Some time ago every church I know was singing Matt Redman’s, “Heart of Worship.”
I love the story behind the song. Matt told us when we were in Ireland a few years back that it came out of an experience in their own church where they recognized while they were contributing to a worship music revival of sorts, they had somehow found themselves wandering and trying to find meaning in their own musical expression.
And so the words . . .
When the music fades, all is stripped away, and I simply come / Longing just to bring something that’s of worth that will bless your heart… / I’m coming back to the heart of worship, and it’s all about You, Jesus.
Beautiful song. I’m sure many identified with it. In many ways, I did personally.
It was a song born out of a particular experience.
From a particular franchise of the kingdom.
It hit a nerve with many churches and they embraced it.
But we never sang it at Westwinds.
Because it wasn’t us.
When the song came out, a lot Westwinds was not concerned about coming back to the heart of worship.
There was no coming “back.”
They hadn’t been there.
I have had a love/hate relationship with the “worship music” machine. There is great pressure in the church music world to sing the next new thing put out by the latest and greatest of worship music artists. The latest song pimped at a conference. The next song by “that person.”
And some of them are amazing.
I think most are not.
Every once in a while I find a gem that surprises me like a stray dog on the porch. I take it in and keep it forever. But, honestly, most of it . . .
Sounds the same.
Doesn’t move me.
Isn’t well thought out.
Is repetitive.
Doesn’t say anything new.
Is the same chord progression as the last.
Sounds Hickory Dickory Dock.
Bores me.
Is dumbed down.
And . . .
Doesn’t speak to our individual experience.
I know this sounds cynical to some of you. Fair enough. I am at times. But this is not a rant about the motives of the industry or artists.
My concern is for the church.
Do we really believe what we are singing? Do the songs we sing resonate with our people?
Too often songs are introduced to our churches simply because they are available and easy and it's getting airplay on the Christian station. But that doesn't make it good.
The only reason the industry keeps cranking out garbage is because . . . we buy it.
And even if a song is good, it doesn't mean we should be singing it.
Over the years, we have celebrated MANY songs written by some great artists. We have sung them shoulder to shoulder with many churches across the world. Many have become anthems for the kingdom.
But, I would argue much of what we sing in our churches is because we think we “should” be singing it. Because all the cool kids are. Or because “that” artist wrote it and he/she is “anointed.” Or because a label or organization is pimping it.
In many cases, I feel like the church is eating the cafeteria hot lunch it is being served because they signed up for the cheap meal plan. The food is accessible and affordable so we just consume it.
We need to get in the kitchen.
This post is the first in what will be a string of posts on the role of the music pastor (or worship pastor or creative arts director or worship arts pastor or whatever you call it) giving special attention to the art of, need for, and absence of indigenous worship in the local church.
