So, I went to church for the first time last Sunday and I was able to play bass in the praise band. Now I have always had something to say about the music in my church, but now is not the time for that, I play when I am called to serve. I enjoy it, because I enjoy worship. Whenever I play bass, I like to add a little extra to what I am playing, and there are times when I get the impression that doesn't go over well with some of the church members. Later that night I was talking to my Dad, he also plays with the band. My Dad said something like "so I heard your little extra riffs you decided to throw in there this morning." I am fairly sure I replied with a sheepish "yeeeeahhh" kinda thing, but my Dad return with "I am glad you did that." He told me that he has been feeling like the cookie-cutter approach to worship that our church subscribes to doesn't quite fit the reality of worship. That as long as your heart is in the right place, the notes matter far less than we think. He said something that has stuck with me: "If God has placed something on your heart to play, then play it. Don't fear what people are thinking, just follow God." While we have to use our discretion as to what is distracting to those we are leading (This part is kinda about worship leaders) we have to follow what God has placed on our hearts to play and say. Something I learned in Kenya, with worship, the notes don't matter, at all. At first glance Kenyan worship songs can be painful, wrong notes, out of tune instruments, keyboards, and worse yet keyboard drums. But when you see the people and really experience it, it is all about God, not people. Everyone is worshiping and worshiping well, we could learn something from these people. Now this part applies across the board. As long as we are following God, then we shouldn't fear what those around us think or say, they may not understand why we do what we do, but it isn't important that they understand, it is important that we continue to rightly follow God.
Humility before God is empty worship without humility towards others. - Adam Gilbert
This quote is a recent favorite of mine, I first hear it while in the Rockbridge (RB) worship track, if you don't know what RB is then I'll explain. RB is a retreat at the end of the school year where all of the InterVarsity (IV) chapters in the region gather, and the students attend tracks, where they learn and grow with students from the surrounding area. I was in the worship track, we led worship, it is awesome. This whole humility thing is kinda big. I can't say it better so here is what some of our awesome staff workers have to say, this is specifically for worship leaders, but I think it applies to all of us:
Jesus’ Example of Humility - Philippians 2:5-11
(1) Jesus’ humility before God the Father led Him to make Himself nothing and humbly serve others
(2) His humility before God led Him to humble Himself and become obedient to death
(3) To give glory to God the Father meant living a life of humility before others.
Our Call to Humility and Unity- Philippians 2:1-4
(1) True worship is reflected in how you are humble with each other
(2) It’s when you consider others better than yourself
(3) when you treat each other with compassion and tenderness
(4) when you deny your own selfish ambitions for the sake of others
(5) taking up for each other when someone’s been unjustly wronged
- From facedowninworship.blogspot.com
Living like Christ is living in humility. yep. thats that.
Here's an bit from "Such Great Heights" by The Postal Service from the Album Give Up
I tried my best to leave
This all on your machine
But the persistent beat
It sounded thin upon listening
And that frankly will not fly
You will hear the shrillest highs
And lowest lows with the windows down
When this is guiding you home
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