Doing Corporate Worship by Myself

It is popular these days to emphasize the musical element of corporate worship. Many call those who lead in music "worship leaders." And when we hear about "worship" at a church, we understand that to mean music. It is not uncommon for people to choose which church they will attend based on the quality of the "worship." It is also common to have a strong desire to personally feel and experience the music. This is experience is worship.

On the other hand there are those who cringe at the thought of calling the person who leads music the "worship leader." For this person worship is the sermon - the preached Word. He patiently endures the music as he awaits the time when the preacher stands and speaks. If he does enter the musical "experience" he does so for theological or (perhaps) critical reasons.

There is a great deal of truth to both sides. Singing songs is an important element in worship, and without the gospel proclaimed via the preached Word, it would be a stretch to call the gathering a worship service. In each argument, however, there is a vital piece usually missing. The first person could get the same experience with a good stereo system or concert; and the second from an iPod loaded with sermons. The critical element is the people of God who come together to worship with us.

The songs are not only for you and me individually, but for us corporately. The songs should never be evaluated solely based on what is personally preferred, but what is most corporately needed. The elders (who are the worship leaders) should encourage songs that best build the body as a whole. And when the body is edified because of this, everyone individually benefits.

Too often we miss out on the blessings of corporate encouragement in song, because we have our eyes closed, believing that singing is between me and God, rather than us and God. (Note: I'm not saying that closing one's eyes during worship is a bad thing; but when the eyes are closed the entire time, it may be corporately and individually unhelpful)

Similarly, the preaching is not only for you and me individually, but for us corporately. The preacher is under obligation to communicate biblical truth to a diverse audience. Some have doctorates and can hear, follow, and even memorize complex points. Others are more academically simple, and can only gather one or two concepts if communicated well. If the doctorate chose churches based solely on the worship in preaching, then he would eventually find himself in a seminary chapel. He would totally miss out on the necessary simplicity of other parts of the body of Christ.

Another person encouraged and edified by the sermon is often more beneficial to us than the sermon itself.

When we are on our deathbed; or, when we are in most need, the songs and the actual sermons will undoubtedly bring us peace of heart and rest. But it will be the others in the body, who have worshipped with us all those years, who have been edified by the songs and sermons we didn't find individually most excellent, who will feed us, pray with us, provide for us, and be with us in glory forever.

We never do worship by ourselves. Next time you are in church, take a look around and consider whether or not others are being fed, encouraged, and saved. Be excited and encouraged yourself by this wonderful experience. And as you hear the songs, prayers and preaching coming from the mouths, falling on the ears, and entering the hearts of others, worship the Lord who saved us.

My Thoughts on White-Guy Roundtables...

I am sure that I may get some push back from this, but I simply cannot watch another round-table discussion, about some point of doctrine or ecclesiastical practice, where a bunch of white guys give their perspectives.  From the Elephant Room to the Gospel Coalition, it seems that all of the relevant words come only from the minds and hearts of white middle class men.  Sure, there is Chan and Thabiti, but, to be honest, I am highly reluctant to say that we are getting, from these sources, the full reflection of Christendom as it flourishes today.

A chocolate chip cookie with one chocolate chip is hardly a chocolate chip cookie.  And anyone who holds it up as a sample of such is simply not representing the goodness of mamma's kitchen.

I am not dogging these organizations, nor am I saying that they are maliciously racist in nature.  I love the Gospel Coalition as well as T4G.  But, I am coming to find, however, that a large portion of the church is limiting its libraries and RSS subscriptions to only white authorship.  This is simply dangerous.  To feast at these tables alone will ultimately lead us into a state of malnutrition.  Consequently, we will gradually lose our ability to feed anyone, being in need of food ourselves.

While there are many benefits that these roundtable discussions and conferences offer, I fear that we may be neglecting their handicaps.   More and more writers have (rightly) begun warning against the idolization of "super-star" pastors.  Perhaps, in an effort to curb those tendencies, these organizations should actively invite "ordinary" as well as the "diverse" pastors, that are relatively unknown, so that we may hear their take on pertinent issues.

And pastorally speaking, I'm not sure that super-star pastors alone are really the best source of practical pastoral information.  When your membership is in the thousands, and you are traveling every week to this or that conference, knowing your sheep well becomes something that drifts farther and farther from your pastoral reach.  I know that there are many exceptions to this rule - however, it doesn't take a genius to follow the logic.

Simply put, we, as a church, need to hear from the common man as well as the "conference man".  Even more, we need to hear the common black man and asian man and mexican man.  And may I even add women?  Yes.  We need to hear what women have to say as well.  As we make our way towards a non-white majority in this nation, we can no longer afford to target, download, and purchase communicators who look like we do.  This is not a call to leave out the white-guy roundtables; but a call to expand our tables so that we can invite more, diverse, voices to join us.