I don’t have the energy to compose original thoughts, so I leave you with this fantastic quote from Doug Chaplain:
Worship is only done well if it’s done by you. A skilled presider, minister, musician or other can facilitate it being done well by you and the congregation, but worship is not a spectator sport.
My pastor has been making similar statements for years. Well said Doug, I quite agree.
B”H
Posted in Quotes
i remember a service where I really felt like the leader wasn’t leading worship but performing. I had the hardest time getting myself into a place of worship. finally i prayed that I would be able to worship weather the leader was or not, and I found myself 5 minutes later really worshipping…
it can be hard…
but i agree with you.
By: Roger Mugs on April 10, 2008
at 6:02 pm
Wow that is a good quote. Simple but profound (In fact all it really needs is the first sentence). And usually I don’t even care to read stuff about worship.
Thanks for the unoriginality. ; )
Bryan
By: Bryan L on April 10, 2008
at 6:15 pm
I entirely agree. I gave Doug good cause to rant with my ill-chosen words, but they were originally only banter on the Lingamish blog. See also my comment on Doug’s post.
Roger, not long ago I was at a service where in the closing songs “I really felt like the leader wasn’t leading worship but performing”, and stringing things out for too long. I prayed that God would sort the situation out. Within seconds the worship leader stopped in mid-song and closed the service with a prayer.
By: Peter Kirk on April 10, 2008
at 7:11 pm
@peter
thats a way better story than mine
By: Roger Mugs on April 10, 2008
at 7:57 pm
I had a 16 year old ask me today why Southern Baptists don’t believe in dancing. He had just attended a Pentecostal service and now he thinks that the SB “worship” is dead. He kept talking about how the Pentecostal-style of “worship” made him “feel.” He really “felt” like he was worshiping and drawing closer to God.
Hmmm . . . so “good” worship is if it makes one “feel” good? That’s his conclusion. Help!
Good, short post.
Billy
By: Billy Birch on April 10, 2008
at 9:55 pm
I would add that teaching is the same way. Lectures are still effective, if you happen to be a skilled rhetorician. Not enough of those anymore.
By: Drew on April 10, 2008
at 10:01 pm
@billy
I think thats altogether too far off. In a personal relationship with our God we expect personal things like feelings.
That said, worship is something we’re giving to God, and while he does like to give back, sometimes it feels one sided…
I imagine its like relating to a an extremely extraverted friend (the pentecostals that is), its really easy really quick to be their friend..
the sb service is just different, slower perhaps, more like an introverted friend. sometimes it just takes a little bit longer… they can be just as good of a friend, but it may take a bit.
he’s just got to adjust to a different facade of a new friend, and understand that worship is about what he’s giving to the relationship, how the Lord meets him is up to Him.
is that too convoluted to work? i hope it helps.
By: Roger Mugs on April 10, 2008
at 10:58 pm
p.s. i mean NOT altogether too far off
By: Roger Mugs on April 10, 2008
at 10:58 pm
“Why don’t Southern Baptists believe in dancing?”
Because it’s forbidden in the aged church covenants that regulate many SB churches, and who wants to fight the dear wiser departed?
More practically, it’s because most Southern Baptists dance so poorly onlookers would think they were insulting God, not praising him.
By: Chuck Grantham on April 10, 2008
at 11:52 pm
Reminds me of the old joke…
Q: Why are Baptists against pre-marital sex?
A: They’re afraid it might lead to dancing.
By: PTET on April 11, 2008
at 1:16 am
they’re only afraid of pre-marital sex?
By: Roger Mugs on April 11, 2008
at 9:28 am
Roger: I hear what you’re saying. It can be very difficult to block out all that’s going on around you and really get into worshipping.
Bryan: The last part is what I’ve been hearing for years, about worship not being a spectator sport. So for me, both lines were necessary. And you’re quite welcome. I should get sick more often and poach other people’s stuff. 
Peter: Amen. It’s wonderful to know that God hears and honors our sincere prayers.
Billy: I believe that when we’re really worshipping God, that we should feel something. What exactly that is, I’d imagine, is different for every individual. But your friend sounds like he just had a new experience and got really excited about it.
Drew: Interesting thought. I tend to think that good teaching is a form of worship. any thoughts?
Chuck: Ha! It’s funny because it’s true! 
PTET: That joke is new to me, but I’ll be sure to use if often!
By: Nick Norelli on April 11, 2008
at 11:42 am
Good teaching and preaching may be a form of worship, especially in the preparation stage.
Good listening, especially to poor teaching and preaching, is absolutely a form of worship. I should know because I don’t always achieve it.
By: Chuck Grantham on April 11, 2008
at 12:30 pm
