When I am leading the church in song, there are parts of songs that I choose not to sing because I see the hypocrisy of the lyrics and and physical response of the congregation.  For instance, the song, “I could sing of Your love forever,” has a bridge that says, “Oh, I feel like dancing,  Its foolishness I know…”   Now, I know that my people won’t be dancing when they sing this line . It just feels wrong to put them in a place like that. I could choose to sing the bridge and use the lyrics as a jump off point to make a point about posture, but I don’t know that it would make a difference. So I choose to skip that. There are many many songs like that. Songs that include various physical responses to worshiping God; Raising of hands, Clapping, shouts of joy,  Kneeling, bowing before our maker, Crying out to God, etc…  So do we skip every section of song that calls for a physical response?  I believe that would be a bigger crime. We need to appropriately teach our churches how to let go.

Fear of Man is our greatest enemy. More people worry about what others think than what God thinks.  God sees our hearts as we sing(thankfully so as some people sing in a different key than the rest of us, G-I’m-flat!) God knows what we are thinking and feeling as we lift our voices to Him each Sunday. What can help our minds and spirits is the aligning of our voice and body into one, unified person. To get there we have to let go of others perceptions and stop comparing ourselves to Mr. Charismatic in the next aisle. I like to close my eyes to remove any distractions around me. To be honest, it is easier to lift my hands on stage than in the congregation. I see the need to be an example and encourage others to lift their hands to the Creator when I am up there in the limelight. In the crowd, you feel everyone behind you watching you. It can be intimidating. Ultimately what is more important, others wondering about your Christianity or God seeing you abandon all others for Him.  God determines your fate and it is He who gave it all for your rescue.  Let us give Him our hearts and bodies as well.

Focus on the words. Yes, the words of the song. Hopefully the worship leader has chosen songs that are theologically rich and singable.  Songs that tell of who God is and what he has done for all of mankind, specifically you. While your church may have a hot band that can rival American Idol, the reason they are even up there is because of the words. The words are there to preach to us, for us to memorize and recall later when we are not surrounded by Christians. The words tell us of the Gospel and why Jesus had to suffer and die for our sin. The songs use words in a poetic, beautiful way that gives us a fresh perspective on our situation as sons and daughters of God. If ‘brevity is the soul of wit,’ then songs are witty ways of hearing the scriptures said another way.

Focusing on the words helps you focus less on the music. Your church may not have the best musicians but they play their best so that the Bride of Christ can sing to the Groom. Focusing on the words brings to mind pictures and stories from the bible, complementing the song.  Focusing on the words helps us forget our troubles and brings us closer to seeing heaven. Of the few things we know about heaven, we know for certain that we will be singing there. Revelations even shows a picture of God singing over us.  Now, how cool will that be! God singing over His people. ..do you think he’s a baritone, bass or tenor, hmmm…?

The words remind us to forgive each other.  They help us remember that God can heal our pain, clean our stain and turn our sorrows into songs of praise. And they might even help you get through the rest of Sunday with your toothpasted, non-matching kids and frustrated spouse.

Soon after I drift to watch the parents of the kids there.  Some of whom my children are chasing in a game of hide and seek.  Some single parents, some parents who this might be their only outing that day, and others who meet their friends for a quick lunch. I watch one pair in particular. A nice family. The father and mother along with their only child. I turn my head and no longer do I see the father there. The mother and 3 year old son finish eating their food and are waiting for something. Did Dad go use the restroom? Go back to order more food? Get something out of the car?  nope.

It’s raining outside.  The boy soon sees his dad right outside the window of playland, looking in. He pulls out a cigarette and lights up.    Mom and the son are waiting for dad to smoke his cigarette. Waiting patiently I might add. Dad stands there and looks in to see his boy; he waves, ….in the rain. That dad’s cigarette was more important to him than what his family wanted or spending time with them. He was worshiping. I couldn’t believe someone would stand out there to smoke and make his family wait for him to finish. He was worshiping.

As Harold Best points out in his book, “Unceasing Worship” we are never ceasing worshipers.  All the time, every where we go, we are worshiping. With our money, time and energy, we are saying to ourselves and to the world what is most important to us. This father at McDonalds cigarette, or more likely his need for nicotine, was more important than his family, more important than getting wet, more important than spending a little more time with his son, more important than anything else.  His need above all others. He was worshiping himself. He was god and he wanted what he wanted no matter what. Am I being harsh or overly simplistic? could be. But I’m right.  More importantly God is right when he says that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Is it wrong to smoke? Not sure and not the point. What is evident to me is that we all want what we want and don’t care too much about others if they stand in the way. Sure we can be patient but we eventually will get or do what we want.  Because  we are all born worshiping ourselves and our needs above everything else.  The question becomes, will we continue to worship ourselves, or worship Him who made the mountains and the seas?

There are signs that all musicians look for to see if people are engaged. We look for raised hands, closed eyes, bowed knees, and loud voices. As if we could tell a persons Spirituality by there faces and posture! I know there is a connection to acting out what you are singing. If we are sitting on our hands while we sing, “Oh I feel like dancing! It’s foolishness I know.” there is a hypocrisy there that disconnects our minds and our hearts. But if we are standing with hands lifted high as we sing, “So we raise up holy hands,” our brains and body connect in a way to make the words more engaging. I can’t tell you the amount of times I have been leading people in song and my mind is a million places other than church. “What am I having for lunch? or I wonder if Lisa has book club tonight?” We can’t help it sometimes.

So last Sunday, I come home from church and my wife reminds me of something I already know, but need reminding of. She asked how church went, and I was discouraged because it felt like people weren’t engaging. Lisa gently reminded me that God is the one who does all the work. He convicts, encourages, bring us back, and speaks to us no matter the circumstances or songs I choose. God cares more about the church than I ever could. And He is calling me to be faithful, not necessarily successful.

‘Cause it’s all about Him