The Dangerous State of Evangelical Worship. This is a Must-Read.


I don’t usually re-blog entries like this.

This goes along with Stephanie’s last entry… So if you haven’t read it, go do so now.(click link)

I read them, I may share them with a select few friends, and I may take notes from time to time. But when I read this one, I could not help but want to share it with you. From time to time I mention something called the Performance Mentality. It’s a trend I have observed first hand in many churches all over this country. And from what worship leader friends I have are talking about, it is rapidly spreading. It sets preference and opinion as the highest authority in ministry, and reduces “seeing through Spiritual eyes” to a low place in the decision making process- especially as a worship leader. It’s dangerous, it’s not in any way what I believe God has intended, and it is a cancer of the Body of Christ.

We must set our hearts to pray for our churches, worship leaders, and pastors.

Pray that they see this trend for what it is. Pray that the Spirit of God exposes truth from falsehood, and that the heart of worship returns to our places of worship.

This entry comes from a man who is a worship leader for an Anglican (right?!) church in Virginia. He hits this topic squarely on the head.

I’ll warn you: If you’re a pastor or a worship leader from any persuasion or denomination, this may make you a tad uncomfortable. But if you’ll take a minute and a deep breath, try to honestly evaluate what of this mentality you’ve allowed into your own thinking. I did that not too long ago, and I was shocked and appalled at just how much I had let myself subscribe to this way of thinking. And out of that uncomfortable conversation I had with the Lord, He brought me back to my roots, per se.

“When the Music fades, and all is stripped away; And I simply come”

Ok. now have a look.

Are We Headed For A Crash? Reflections On The Current State of Evangelical Worship | (click to visit)


3 responses to “The Dangerous State of Evangelical Worship. This is a Must-Read.”

  1. Great repost:) You (Michael) already know my thoughts on this topic but something new and interesting struck me today…this is the 2nd time in a matter of minutes I’ve seen that article reposted. The other was on friends FB….that friend lives in Singapore! We all know that the U.S. in general struggles with (and has for decades) consumerism, and that the church has been no exception. The really scary thing though is that it is a global issue and we are likely largely to blame. Here in Ireland I am getting a first hand lesson in this. I’m exceedingly blessed to work with a church here that is steeped in talent and pure in purpose: one of the most worshipful environments I’ve ever had the opportunity to serve in. Yet this is becoming an internal battle in the hearts of many worship leaders (including me)…the ambition to do things better often becomes the ambition to do things “American”. Not that it is often expressed in word, but as the worship movement here is small (though growing), churches here model off of the large ministries in the States. In many ways this is great, but the good also comes with the bad as the pressures of style (yes skinny jeans, black t-shirts, square glasses, and plaid can be seen on stage in most evangelical churches now) and performance (not to be confused with musical ability) are felt almost as much as the good of quality new lyrics, impactful environment, and helpful technologies (though the tech thing can get scary at times). This is not a statement to harp on the evils of the American church, no I’m saying that the church as a whole needs to wake up to the reality of a global community where the substance of our worship is felt in every corner of the world in ways and places we may never see. That is a heavy responsibility. I’ll wrap up with a bit of James Chapter 3….

    3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. … 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

    Every time we take to the stage, to the web cam, to youtube we are teaching the world to worship. And we teach our culture of worship. We have a duty to do it right, not as professional worship leaders, but as people bought by cross, alive in the resurrection, and led by the Spirit.