Worship Is A Practice
Saw a post the other day from @beyondsundayworship that resonates so deeply with me—the idea that corporate worship should be viewed more as a spiritual discipline than an experience.
In their words, “Worship is not primarily an experience. Worship is something you practice. An experience is something you receive. A practice is something you do.”
As someone who views everything the church does through the lens of spiritual formation, I’m always asking the question, “How is this activity forming us into the image of Christ?”
Yet, when it comes to corporate singing, it can be easy for me to forget that the “practice” of corporate worship should answer the same question. Just like other spiritual disciplines—how should corporate worship be actively formational? Not something we merely passively receive.
The verse that our team has fastened our gaze on is Colossians 3:16 and in it is the mandate to elevate the message of Jesus through the tool of music to “teach and admonish” the body of Christ.
With songs, we train our minds on Christ and urge each other to walk more closely in His way. But especially with musical worship, we employ the rest of our body to “practice” these truths as well. It's when our minds and our bodies "practice" together, I believe we get much closer to "formational worship."
Let me explain…
Envision yourself walking into the gathering knowing that in the coming moments you’ll participate in an activity where you’re called to align your head with your body. You come ready to engage and participate, not just listen and contemplate. This will require some sacrifice—a sacrifice of pride, image, comfort, energy, and emotion. But you know the sacrifice, just like training for a race, will increase your strength and stamina for the goal of closeness with Jesus.
Stay with me…
The band begins to play and the worship leader invites you to draw your attention to a scripture. She reads 2 Cor. 3:17-18 (NLT)—
“For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”
She then invites you to remember that God is indeed present with us and, because He’s present, we’re free. She then reminds you that there are likely areas in each of our lives where we’re not living in the reality that we are free, still chained, still in bondage. So she encourages you to “practice” the reality of your freedom. Even if you’re not feeling very free, you’re invited to live like the Word of God is true—tell your body what God has spoken about your soul.
So by practicing the Biblical expression of dancing (Ps. 149:3) we embody the spiritual truths of freedom. By practicing the Biblical expression of bowing (Ps. 95:6) we embody the spiritual reality of God's worth. By practicing the Biblical expression of lifting our hands (Ps. 141:2) we practice dependence and sacrifice.
So you make the choice, even though you still feel chained, to practice freedom. You dance, you shout, you sing loud. You hold your hands with palms up, releasing the burden of control you've been carrying. And slowly (or miraculously) your body makes its way to your mind which makes its way to your heart and you begin to believe the truths you've been doubting. You are being formed.
This approach certainly requires a "sacrifice of praise" (Heb. 13:15) and increased initiative on the part of the congregant, but one that I feel more accurately aligns with the Biblical intent of musical worship. Though, as musicians, we ought to excellently steward our gifts and "play skillfully" (Ps. 33:3), effective worship is not dependent on the "experience" created by the band but rather by the degree the congregation is willing to come "practice" worship. The band and worship leaders certainly set the example, being the chief practitioners of what we're calling the room towards, but by no means do we worship on behalf of our people. They must bring their own sacrifice to the table.
I know for me, it's time to teach my church body more about what this approach should look like for them, helping them own their part in the gathering, but also empowering them to encounter the living God through the regular practice of worship.