If Worship is Boring

I was going to title this blog post "When Worship is Boring," but I didn't want to assume something about you, friends. I didn't want to assume you can relate. So, this is for those who can.

I have been leading worship for about 12 years now. Fun fact about me. The first team I started leading on a weekly basis was when I was just a 15-year-old in high school, leading my peers in a sort of experiment to see if we could have an effective student-led worship team and chapel service at my high school. (Spoiler alert: They are still utilizing this student-led approach all these years later!)

Before that, I've always had an affinity for christian music and worship music. Growing up it was Steven Curtis Chapman and Point of Grace. Then "worship" as a genre really exploded. I love worship music. When people ask me what I'm currently listening to, I usually feel pressured to think of what I listen to that's NOT worship music lest they think I'm a prude, but I honestly only really listen to worship, instrumental music, and podcasts (Sidenote: I love podcasts. I may do a post soon about different ones I love because that's what I'm usually listening to if you see me with my headphones on). Occasionally, on the weekends mostly, I like a little Ed Sheeran or Bruno Mars, but I can't tell you what the hottest songs on the radio are right now cause I just don't generally care.

As someone who is constantly surrounded by worship music, worship experiences, and church services of all kinds, I can easily slip into a place where I can get bored with worship. That sounds like something a worship leader should never say. But it's true.

There's time I've shown up to church and not felt like singing. *GASP* Or times when I saw the set list (even ones I'VE created!) and been like "meh. I'm tired of these songs."

Maybe you can relate.

There's always a few common denominators when I have lost my excitement and passion to worship.

1. I probably have not been experiencing Christ in my one-on-one times to the extent that brings about a sense of nearness and fullness in my relationship with Him.

In other words, I haven't SEEN Him, HEARD Him, EXPERIENCED Him like my heart desires and needs to. Why? All sorts of reasons. Not allowing enough time or not digging deep enough. Usually it's because I have lost my why in the midst of my routine. Why do we have "quiet times" to begin with? To experience Jesus and deepen our relationship.

If that piece in my life is off, worship is off. I become a consumer. I become critical. I become over analytical of the band, the songs, the set, who's leading, etc.

After all, the worship experiences we share as the church are supposed to be a culmination of what we've experienced personally during the week. If I've lacked that personal experience, I approach worship as more of a consumer than a partaker. Like Isaiah says in 26, my mouth can proclaim God and my heart can be far from Him. How tragic and terrifying.

I fear the Church as a whole in America has fallen prey to this consumer mentality. You know, the worship leader and team were never meant to be the entertainment of Sunday morning. They are meant to prompt people to worship, not perform. We are all collectively gathered, ideally, for the same reason: To glorify Christ. I wonder what a worship experience would be like if more of us said no to consumerism and came ready to praise and worship as soon as the team started because we had already been worshiping all week long.

2. My sense of awe and wonder for the Gospel is lacking.

The Gospel is good news. But it's not just good news for those who are hearing it for the first time. It's good news for us in our daily life. We have to, as I heard one author say, re-Gospel ourselves. We have to remind ourselves, through reading the Scripture and reflection, of how powerful the message of the Gospel is.

I'm reading a book right now by Roy Hession called "Broken People, Transforming Grace" where he explores key words of the Gospel like reconciliation, forgiveness, and cleansing and it is awakening my heart afresh to the wonder of the Gospel.

It's critical we spend time reflecting on who God is and meditating on His Word. It fills us with awe and wonder. Maybe find a book like Hession's or something like "Knowing God" by J.I. Packer that causes you to reflect and shows you WHO God is. When that awe is not there, we forget why we gather to sing or why we should lift our voices regardless of if we like the song.

Jesus doesn't say our worship is only necessary when the songs fit our taste and style. He doesn't tell us to let everything that has breath praise the Lord so long as we are in the mood and feel like it. And it's because He knows what worship does to us and for us.

It takes our eyes off the temporal and the seen and thrusts us into a realm of glory. It reminds us afresh about the God we serve. The words we declare inspire faith in us and those around us. How sad it is when I let my lack of awe and wonder stifle my praise. God is worthy of so much more.

Perhaps if you find yourself in a place where you have become a consumer or you have missed the meaning of worship, you can look at these two things in your life and take inventory. How's your personal time spent with God? Do you still think of the Gospel and experience awe and wonder?

God, help us not to approach worship as a consumer. Help us not to show up in order to be entertained. We're imperfect and sometimes we lose sight of why we worship. Remind us afresh of your amazing grace and let everything within us worship You fully, every chance we get. Amen.