Major Misconceptions About "Worship Music"  🔗 **Source:** [Major Misconceptions About "Worship Music"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8StGv7eWEeU) You don't actually have to sing to worship because worship and singing are completely different things. >> Nice. >> And unfortunately in our modern society within Christian culture, we have been taught that we're going to stand, we're going to worship. >> Yeah. >> Right. And or you listen to the radio and they're like let's worship or like worship now air1 and they equate music to worship. Yeah. But that is such a wrong view of worship. It's a very very narrow sliver of what you can do to worship God because worship actually is an all-encompassing whole life endeavor where in every single aspect and avenue you're trying to bring God glory. >> So worship is a life submitted to bringing God glory in all things. >> That's the sentence that I think everybody needs to understand. >> Worship is a life submitted to bringing God glory in all things. And you can do it through music, but music does not equal worship. And so we have just this major misconception. And a lot of pastors will get on stage and say, "Are you guys ready to worship?" And they go into the song. So they're actually like training the congregation to think wrongly about worship or at least to think way too narrow. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Because I can worship God in a million different ways. I can worship him with my mind by thinking about him or by reading things that are stimulating and pleasing to him, you know, helping my mind. Love him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. That's like Jesus said that's the number one command. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Right. And so heart, soul, mind, and strength encapsulates all of you. >> Yeah. >> So, yeah, worship is way bigger than just singing on Sundays. Now, all that said, you should still sing to the Lord on Sundays because it's commanded in scripture. You can sing to him on Sundays in the gathering. You can sing to him on Tuesdays in your kitchen. And you can use singing to worship him, but singing does not uh singing does not automatically equal worship. >> That's super interesting cuz like you said, like even if you look on Spotify and you want to listen to, you know, you just search worship music or that'd be like a genre. So, it's so ingrained that like music is the worship, right? But that doesn't mean necessarily I mean what are your thoughts? Like if I just play a worship song in the car as I'm driving like you know if it's on the background maybe if I'm singing along to it it's more worship but it's not just like playing the song equals now you're worshiping God. What do you think? >> Yeah. So there is now an entire category or genre of music called worship music that has a certain style and sound. Sometimes kind of very annoying to be honest and very abrasive and loud and screechy. Yeah, that genre is now known as worship, but it's so wrong. Like, that is not a category. But you're right, you can be singing in the car or have worship music on in the background and not be worshiping God. You could have worship music on and be driving down the beach and looking at a chick who's running on the side of the road and you're definitely not worshiping God, >> right? So, uh, no, having music on in the background or even singing along does not mean that your heart is truly adoring the Lord or expressing his infinite worth in that moment. In fact, in Amos chapter 5, it talks about um, God is >> chastising the Israelites for putting on this loud, noisy music festival. So, it's it's one of the religious feasts or festivals that he commands the Israelites to do. And they're doing it and they're doing it loudly with music and they've got the band ready. They're rocking out. And he says, "Take away from me the noise of your songs. Get this stuff. I will not listen to the sound of your harps or the sound of your electric guitars. Rather, let justice flow like a a rolling river or a rolling stream, right? Righteousness is what he wants." And so, he's like, "I don't want your songs cuz your songs are not the point. Your heart is the point." And if your heart's in the right place, then sure, then your songs are going to be pleasing to me. Yeah. >> But if your heart's not in the right place and your life's not in the right place, >> then the songs are just trash. >> Literally says like >> it's a loud noise. >> Yeah. It's noise. Take away from me the noise of your songs. It's noisy. It's It's annoying. I don't like it. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> How do you Maybe this is kind of a tangent, but how do you as the worship pastor like where do you draw that line between like we want to have good quality stuff, right? We want to like do things with excellence, but also we don't want to like, you know, not to call anybody up. We don't want to make it a rock concert, you know, to like it's to the extreme where it's just noise. Like where do you draw the line there? >> Well, that's more of a stylistic thing because you can worship God with a nice acoustic guitar. You can worship God with just a piano. You can you can help the church sing with many different uh orientations of of the band, right? >> But I think we do want to do everything with excellence. If you think about how God commanded Moses to build the tabernacle, he said, "Hire the best craftsman and use the best material and do intricate detailed carvings on all these tiny little intricate pieces because I want you to I want the space where I'm worshiped to be done with excellence and beauty." >> Well, in fact, like God gives the worksmen his spirit to do it. Like that's one of the first times we see God's spirit come on someone. It's like he's >> doing the beautiful art of the tabernacle. Like God cares about it that much. Yeah. So, we should we should play with and it even says in Psalm 33:3, "Play skillfully unto the Lord." So, we should Yeah. do really well and not put on a poor presentation. If you were going to play for the president of whatever country, if you don't like the president of the United States, pick a different president. If you were going to go play before someone of supreme importance, you would >> really practice and bring your very best to that moment. Why would we not do even more work to prepare to present something before the creator of the universe and sustainer of our reality, right? So, yeah, definitely excellence matters to the Lord in music and in everything. >> Yeah. Gotcha. >> So, in our worship on a Sunday, like you're making the claim that not all of our singing is worship. >> Um, and you're pushing towards like, you know, even in your daily life, you're doing things that are worship. You bring up that Amos passage like what you do in your daily life could disqualify your worship from being pleasing to God. What are like practical steps we can take to like make sure that we are ascribing worth to God on Sunday mornings? >> Yeah. And you're using an interesting word worth. The English word worship comes from the old English word. So worship is about ascribing God worth. You are so worthy. You are so valuable to me, Lord. you are so lovely to me that I want to put you up in the highest place in my heart and in my life and in my obedience and in my actions. Like that's how worthy you are that I'm willing to forsake these lesser things in order to place you higher. >> And so yeah, worth is a great way to look at honoring the Lord in everything. And I don't exactly recall what your question was. >> If if I'm hearing this and I'm hearing not all you're singing is worship, I want to say like, well, I want it to be. So, like what are real steps I can take to >> make my singing worship? >> Well, the first thing we do need to kind of >> lay down is that God does want us to sing to >> Yeah, that's good. >> He actually commands 55 times, not suggests, he says, "No, you I'm commanding you sing to me." >> 55 times in the scripture and then 18 other times in the scripture, he commands us to make music to him. So, obviously, you can worship God through music. And he wants us to use music as this tool to bring our praise to him, to elevate him, to put him high in our minds and in our hearts, right? Worship the Lord in spirit and in truth. There's a few interpretations, but one of the interpretations is that we can worship God with our intellect and our emotions. So, it's like the spirit, the emotions, and truth, our mind, right? It's like this whole the truth matters because you need to be having informed worship. I know who I'm worshiping. I'm worshiping him in a way that's pleasing to him. I'm not like you know like in the Old Testament they were like having orgies and like weird I'm sorry for saying that on a podcast everybody but there they they were literally using sex to worship the you know and yeah and even uh in the Aaron and the golden calf it says they were in realry which is probably something along those lines right so so we have to worship God in a way that he like delineates for us yeah um yeah and so um back to the concept of singing he does tell us to sing to him. Yeah. >> And he says in Ephesians, it's either Ephesians 2:18-19 or Colossians 3:16. It might even be in both passages. He says, "Sing and make melody from your heart." >> So, it has to be an informed worship that because I understand who he is and what he's done for me now, I'm like so thankful. Like, it's it's based on truth. Like, my response to him is based on truth. And biblical worship, I would dare say, is always a response. So like we see who God is and then we respond to that reality. An example would be um Peter in the boat when he sees Jesus with the miraculous catch of fish. As soon as he understands who Jesus is, so there's this revelation, then there's a response. He falls on his knees and says, "Away from me, Lord, I'm a sinful man." It's like this response of awe to who he is now standing in front of. It was revealed to him in that moment. And then Isaiah in Isaiah 6 says, "I saw the Lord seated on the throne, the train of his robe, filled the temple with glory, and he he falls down like a dead man." Right? >> Uh and so worship in my mind, it's always revelation first then response. >> Um so I know we got away from the whole singing concept, but yeah. So I think when we sing to the Lord, we want to sing with our minds engaged and our hearts engaged. And sometimes for those people who have a hard time singing at church, like we have to kind of command our soul >> to, "Hey, wake up soul." Like David did that all a bunch of times in the Psalms. He's like, he tells his own soul. Wake up my soul. You're getting too sleepy here. Like look at who you're worshiping. Focus. Pay attention. And of course, there's a lot of distractions in the room and in our own minds and in our own hearts. And the enemy is probably also shooting little fiery darts at us to get us distracted. Our phones are keeping us distracted. So, it's like you have to almost fight for focus to say, "Lord, like help me to see you. Help me to understand you and help me to uh both behold your beauty and then respond rightly to you." >> So, it's I I would say long way around to answer your question. Yeah. We have to ask God to help us. >> Yeah. >> Worship him, you know? >> Yeah. Well, it sounds like you're saying it in two places. Like one is broadly in your whole life. Like if if you're not honoring God with your heart when you open your lips to sing, you're not going to be honoring him. That's like Isaiah 29:13. You you honor me with your lips, but your heart is far from me. Which is And then even in the moment of worship. So it's not like not just your whole life you need to be focused on these things but even when you are singing like it's work to engage your heart and your mind. Um that's convicting to me. I feel like I stand up in church and and it's usually because it's songs that I know really well that I can just like kind of wrotely sing them without >> really thinking about the words that by the end of the song I'll be convicted that I'm like oh my gosh I didn't focus on that at all. >> Yeah. Thankfully there's grace for us in all those moments. Yeah. I mean as a guy who plays these songs a lot more than the people in the seats hear them um I can go through the same motions on the songs as well. So okay >> it's like Lord just help us help us in all these things to be present to you and >> also believing that God works through repetition. >> So like worship is very formative the corporate ga let's talk a little bit about gathered worship. So, as we're gathering as his people to bring him praise and to also hear from him both from the word and from the song, um worship is forming us every week. It might not feel like you're getting anything out of it, but week after week, you're showing up and you're letting these truths get into your heart. And then if you sing them, it's even more so because like singing is one of the strongest manmic devices which is a fancy way of saying helps you remember things like ABCD EFG or the 50 states or the books of the Bible or all these things that we learn in song form. They stay with us. Amazing grace, how sweet they sound. Everybody can finish that >> because they say like people with dementia even it like >> snaps things into place when they hear the song. they remember. And so we're these truths in the songs that we sing are going deep into our heart and our mind and we're going to need them at some point, you know. And so uh it's a very beautiful thing to think that even if I am singing mindlessly at least it's like dripping truth into my heart and like storing up all this truth deep in my heart so that when I need that truth when I when a lie from the enemy comes I can tap into the truth that's been stored over the weeks, months, years, decades, right? And so I think if we look at did I get something out of church this week one week at a time it's kind of it might I mean to be honest I have many weeks where I go to church and I'm like well that was a wash. I think two thing two things uh happen for me at church. One it realigns me every seven days. And the second thing is that it um it also is over time forming me >> into the image of Christ. And like I used you as an example when you pray for the offering like how you pray so rich and beautiful and scriptural and deep. You're teaching me how to think and how to pray. I love how you pray and it it forms me and it's shaping me and my view of God and my own heart and like I want to be more like Connor in that, you know, and so >> yeah, I think the gathered worship experience is a formative thing. And even if we're just going through the motions, we should try to fight against that, but even that is more beneficial than not. Yeah, >> I think. >> Yeah. I mean, one practical point from that for parents is when your kids look at you and say like, I'm not getting anything out of this, just tell them they're wrong. And they are wrong. Like I use this as a kid all the time like I don't want to go. I don't get anything out of it. And actually my parents are like yeah you don't you shouldn't have to go if you're not going to get anything out of it. >> The reality is you might not think you're getting anything out of it but you are and it's forming you and it's shaping you. I think one of the coolest pictures of this I use this in illustration sometimes is I forget who says it but it's some philosopher. He says he says I kiss my child not only because I love him but so that I will love him. M >> this is this picture of like there's actually something in the practice in the doing that is building love in you that is shaping you and forming you. Um like we don't only praise God because we love him but so that we will love him. >> Um there's really something important about singing. So could you answer to the brother or sister that's in the room that's like but I I'm so embarrassed about my voice. Maybe I'm so shy. Like I don't want a Can you just crank the music as loud as we can so that no one can hear me >> just sing really quiet or something? >> Yeah. Like what do we how do we encourage them? Is that perfectly okay? Like what's >> Well, the good news is that the Lord tells us to make a joyful noise to him. Even if >> doesn't always have to be skillful, >> doesn't have to be beautiful. You got to work work with what you got. Work with what God gave you. And if you have a really ugly voice, I'm sorry, but uh you know, joyful noise, baby. U so that is part of it. Um but the other thing is do you want to be obedient to the commands of God? Like imagine if I'm like well >> you know you don't you don't have a great voice so you don't have to obey that command. I mean now take that and apply that to some other command from God like do not fornicate or something and and I'm not really good at that. So chassity is like eh it's kind of hard. So I'm going to you know it's like no. Okay. So obviously if we want to be obedient to God again worship is bringing God glory in all things. If he says sing to me and he says it 55 times as a command then you better open your mouth and do what he says if you want to be obedient in that knowing that he's using that to as I said form Christ in you and and uh put those truths in your heart but also to sing and encourage the faith of the people around you. Because what we don't understand is that actually the corporate worship experience, the gathered church time is for the edification of one another. It's not just bringing your praise to God. There's actually some wrong understandings about this. Like a lot of uh worship leaders are like, "Well, we're just coming to do bring our ministry to the Lord." That's true. And they're using like the Old Testament temple like they brought stuff to the temple to offer. >> Yeah, that's true. That is true. But in the New Testament, in Ephesians, those two passages I mentioned, Ephesians and Colossians, it says, "Sing to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs." >> So, you're actually singing to one another. In fact, in Ephesians, when it says, "Sing and make melody." You would think first it would say to God and then to one another. But actually, the first per group of people that's categorized there is to one another first. >> So, somehow, strangely, during our gathered worship time, we're meant to sing to one another first. and to encourage one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to put those truths into each other's hearts. It's like your voice is meant to encourage me. It's not just going to God, but it's going to my heart. And so, you know, like a bow and arrow, you're going to pull back that arrow of truth and you're going to shoot it across the room. You might not even know who you're shooting it at, but your voice is going up and it's landing in someone's heart who needs that and it's lodging there for them. And it's like, there are going to be weeks where I need your faith and you're there going to be weeks where you need to borrow some of my faith. And like as we choose to lift our voices up to the Lord and to one another, we're adding to the whole. We're adding to the passion. We're adding to the faith. And like when I see somebody who I know who's going through a hard time choosing to sing to the Lord in the time of singing, I am so encouraged by their faith. >> And I'm not saying you always have to show up and belt it out. Like there are different seasons in our lives. But I do think we want to be obedient to the Lord to sing. And also know that our singing is not just for the Lord, but for the brothers and sisters around us. And some weeks my voice is going to need to encourage you, but there will be other weeks where your voice is going to need to encourage me. And so, like, don't hold back on that. Yeah. Maybe a practical tip for this, this has been helpful to me, is I think growing up hearing people sing like you either get real judgy. You're like, man, that person's they should not be singing that loud. or you start asking like, "Well, they're being a distraction." And like every time your heart and mind leans towards that, like replace it with like, "God, thank you for their singing." Like, "Thank the Lord that they are singing loudly or that they're singing with joy, whatever it is." And and I've started doing this here and there, like during the greeting time, if someone around me was singing especially loud to like actually when you shake their hands like, "Hey, brother, sister, your singing was a blessing to me this morning." Mhm. >> Um like I just seeing people light up. They do light up when they say sometimes they're embarrassed and like, "Oh, but it wasn't very good." And like, "No, like really, it encourages me." >> Yeah. >> Imagine if we didn't gather and we didn't sing to one another. Like there would be such an empty space. Like >> Yeah. If if it was just me and one other person on the far side of the room singing, it would just be so sad. But like the voices going together are just >> picture. We're participating in the body of Christ. like every member doing their job, opening their mouth to praise the Lord together. >> Mhm. >> As needed. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. That's good. Is that kind of why in terms of the flow of service, is that why we start off with worship first and do like a few songs at the beginning? >> I don't know why that order is I don't think there is any biblical precedence for like the order of liturgy. Um, there are other service flows like even if you look at like the Orthodox church or the Catholic church like I'm sure they they've got songs interspersed throughout the times of speaking and there's canering and all this other stuff and it's like I don't think God gives us I think this is just like an American cultural thing >> or it's to make sure people get in there on time. >> That's true. A little buffer. >> Okay, I'm going to take a moment everybody. I'm going to take a moment and I'm going to share something lovingly. >> Brother, be convicting like convict our people. >> Yeah, sure. I'm going to I'm going to because most of you uh won't hear this at the if I say it at the beginning of a service because you're not actually in the room. For those of you who come late to service, I just want to lovingly exhort you and encourage you that why would we not bring the full hour and 15 minutes of of attention, affection, you know, focus. Why would we not bring God his full hour and 15 minutes if we're only giving him an hour and 15 minutes a week of our lives to be together with his people and to worship him? Why are we skipping 40 of those minutes or 20 of those? Let's just say you're 20 minutes late. Like why are you not giving him the his full time that he's due? you know, um I just >> I think if you were going to a concert that you paid a lot of money to go be at, you would probably arrive 2 hours early to make sure you were getting through security on time and etc., etc., but like we're worshiping the God of the universe, not some pop star, right? And so I don't know, I just want to encourage people in our church be on time for service. Not even because it's the time of singing. Although we have I think said clearly why singing matters and why it matters to God and to us. But I just think in general like why are we not bringing God his full due on Sunday mornings? And I would encourage everyone in our church to not be late. >> Yeah. And I mean what are we teaching ourselves and our kids that like Yeah. Well, the first couple songs don't really matter. Or in fact, like the thing that we start with is what you brought up that we're responding to God in his revelation in worship. So, we start our service with a call to worship where God calls us to sing. If you miss that every single week, like that's actually doing something to us that that we're training oursel that it's unimportant. We're training oursel that I don't know like it is a big deal that we are in the room to encourage each other from the get-go. may be challenging, but we need we need to be convicted of these things. >> Love you guys. >> I'm definitely guilty of showing up late a little a few times. >> So, maybe here's a question. I think we get this a lot. Is how do we pick the songs that we sing? So, you talked about the truth is important, like what we're saying really matters. >> Mhm. >> Are all songs created equal? Is it just musical sort of things that causes us to pick our songs? Mhm. >> Yeah. So, I have um five criteria that I use to decide whether or not a song is worth singing in church because not all songs are good congregational songs. >> So, a lot of times people will send me songs on the radio. They hear like this song on the radio or on Spotify and they're like, "This is great. You should sing it." And it's like a pop song about, I don't know, following the Lord. And it it's a good song, but it won't work for the gathered congregation or it wouldn't work that well. M. >> So, I do try to find what I would call congregationally friendly songs. And there are five criteria. I'll just go through four cuz the fifth one's not that important. But the first one is, is it biblical? Meaning, are the words scriptural? Do they come from scripture? Is there any line in the song that is not from scripture or is misleading or is just straight up not biblical theology? Because there are some songs that many of the lines are solid and then you get to this one line and you're like that's actually not true. You know, and so we shouldn't sing that because as someone who's putting words in your mouth. >> Yeah. >> Uh and as someone who is helping you put these words in your heart for the long term like I will be held account uh to account for that because it says that if anyone is a teacher he will be judged more strictly. Well in that sense I am a teacher right? So, uh, biblical is first. Second is singable. Meaning, is it easy enough for the average congregant to be able to catch on and sing because if it's really syncopated, which is a fancy word of saying like weird rhythms. >> Yeah. >> Uh, if it's hard to like d then it's too many syllables and words and it's hard to get like just caught up in the moment and sing to the Lord, right? So, singable, biblical singable, uh, is it God- centered? Personally, even though I said we're singing to one another, I do like to put the songs to be God pointed cuz there are songs like come all you weary, come all you thirsty, come to the well that never praise the Lord one that we just started doing. >> And that one too is also pointed more at the congregation, right? So, um there that's biblical. We should do that. There's a lot of psalms about that. But most of my songs, I want them to be me telling the Lord that he's good. Like ascribe to the Lord the glory do his name. You're you're ascribing to him. Mhm. >> So, I try to say God- centered songs. Uh, so biblical, singable, God- centered, and the last one is uh what is >> that's you're on number four, unless we've >> Wait, biblical, singable, God- centered. And then number four is Let me think. You're going to cut this out. >> I found them in front of me. I'm They've been sitting in front of me this whole time. I'm sorry. >> Oh, what's the fourth one? >> Well, so clear. >> Oh, yeah. Clear. >> Clear. Cuz you said God center. That's vertical. You've used that word before. Clear. And then necessary. >> Yeah. Clear is meaning, do I understand what this song is actually saying or is it just a bunch of Christianes? >> Because there's a lot of songs where they'll just take a bunch of Christian phrases and stack them, but it doesn't say anything. >> So, we want to make sure that what we're saying is not just random Christian phrases, but it's helping us to, >> you know, understand with our mind. Worship the Lord with your mind, right? >> Um, so yeah. Um, but yeah, how do we push a song into the worship vocabulary? So we we introduce it usually in the offering slot because that's just a good spot for it. People are sitting and passing a plate anyway. U do it again that next week. So it's twice now they've heard it and then um put it into the set the next week and then maybe if the church is starting to get used to it, respond to it. >> Kind of you got to gauge whether or not this song works or not. Just cuz I like it doesn't mean it's going to be good for my congregation. But then after like the fourth week do it one more time and then give it a break and then kind of rotate it in for a little bit. And then after a while, um, just kind of pull it out when you need it. I I pick songs based on the sermon passage. So, whatever the pastor is preaching on, I'm going to build my set to be about the themes in that passage so that there's cohesion across the entire service. >> And >> yeah, so sometimes that song that I introduced a month ago won't really work for like another month, but at least it's been pushed into the church's vocabulary, so when I do pull it out, they remember it. >> That's Gotcha. Gotcha. How often do you add new songs do you find? >> Not often enough probably. >> It's like a personal kind of subjective thing. >> I feel like we get new enough stuff here and there. Like maybe every two months I'm bringing out a new one that I'm really working to push into the church. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> But we already have likeund. So it's like how many more do we need? That's where the necessary part comes in that you just read. Um is is it necessary? Um cuz if we already have like 17 great songs that we all love and know deeply about >> those ideas. Yeah. >> Then why do I need to put another one in just because you know >> you need to swap it or something? Yeah, maybe that makes sense. >> Um okay. What if what if I'm an Alex critic and I just really don't like your songs? Is this something to like find a new church over? Is this something to wh how do we do deal with this? >> Yeah. If you're an Alex critic, I don't blame you. So start start with that >> self-deprecating over. >> Yeah. Hey, I I uh I know myself very well. So I would uh I would agree with you. Um you know, style is very subjective. So just like I might not resonate with a certain pastor's preaching style. I also might not resonate with certain worship leaders choices of songs or style or how they lead. And I wouldn't say leave a church over it, but it is a big part of picking a church. In fact, I think I want to say the top three things people look for in a church are preaching, >> music, children's ministry. >> So, it's obviously important. So, as you're picking a church, ask yourself, you know, not just do I like the style, >> not that that's a shallow way to go about it, but >> that's a wrong question to >> right this worship pastor leading me to focus on Jesus. Is he giving me truth to sing? And is he getting out of the way? Because some worship leaders are very prideful and they're trying to get a little bit of glory for themselves, >> how they move their head or whatever, you know, look at me, I'm so great. So, if if the worship leader seems to be humble, um, biblical, God- centered, then I'd say, you know, try to adjust to the style. And if you really can't, then >> yeah, >> go find a church that has those same attributes, but maybe a style that more resonates with you. Yeah. Like some people they come to our 290 service, we love you all. And um they go there because they like the classical songs and it's like great like at least we are able to offer that for them at this time, you know? So that's a blessing. >> Yeah. >> What do you think? >> Yeah. I think I' I'd say it probably more firm that like if you're leaving the church for style reasons, like you probably shouldn't if if those other boxes are checked, if it's biblical, like even our five criteria, if if those things are being met in the songs, you may need to recognize that that these are the right songs for you to start liking. So, worship with them and seek the Lord in it. And um yeah, I I think I think our priorities need to be really straight when it comes to this with like it know is most important that it's biblical, that it's clear, that it's singable, that it's to God, that these things than it is that it's like whatever's catchy or hip or loud or whatever it is, >> right? And also think about how often in the New Testament we're called to lay aside our preferences for the good of others. Yeah. So like laying aside our preferences is a huge part of being a mature Christian. >> Yeah. >> So and it's not just about music. Like Paul says, "Hey, if they want to eat meat, >> who am I to judge them or Right." So it's like >> Yeah. >> That's good. >> So what would you tell the brother or sister who comes into church on a Sunday and is like, I just don't feel joyful. Like God tells me to make a joyful noise. I'm not feeling that. like it feels so unauthentic to sing or dishonest to sing right now. Should we How would you how would you encourage that, brother? >> I mean, I don't think God always expects us to be joyful. >> There is a time for everything under the sun, right? Think think about all the different categories that fit under that. >> I mean, I genuinely think like come in your sorrow, come in your sadness, come in your pain, >> come in your worry, come in your loss, come in your doubt. Just come like genuinely just come. Yeah, that's good. >> And you don't need to come be all joyful. I don't like the churches that are all up and to the right, you know, no offense, but like that seems to be a thing in the modern worship movement and like in big >> to the right. What is that? >> I I'll explain in a minute, but like the in the megaurch type movement and I guess technically speaking, Rolling Hills Covenant would be megaurch size, but I don't sense that we're doing this. What my friend Aaron, is it Aaron? I can't remember. Aaron Williams. No, I don't remember which Aaron it is. I've interviewed a few errands, but one of my friends, Aaron, says it's he calls it jubilistic triumphalism, meaning everything is always positive. It's like a hype show. >> It's like God's got your back. God's always for you. Nothing bad's going to happen. The devil can't touch you. And there might be some truth in all that, right? But like that doesn't mean you're not going to go through seasons of loss. Yeah. >> Like God let Job go through massive loss. So, I don't like churches that are like, "If you're having a bad day, you've got the wrong attitude." It's like, "No, God understands. He made us like we can come to him in all things, in all seasons, in all attitudes. The main thing is just come, you know, just come, Lord. Here's where I am. Meet me where I am. I'm broken. I'm in pain. I need you." You know, so that's all he wants. I think >> that's good. So, singing those words can be an expression of your sorrow. Like even even if it doesn't feel even it's not coming from a place of joy, it may be coming from a place of sadness or doubt or whatever it is. Like you singing those words is still praising. It's not >> Yeah. There's not enough worship songs of lament right now, >> right? And that's kind of what I'm saying. Jubilistic triumphalism up into the right. There's no like down into the left category of worship songs, you know? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, >> is it time to start writing something? >> Yeah. I guess we're just going to write some really depressing songs. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, well, to that point, maybe it's a bit of a tangent, but if there were songs like that, like when would you include them? >> Yeah. I mean, maybe in response to a sermon that's down and to the left, maybe in offering offering slot. Yeah. >> I mean, I do think we do need to fuel people's faith. So, we don't want to always just be like, "Oh, woe is me." Eore or Eeyore. >> Um, but >> yeah, >> but sometimes there is a need for that or >> Definitely. It would be interesting to ask AI, you know, run the Bible through AI and say like how what percentage of scripture is lament versus uh enthusiasm. >> It'd be interesting to see. >> Yeah, that is interesting, >> man. Maybe we could go with like rapid fire takeaways. Okay. >> Is that good practical tips? >> Um uh do you want to start? Do you have any off the top of your head? >> Come to church on time. >> Your presence. Yeah. On time. your presence and your participation matters. Hebrews uh now I'm going to blank on the verse 10 25. Do not forsake the assembly, but gather all together more and encourage one another all the more as you see the day approaching. Right? And so it's like Hebrews 10 reminds us that our presence at church matters. I need Connor there. I need Nick there. I need you there. You need me there. If we all dip out like there's no one to fuel the faith that I'm going to need again. I'm going to need your faith and I'm going to need you to encourage me in my faith. So, um, yeah, come to church. Come to church on time and then bring your participation just as you are wherever you're at in whatever season, whatever attitude you're coming in. Like, it's okay. Just come and be authentic and bring it to the Lord. And if you have a hard time singing, ask him to help you. Lord, help me sing these truths. Lord, thank you for these truths. Even if I don't feel them right now, help me to sing them. And I pray that as I sing them that you would change my heart to believe them to be real, you know. >> Yeah, that's good. >> I think another one, um, even if you don't especially like the music, even if you think they like ruined this classic hymn by putting on this new little melody that's just making it worse. Like recognize that you're singing this for the sake of your brothers and sisters, for the sake of Christ, for the sake of the church. Like, sing loudly even when you don't like the music, for the sake of other people. >> Yeah. Recognize that your singing is for the other believers. >> Yeah. Sing to God, but also the people around you, too. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And then maybe another one, recognize that how you live your life affects your worship. Like it's if you are honoring the Lord with your lips, but your heart is far from him. >> He's going to be speaking to you the same way that he's speaking to through Amos. >> Like, I don't want I don't want any of that. Um >> yeah, >> worship starts before we start singing. Starts in your everyday walk. All right, thanks for joining us today., Major Misconceptions About "Worship Music", YouTube, 01krnwf4kgh41fwrsn3t54dfck.