Worship and Suburbia

Our church staff has been in deep discussions for a while now about how to approach ministry within our context. We all have this love hate relationship with Suburbia. Everyone loves the perks of Suburbia, but everyone hates what Suburbia produces in us and the people we lead.

I’ve recently had a few conversations regarding worship in our context. For the purpose of this post, we’ll use the word worship to refer to our Sunday morning gatherings. Though I know that’s a mentality we’re trying to battle…that "worship is just what we do on Sunday mornings, " it will help for me not to have clarify every sentence I write here. ☺

Anywhere that I have led worship, my foremost thought after “What does God want to do here?” is “Who and Where am I leading?” This question helps me immediately put up a filter by which to make decisions about our worship gatherings.

I must say that this question permeates our thinking as a staff on a regular basis. We whole-heartedly seek God’s direction for where we’re going. Then we immediately consider our context. Do we claim to be experts on our culture…no, but we do think we have a pretty good tap on it.

So what do our worship gatherings look like in Suburbia? What is our aim on any given Sunday morning? Are we out to put on a “show,” or are we trying to lead people to God? Seems if you do anything that smells of production…you’re putting on a show. Try to create an environment that is creative and conducive to reflection…you’re manipulating people and not allowing God to show how He can work even in a sterile environment. Try to buy a building that will allow you a place to “ground” your ministry and people say, “can’t we just go worship in a field?”

The context of Suburbia must be considered when planning. Scripture confirms that (1 Cor 9:22). A balance must be found between letting it rule your thoughts and letting it be a factor that you consider in your planning. It’s easy to replace God with what we think is best for our culture. It’s easy to do what other churches do in Suburbia and miss how God wants you to reach Suburbia.

Church culture drives me crazy at times. What’s Fellowship, Lifechurch.Tv, MarsHill, Willowcreek, or Northpoint doing? “That must be where it’s at!”…Those are great churches and they are having an incredible impact reaching Suburbia in the way God is leading them . But honestly…I can’t sing U2. It would be rather humorous to listen to. But yet I’m called to a similar people as those in Grapevine, TX. I’ve been refreshed lately by watching some other churches and well respected leaders not cave to the system.

I don’t have all the answers, but I do have a heart for reaching my community…in Suburbia. In one of the safest cities in America. ☺

To Talk or Not To Talk?

Talking...that's the subject of my first blog. I've been leading worship for 12 years now and have always dealt with the quandary of talking during times of musical worship. Have you ever been in a service where you feel like you get two sermons back to back? The worship guy stands up there and has some sort of cliché intro for every song...or stops in the middle of a set to give his own 10 minute sermonette. That's usually the time I start counting lights on the ceiling or conveniently step out to grab a cup of coffee (what church doesn't offer at least coffee now).

As a worship pastor, I am typically pretty emphatic about not talking during the musical worship time. I'm not saying that you never say anything...I'm just referring to instances like above. Over the years though, I've noticed that the people I pastor begin to wonder...can the guy even talk? I do a fair amount of prompting during songs to help our people stay engaged and occasionally will say something short to intro a song, but for the most part, I leave the talking to the talking guy. I just figure...we're here for about an hour and fifteen...I'm responsible for the musical part of leading our people in worship and the lead pastor is responsible for delivering the spoken word. They sort of fit like hand and glove...why mess that up?

Now...I am taking my role as a pastor more and more serious these days. I see that God has placed me here and has given me a flock to steward. That being said...can I really steward the flock if they never hear my voice. Oh they hear my voice in song...but that's singing. I'm talking about actually pastoring them. Yes, I can pastor people one on one...but once you get to a church of at least a medium size...that ceases to be an option.

Anyhow, I take a vested interest in the people God has given me stewardship over. I want to lead them well. As I look at my role as pastor, I want to know that I am leading our people in every way God has set out for me to do so. However, I think it means that much thoughtfulness should go into what I say...and just like in music; I think the "less is more" rule surely applies for worship pastors. If nothing else...I definitely don't want to talk unless I have something to say.