Absurd Story about Worship Part 2

Read this first: http://malibby.blogspot.com/2007/04/absurd-story-about-worship.html

I had promised a continuation of "Absurd Story about Worship" and have yet to follow through. Maybe because I never intended to continue it. Just to keep my word, though, I will continue it by drawing out some of the things I hoped to convey.

What I had hoped to convey through this was not a bash on music, hymns or choruses, but to point out the absurdity of our monochromatic corporate worship. I'd also hoped to invoke the feelings of oppression that someone who isn't particularly moved by, or gifted in, music might feel in a church dominated by music. I don't know if it did that, but I thought it was a pretty good attempt.

You would not believe the dirty looks and apprehension I get when I bring up the idea of having a corporate worship devoid of music. Often the reaction is probably stronger than if I had suggested we burn the Bible. Even though no one will admit it, music seems to really be considered the only way to worship corporately.

I guess I should expect this in a world full of people (including church leaders) who never leave home without their iPODs. The ability to have music is considered so much of a right in our society that people can't consider being without it, even on Sunday morning. (If you don't think we view music as a right, then consider how many people (including, maybe especially, Christians) willingly and knowingly steal thousands of dollars worth of music and have a completely clean conscience about it)

I've said it before, I love music. I don't know how many late nights I have spent just playing music, taking in every note and rhythm, doing nothing but listening for hours. But it is so sad to me how music seems to be the only honorable way to worship. That people who should be painting or writing poetry feel like they should learn guitar so that they can be a part of a worship team.

To me, when I get outside of my music-loving box and put aside my gifts in the area of music, the musical machine we in the church truly does look as absurd as the story I wrote. If we spent as much time and resources on any other art form there would be an uproar among the people in the church. If we did do as the story said and exalt sketching as the true way to worship corporately, it would truly be absurd--but not any more absurd than exalting music as true worship.

If we are to reach out and engage people who aren't musically oriented, we need to go out of our way to make space for other forms, gifts and ultimately people. We need to create gaping voids in the music. It is not enough to invite them (because they have been told they are second rate worshippers all their lives, whose gifts are only good enough for slide backgrounds and segue ways between songs--do you think they are going to rush to the front?). Besides, most of them have left the church anyway.

The story was to put a large group of people in another large group of people's shoes. This is about people being valued and being taught (and demonstrated tangibly) that their gift is no less worthy than someone else's in the church. Ultimately I'd like people to know that they don't need to force themselves to learn guitar in order to worship and help others worship and try to change the system where that is actually true…

Mike