Holy and awesome is his name! The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever! (Psalms 111:9,10 ESV)
It seems to me at times that with some of our contemporary forms of worship we are losing a sense of awe for God. The use of "boyfriend-girlfriend" language in worship songs can inspire many emotions--tenderness, affection, even gratitude--but not awe.
There is a sense of familiarity with God implied in Jesus' use of the pronoun "Abba," (which is more accurately analogous to "Papa" rather than "Daddy" as some have claimed), but there is a danger in overemphasizing this familiarity if, with it, we lose the proper sense of fear and self-abasement included in our necessary awe of God.
Trends within the American Evangelical movement pull in this direction, one of the most influential being the "seeker sensitive" template of church service pioneered by Willow Creek Community Church in one of the suburbs of Chicago. The motive behind it has the best of intentions: evangelical outreach. The theory was to make "church" less intimidating and off-putting to the non-believer. Willow Creek did extensive market research of the Madison Avenue type (surveys and focus groups) to arrive at a form of church obsevance that would serve that end. Music should be contemporary rock and pop styling, no old hymns or archaic language. Clothing should be casual--no robes for the ministers, no suits or formal dresses for the laity. And most of all, anonymity. Visitors should not be identified, acknowledged or approached by anyone before, during, or after the service, but all contact should be done strictly through a card the visitor can fill out on a voluntary basis.
To whatever degree this template has been successful in evangelical outreach, I find it troubling that little thought seems to be given to the result this has had on the body of believers. Obvious questions present themselves: is Christian worship service really the best venue for evangelical outreach? Should we really accommodate worship to the popular culture so as to make it palatable to the nonbeliever? Are we diluting worship and ministry to the body of Christ by appealing to a non-spiritual--or even non-christian--cultural common denominator?
Jesus often warned that aspects of the Gospel were loathsome to the world, warned that there was a cost to being his follower.
If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.(John 15:18 ESV)
If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26 ESV)
This last quotation--obviously, I think, an example of hyperbole--is ripe for misinterpretation, yet a perfect example of the appropriate self-effacement essential to an awe of God; also a perfect example of an attitude abhorrent to contemporary culture. If there is anything our culture affirms to us, it is that we should love ourselves, that we should put ourselves first, that we "owe" ourselves the best and the most. Against this backdrop Jesus gives the horrifying command that we place ourselves last.
But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:26-28 ESV)
As I discussed this post with my wife, she challenged me: "how would you do things different?"
Fair enough. Let me offer these humble suggestions:
1. More depth and demanding lyric content in worship music. There is a long and established history of Christian worship music conforming to the prevailing style of the day; as the story goes, Martin Luther wrote A Mighty Fortress is our God to the tune of a common drinking song of his time, so I am not arguing against contemporary music, but rather contemporary lyric style. One of the marks of American pop music, whether it be rock, folk, country, or even show tunes, is repetition. Much of contemporary worship music has borrowed this lyric convention from popular music--to its severe detriment, I submit. And so we often have one or two short verses and a chorus that is repeated, sometimes ad nauseam. Some Christian authors engaged in this debate have called such music, "happy clappy." I have already made reference to "boyfriend-girlfriend" language in worship music; I think the avoidance of romantic and sentimental language in worship music would also be an important move. Let me offer this challenge as an illustration: find one contemporary worship song that demonstrates even half of the depth and theological content of the six verses of Amazing Grace.
2. More formality. I think it a testament to how counter to popular culture this idea is, that I feel almost self-reproachful in writing those words. (I imagine eyes rolling and the heaving of deep sighs from those of you who read this.) Nevertheless, I remain firm: yes, more formality: formality in dress, formality in speech, formality in manners. I'm not going to say much about this, I'd just like you to consider it, to ponder what this might mean, and what effect it might have on our children.
3. More sobriety in mood. What I mean by this is more of a balance or, perhaps a broader spectrum of emotion within worship. Contemporary worship seems almost entirely focused on the "up" side of the emotional range. An even cursory reading of the Psalms will demonstrate that Biblical worship encompasses all of human emotion, the dirge as well as the song of joy.
So then, my dearest friends, as you have always followed my advice - and that not only when I was present to give it - so now that I am far away be keener than ever to work out the salvation that God has given you with a proper sense of awe and responsibility. For it is God who is at work within you, giving you the will and the power to achieve his purpose. (Philippians 2:12,13 the J.B. Phillips translation)
