The Power of Christ and Consistency

“Why is it that the worse a person felt about herself or himself [in the Gospels], the more likely they sought out Jesus? Yet,… hurting people, who [once] flocked to Jesus when he lived on earth, no longer feel welcome among his followers. What would it take for the “church” to change this?”

A pastor-friend of mine named Scott posted that question on Facebook. In response, we might be tempted to cast blame on non-believers. After all, their sin has separated them from God—right? They are under a cloud of darkness because of the Evil One—right? They have rejected God’s free offer of forgiveness and regeneration—right? All that is true biblically, but none of those responses addresses the fundamental problem presented by my friend. The spiritual condition of people has remained unchanged over the past 2,000 years—but their response to the Gospel is vastly different. People flocked to Jesus then; people walk right past him now, because they find his Body—us—so easy to dismiss.

We could consider the biblical principle of “seed-time and harvest” with regard to our witness and people’s response. Our natural tendency is to adhere to the idea that to get more we have to do more. By working harder at witnessing, we’ll reach more people and more of them will receive Christ and begin attending our church. After we’ve done all we can, if they still won’t come to Christ and our church, we’ll just “shake the dust off our feet” and let them go to hell—another biblical principle. I’d like to consider, instead, this biblical principle: to get more we have to be more. I believe this is why Jesus was so effective at drawing people to himself and to his message of salvation.

My son confided something in me that might provide some insight. A friend of Aaron’s rebuked him last week at school for saying something inappropriate. The rebuke went something like this: “When we’re at school we represent the church, so we need to be careful what we say and do.” While accepting his friend’s correction, on the lips of his friend, something about this seemed very wrong to my son.

Several days later, Aaron spent the night at the same friend’s house. Late in the evening, the friend and a third boy from church told several dirty jokes. When my son rebuked his friend in turn, the friend said, “You don’t understand, when we’re at school we represent the church. Now we’re by ourselves, so we can be ourselves.”

I think the boy had it wrong on at least two counts.

First, the best Christians don’t represent their local church; they represent Jesus and are His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). To the extent that they tap into his higher power and reflect his glory, non-believers will see him—and be drawn to him and to his Body, the local church. Churches are as imperfect as the people who fill their pews and board rooms. Why would you, as a Christian, seek to represent a flawed entity when you have been called to represent the King of kings and Lord of lords? Set your sights and standards higher!

Second, the best Christians are consistent in their speech and behavior in all areas of life. When they have a different set of standards for school, or work, or church, or friends, or home, they cease to be people of integrity—and are the worst possible example of a Christ-follower. Jesus used a word to describe incongruity between a person’s professed faith and daily life. He called them hypocrites. People need to see Jesus in us before they will hear about Jesus from us. Can you, as a Christian, honestly say to a non-believer because of your exemplary life and faith, “Follow me as I follow Christ?” (I Corinthians 11:1)

God doesn’t intend the local church to be an elite social club with exclusive membership at a specific address. The church is the people, and wherever they are the Body of Christ is present in the world. Many people aren’t drawn to Jesus through the local church because they don’t see Jesus in the church when the church is in the world. On the other hand, when Christians act consistently like people who have been transformed by the grace of a loving and forgiving God there will be plenty of wounded people who feel drawn to the followers of Jesus and find welcome in his healing embrace. And having found the welcome of his Spirit in the world where they live, they will be drawn to the welcome of his Body in the building where we gather together.

Worship Wars?

Charles Colson is one of my favorite writers and speakers. I have read several of his books and have always appreciated his cultural and political Breakpoint commentary. There’s one exception: Colson’s commentary titled, “Worship Wars,” in which he relies heavily on comments of Dr. David T. Williams about the right kind of music for worship. Here, Colson quotes from the article “Durable Hymns,” published in the July/August 2009 issue of Touchstone Magazine. While I see the value in some of Williams’ points (and Colson’s) regarding worship music, I disagree with several of them. However, I’ll limit my response to the following.

First, according to Colson, Williams claims that composers of “praise choruses seem to ignore all the rules of good composition…” This opinion would seem to be invalidated by the numerous college courses, seminars, and books on the subject of contemporary worship composition. In truth, there are many valid styles of worship music. We should appreciate the unique contribution of them all to the worship repertoire. For that reason, I occasionally include a contemporary arrangement of a traditional hymn in the contemporary worship service. Also, this year, as in years past, we planned an all-hymn worship service in solidarity with the Hymn Festival celebrated in the traditional worship service.

Second, I find the following comment puzzling:

“Now, some songwriters are creating excellent music today. But, warns Williams, only those musicians who are musically gifted, and historically, biblically, and theologically trained are qualified to help churches choose the best new music ‘as a supplement to the church’s rich musical heritage.’”

Presumably, Williams is of the opinion that contemporary worship composers, musicians, and worship leaders are not “musically gifted.” I strongly disagree and could point to several worship musicians whose gifts on their instrument are as impressive as what I have heard from classically trained musicians. In fact, some of them have received classical training and have chosen contemporary music as an effective vehicle for reaching younger listeners and enabling their worship. I could also name worship composers who are as gifted in writing songs for worship as any hymn composer, and I could name worship leaders whose skill enables congregations to experience the presence of God in every worship service.

Furthermore, according to Williams, contemporary worship leaders who are not “historically, biblically, and theologically trained” are not qualified to select songs for worship. This comment assumes that contemporary worship leaders have not received such training, which is a false assumption. If his point about worship leaders not being qualified to select songs for worship were true, there would then be tens of thousands of churches throughout our country and around the world worshiping in a style that is presumably inauthentic (from his viewpoint). This would beg an observation about God’s apparent blessing on these churches, as evidenced by their numerical growth and spiritual maturity, despite God’s disapproval of their worship style. Of course, God’s favor on those churches is a consequence of His approval.

Speaking personally, I hold two earned degrees, a Bachelor of Arts in Music (classical, traditional) and a Master of Divinity. These degrees have, in my opinion, provided me with considerable training in music, Bible, history, and theology, and, I might add, qualify me to choose music for worship—according to Williams’ standard. Admittedly, my musical preference was also formed by popular culture, as is the musical preference of many new people who are attracted to worship services with popular (contemporary) music.

If I could respond to Williams directly, I would suggest that he becomes more knowledgeable of how God has used music throughout church history and that he broadens his exposure to what God is doing through music today.

Colson and Williams support the theme that there is a “right and wrong kind” of worship music. I wholeheartedly agree! However, not as they have defined it. In my view, the right type of worship music enables people to worship God with a cultural style that is familiar and meaningful to them. Using this definition, the “right” style of worship music for a classically trained person might be different from that of someone who was not exposed to classical and traditional music in a church. Many people in our country had no exposure to a church prior to becoming Christians as adults. The music of their heart is very different from that of someone who grew up in a traditional church. For that reason, there are churches that use music with a popular style, country style, jazz style, classical style, and more. And as we leave our borders, we find that there are many other worship styles around the world. I have worshiped with deeply devoted Christians in Mexico, Jamaica and the Philippines whose preferred worship style reflects their culture more than American culture. I submit that their music is equally valid as a vehicle for worship.

In another essay, “Why Evangelicals Can’t Write,” Williams is equally prejudicial in favor of evangelical authors from a “liturgical tradition” whose writings have “literary value,” and against all other evangelical authors. Using his definition, Max Lucado, Andy Stanley, Phillip Yancy, and others simply don’t make the cut. Such authors have, in my opinion, performed an invaluable service to the Body of Christ by making Christian doctrine practical and accessible to the average Christian. Williams fails to recognize their contribution.

Throughout my years of serving Christ, I have encountered a few high-brow Christians who ardently believe they are doing God a favor by inciting, through their criticism of other evangelicals, division in the Church. I don’t understand their motive, except that it cannot be born from a genuine love for the Body of Christ, which is the Church. So it would seem that the source of “worship wars”, wherever they may exist, is not to be found in music as much as in the attitude of the heart (Philippians 2:5—11).

How can a part of the Body wound another part of the Body and find joy in it? How can they feel justified by such maliciousness? There is a certain perversity in any willful activity that not only wounds other Christians but weakens the Body as a whole. Everyone suffers from that wound—even the protagonist. Rather than fueling the absurd notion of “worship wars,” perhaps Colson and Williams should acknowledge that those of us who worship God in “spirit and in truth” worship Him in various forms that are permissible by the Word of God, and that are received and enjoyed by the same God who welcomes our cultural diversity.

REFERENCES

“Worship Wars: How Do We Determine Musical Excellence?,” Charles Colson, Breakpoint Commentary, August 6, 2009: http://www.informz.net/pfm/archives/archive_823488.html

“Durable Hymns,” Dr. Donald T. Williams, Touchstone Magazine, July/August 2009: http://www.touchstonemag.com/archives/issue.php?id=151

• This article has been removed from the Touchstone Magazine website.

“Why Evangelicals Can’t Write,” Dr. Donald T. Williams, September 12, 2007: http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:98P9CdgrP0sJ:theuniversitychurch.info/oldWebsite/public_html/williamsessay1.doc+%22Donald+Williams%22+%22Walter+Wangerin%22&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a

• In this essay, Williams’ comments about a theology of art are thought-provoking.

Question: Poor Timing?

NOTE: This worship leader raises an interesting question about what takes place on the worship stage.

I’m the worship leader for my church. This morning, while the senior pastor was welcoming everyone, one of the other pastors turned and asked me about a church business matter–in full view of the congregation. My heart was preparing for worship and my head was preparing to lead the worship team. I wasn’t prepared to discuss business twenty seconds before hitting my first chord. His question could have waited until after the worship service or until staff meeting tomorrow morning. Was I right in being bothered by his poor timing? Should I talk to him about it?