Is attending church important?
So, I made a joke about attending church that some thought funny, some were concerned over, and some used to poke fun at me (love you Lloyd & Chrystal). It got me thinking about church and what is important about attending church. It takes a huge effort to get our family ready for church – you wouldn’t believe the amount of diapers Ella can go through in one morning. Then loading them into the van, having time for a Starbucks run, checking the kids in to the nursery and finding a seat before the music is over. It takes work getting to church.
But once you’re there, latte in hand (in some churches), something happens that doesn’t happen any other time. God shows up in a special way when we’re all together. And I think it starts at the very beginning of the service with the music. When we gather together corporately and sing to God there’s something that happens beyond when we are alone. Corporate worship is an important part of our spiritual experience because we truly grow together when we face God together. It’s special and hard to explain but when you experience it there’s nothing in the world like it.
That being said, I don’t understand people who refuse to worship God because of a song style. Worship is not a musical style. Worship is expressing our love to God. Honestly, in the 35 years I’ve been attending church I have rarely been in a worship service where the music style was my personal preference. Portico church in Charlottesville was close to my music style – plus it was awesome to hear Megan Daubert lead worship. Mark Batterson’s National Community Church at Union Station in DC came close. Audie Murphy matched my music style when he led worship in Firepower, as well as the amazing Christian Andes. Roger and Lisa Coles match my music style almost to a T. But I’ve also been moved to tears and experienced worship hearing St. Matthew’s Passion at Christmas or even Mozart’s Requiem.
My point is that I rarely attend a worship service where the music is what I would consider my style; you just won’t find most Sunday morning music styles in my iPod. But I don’t punish God by not singing, folding my arms, and complaining to the worship leader or pastor that it’s not worship because it’s not my style. I just don’t understand people who can do that. Music is extremely important to me but it does not transcend worship. I hope the church can finally come to the place where music style becomes less important and expressing our love to God takes it’s rightful place…whether it’s rockin’ music, a moving classical orchestration, or even Southern Gospel. God deserves the effort to push past my musical preference and truly tell Him I love Him with my voice, with my uplifted hands, and with my heart. He’s worth it.
Amen! I have a firend that stopped dating a guy because her church music prefrance was different than his. I told her thatis dosn’t matter the type of music that is sung at church, just that you are worshiping HIM with your voice as well. God created all music because he likes all music. So wroship Him to the fullest! And you’re right, there is something magical that happens during the song and worship time…I love it, and I love Him that created it for me to enjoy!
yikes! Sorry for all the typos…so wish there was spell check on these things! LOL
I agree with you completely Pastor Marc!
I watched GodTv this morning. I listened to a lengthy worship set from the people that see angels:>) Loved the style and the heart, but wow was their theology way off. They sang that God does not judge and centered in on His mercy. I think that needs full explanation.
I’m with you. This northern guy can even worship to Gaither music if it is theologically sound and glorifying to God:>)
Keep up the blogging! Loveyaman!
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If it means pencilling in another activity on your TO DO list, I’d say you can take it or leave it. It used to be a lifestyle; it used to set the pace for the week and provide a primary reference group for your family; it used to mark our the “one in seven” command in scripture for prosperous life and healthy community. Now it’s more like an events calendar, right up there with “pick up kids at soccer” and “movie at 8 with friends”.
Amen to that, Dr. T. It’s sad that attending church is another check mark on the to-do list. It used to be the center of culture, the meeting place that set the agenda for your life, the place that you entered but did not leave the same way…a place full of life. I wonder if it’s the church that’s lacking or the people attending…or both.