their corporate worship experiences in hundreds of churches across the United States since their return from foreign work. Without exception, they stated how dumbfounded they were at the lack of participation of congregations. Their perspective is that domestic churches have given themselves over to worship practices that serve to attract people, rather than to engage people with the Gospel.
Several of us songwriters spent hours in dialogue and prayer about what we heard over the course of the retreat week together. The more we shared, searched the scriptures, and prayed together, the clearer it became to us that our missionary friends were onto something significant when they spoke about the overwhelming number of churches who have adopted “American Idol” as the template for congregational worship. It is true that ministry happens within cultural context, but God has told us all how we are to worship Him in His Word. No one nation, or tongue, is to worship outside the context of Scripture.
I found myself with a lump in my throat as I considered tough questions. Could it be true? Does my family live and worship in a community within this great “One Nation Under God” where venue, production value, program, and even people have become the focus of our worship? Could I be one of those who has become so comfortable with, and spoiled by, a culture of abundance and freedom to worship that I would desire on any given day to experience corporate worship that meets every item on a checklist of my personal preferences? Am I a part of an American Christian Church that has gotten itself upside down in its theology of worship?
I want to be forthright in saying that I do see evidence throughout our nation that “performancism” is a driver of worship culture in our Churches. Stem mixes, click tracks, LED walls, line array systems, HD camera rigs, etc… Is any of it truly important or are we simply gratifying our selfish artistic desires? There could even be reason for concern, I believe, in that we have developed a monetization framework for the songs of faith we sing. Meanwhile, domestic professions of faith and baptisms are declining more quickly than at any point in our history. Is our worship culture contributing to this reality on any level?
I am challenged and convicted by what I learned from my missionary friends. This is all so fresh in my heart and mind that I must be honest in saying I haven’t arrived at many firm answers yet. But I do want to start a conversation I think is important. What do you think?
Craig Adams, a recipient of multiple Dove Awards, has produced and/or participated in more than 3,500 recordings for artists, record labels, music publishers, tv/film, and radio over the past 35 years. In addition, his vast experience in music production, local church worship ministry, and musical direction for live events, along with his work at Lifeway Worship, gives him the talent, experience, and credibility to not only listen, but really hear, what each album delivers to the listeners.
I can’t im I can say something that hasn’t already been said but, for what it’s worth:
So many instances in Scripture, worship is response during or after great hardship and pain. Or if not in the midst, the worshippers were recalling the great hardship the Lord had brought them thru. Miriam’s song in Ex 15, the great “Hallel” passage in Psalm 136, the incredible worship in faith in 2 Chronicles 20, Paul & Silas, and there’s so many more. I think what our brothers and sisters in the foreign lands have in common with these biblical examples is the pressing need for God’s provision, protection and delivery. They’re constan faced with hardship related to their faith. For us in our comfortable American churches, we don’t have anywhere near the same sense of urgency or desperation. The corporate worship thru song has 20-30 minutes and unless the individual believer is personally living a life of dependence on Christ and is supernaturally aware of their desperate need for God’s work in their life, then our worship leading efforts are skimming the surface unless God intervene, and certainly He does, bless His name!
God, give your people a deeper since of the desperate need of our sinful hearts! May we see your power and might and be faithful to worship You for who You are and what You’ve done!
Such a challenging week for us all, Craig! Thank you for sharing these thoughts, distilled from so many striking stories. Does God care HOW we worship Him? Last week brought me again to the answer, “Yes!” May our lives and work be defined by our pursuit of God’s preferences in worship, not our own.
Thank you Craig, for this meaningful reflection. It is a truth that I’ve been thinking on for years. Tell this story again and again!
Craig,
You could not be more right! In some churches I have attended I have enjoyed the music but I didn’t feel that I had worshiped. When I know the heart of the ones performing it is a lot easier to worship along with the singer.
Wiley Harland
I, too, have become concerned that worship is merely a concert of Christian music performed by a praise and worship band/team followed by the pastor’s message. In many venues for worship, the people in the congregation/audience stand and listen without singing. In one setting, the theater-style seats and the carpeted floor absorb whatever singing is there. Of times the words are unfamiliar and the team doesn’t take time to teach the song, using many new songs in one service instead of using familiar songs with one new one. Granted, at 71 years of age, I am more familiar with hymns and contemporary praise songs of a few years ago, but I enjoy the new ones and am quick to pick them up. But I am discouraged not to hear the people beside me joining in praising God with their voices and hearts. The praise bands are excellent but it just feels like I’m at a Christian concert, not a worship event.
I totally agree Craig. I feel the way worship is approached today with it’s theatrical lighting and dark seating (which was intended to create a more intimate space according to some) has actually created a space of isolation and a focus towards the stage. In pursuing excellence too much in our worship teams we have forgotten to lead our congregations and have ran so far ahead of them they have simply given up in participating. I love contemporary worship but I think it’s time to turn on the house lights, take down the fancy backdrops, drop the keys to a singable level, and let a bad note be sung or played every now and then. It may not be as excellent but it will be honest, real, and corporate.
I think it is unwise to generalize the issue. I don’t necessarily disagree or agree.
I have contemplated and struggled with this very thought for several years now…The quandary I find myself in is where does that leave those with jobs in those various roles? Publishers, songwriters, singers, musicians, AV techs…is there a place for it? In the church? Outside of the church? Do we just throw all of it away and go back to singing hymns a cappella? Is our only outlet for using our talents in those areas left to serving the secular world? I think the key is learning the balance of it all.
The church has branded the word ‘performance’ as a bad word. But is it really? I mean, really, if you perform horribly at driving a car, you would lose your license, right? Would you go to a heart surgeon if they had a bad performance record? I think what we really mean by ‘performance’ is that we don’t want people leading worship who act one way while they are on stage and then lead a completely different carnal life when they walk off the stage. I think we have to consider the roles that we play in leadership and learn to differentiate between what it means to ‘worship’ and what it means to be a worship leader. I will say that a big red flag is if someone was to say that they can’t worship without the lights, visuals, etc…at that point we as worship leaders will have failed to accomplish the task of helping our congregations to actually worship in Spirit and in truth.
Another thing I have been considering is what we have defined worship as being…we almost always associate music and singing songs with worship. But I would say that it is not. Those things are only expressions of our worship. Worship extends to the point of obedience to Christ and the word. That is why we say a mechanic can worship through his work on cars, or a business manager can worship through the way they manage their business. That is also what separates those musicians, singers and worship leaders who are only interested in ‘performing’ and those who are interested in helping others to connect with God. The key is obedience.
No doubt, we have been shaped by our pop culture. That, however, is no different than those who have gone before us having been shaped by the culture of their own times and why, I might add, so many of the old, deep theological hymns have tunes associated with other pop songs of the times. I think the bottom line is that it has very little to do with the media that use and that we frequently have to evaluate our hearts to make sure that all of those things are kept in their proper place.
In the end…exercise balance and live a life of obedience to Christ.
Lon, I agree that worship is in the heart. But when the “performance” on the stage becomes me listening to them perform instead of worshiping through singing from my heart, then we’ve crossed the line, IMHO. To lead worship is to engage the people in singing praises to the Lord. It’s not the lights, etc., so much as the manner in which the praise team leads…if the people are not singing along, then the leader must change the approach. To me, the whole idea of songs or hymns in worship is to have the people singing the words from their hearts, not merely going through the motions.
You are asking all the right questions, Craig. Thank you for your insight. Yes, God does call us to be worshipers rather than merely attendees at a worship event. It is the lack of participation that disturbs me the most…even my own failing to enter into worship in many settings.
I once wrote the life story of Dr. Clyde Meadows, head of International Christian Endeavor. He told of going behind the Iron Curtain, into East Germany, to meet secretly with Christians. This was in the 1960s. Let me just quote from the book:
Nearly 100 people waited in a large building. I entered the upstairs room and sat on a bench. Arno leaned over and said, “They want to know if they can sing for you.” I thought to myself, “This is supposed to be a secret meeting, and singing might give it away, but they must know what they’re doing.”
“I would be glad to hear them sing.”
The director stood up in front, got everyone’s attention, and then raised his arms and brought the people up just like a choir. Then they began “singing” a hymn popular among Christian Endeavorors worldwide: “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name.”
Every mouth was going—but without a sound—as they “sang” all four stanzas. I was almost overcome. These people wanted to sing the praises of the Lord, but had to mouth the words lest they betray themselves.
I’ll bet that was the most moving song Dr. Meadows ever “heard.”
Craig – spot on. Very well written – excellent points – timely. Thanks for the insights.
This is an amazingly alarming comment……..”There could even be reason for concern, I believe, in that we have developed a monetization framework for the songs of faith we sing. Meanwhile, domestic professions of faith and baptisms are declining more quickly than at any point in our history. Is our worship culture contributing to this reality on any level?”
Thanks for sharing, Craig
Good questions. Maybe this should be explored further in additional posts. Maybe ask these questions of some of the artists/worship leaders that are already working for LifeWay, featured by LifeWay, at events, etc.